Hospital projects present a unique challenge. They require specialized knowledge, excellent coordination, and strict adherence to ICRA (Infection Control Risk Assessment) protocols. An ICRA will outline the methods to control airflow and contain pathogens so that we may protect patients from the construction dust and debris that can become a source of infection during renovation. With approximately 90,000 deaths related to Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) each year in the U.S. alone, it is critical for contractors to ensure that the impact of construction is minimized.
How Contractors Affect Patient Care
Often, when BCH begins the first phase of a hospital project, the second phase is still operational. This requires coordination between the trades as well as the hospital staff. There are also typically patients on the floors above and below our project team and we have to be conscious of how our actions affect them on every level. Noise, traffic, debris, dust, and disruption must be contained to protect the integrity of the healthcare environment.
Reduce the Impact of Construction
- Dust and dirt are controlled with temporary construction barriers to isolate work areas
- Negative air machines are utilized and ducted to the outside to prevent construction dust from spreading to occupied areas
- Protective garments made of Tyvec are worn
- Anterooms are constructed to serve as a connector between work and occupied areas which also function as decontamination rooms
Who Determines ICRA?
An ICRA is an assessment conducted by collaboration of infection control professionals, epidemiologists, architects, engineers, risk and safety professionals, and healthcare managers. Based upon the results of the ICRA, recommendations for infection prevention and control are made for all phases of construction.
Mechanical Contractors Play a Key Role
An experienced mechanical contractor, like BCH, can reduce the transmission of airborne infectious disease with proper selection of HVAC systems, proven mitigation strategies, and an ICRA experienced workforce. Our team has worked on hundreds of critical hospital projects across Florida, including contracts at Sarasota Memorial, Tampa General, St. Joseph’s North, Nemours, and Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
If you would like to learn more about ICRA protocol and how BCH can help safeguard the patients, staff, and project crew at your next healthcare project, contact a member of the estimation team today.