Environmental Contractors Association launches infection control program for healthcare construction

The Environmental Contractors Association (ECA) will partner with Philders Group International Inc./The Linders Health Institute to launch a professional training and education program, entitled, "Best Practices for Compliance During Environmental Hazards Remediation," a course designed to introduce and review the factors regarding Infection Control, emerging infectious diseases, air and waterborne pathogens, MRSA and exposure risks, the dangers of cross-contamination exposure and how to communicate in medical environments during construction/remediation for healthcare facilities and the built environment. Additionally, it will also address sustainability for LEED accreditation as it applies to healthy Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and population health. This important course will address the serious issue of Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) as it pertains to the remediation contractors working in the healthcare environment during construction, remediation, demolition and throughout the built environment. It is widely understood that indoor environmental pollutants such as E. coli, C-Diff, Norovirus, Staph infections (Staphylococcus Aureus), and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) are increasingly being encountered in our environment, including vulnerable healthcare settings and contributing to significant health problems. Students will come away with a strong understanding of critical environments, high risk quadrants in the hospital setting, vulnerable patient populations, employee exposure risks during real work time and how to communicate in medical environments to most effectively and safely remediate these hazards. The professional will also develop an understanding of ICRA/PCRA/ILSM and how it affects their profession from a performance standpoint, meeting compliance requirements for the healthcare environment, client retention, affordability, quality control and legal risk. It also addresses the EC (Environment of Care) and healthcare organizational goals, the shifting financial winds of healthcare reform and the legal landscape as it relates to Infection Control. Number Of Training Hours 15 Hour(s) I LU AIA (HSW) 1 CE LEED/GBCI 1.5CM CIHs .5 IICRC Major Course Objectives: 1. Understand Infection Control issues as it relates to healthcare facilities 2. Understand the ICRA Matrix/CDC 3. Germs and Special Care Vent Setting/ASHRAE 170-2008 4. MEP do's and don'ts 5. Communicating with medical and nursing staff to streamline the process 6. Understand Infection Control policy, trending and monitoring 7. Understanding the dangers of cross-contamination exposure 8. Risk management and legal liabilities of non compliance Training will begin in fall 2014 and the goal will be to provide further skills development for environmental contractors who want to pursue this growing specialty area, greatly needed in healthcare settings as well as all environments. For more information about the ECA and its services, visit www.ecanyc.org or contact Joyce Nastasi at (212) 682-0062 or via e-mail at [email protected].