Roughly 90,000 people die of Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) per year in the United States, according to the CDC. If that statistic remains constant for 2012, HAIs would edge out both Alzheimer’s and Diabetes to become the nation’s sixth leading cause of death. As many in our industry are aware, one source of infection is construction dust and debris. An Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) is a critical first step in maintaining the integrity of the healing environment during the renovation of a healthcare facility.
What Is ICRA?
ICRA focuses upon reducing the risk of infection through planning, design, construction, renovation, and facility maintenance. First introduced in 1996, reportedly in reaction to the rising number of HAIs, ICRA matured from innovative practice to AIA requirement and CDC guideline (2003) in less than a decade.
An ICRA is conducted by collaboration among 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. The process will determine the risk of patient exposure to dust and debris contamination, the classification of the work involved, and its impact upon areas above, below and adjacent to the work site.
What Role Do Mechanical Contractors Play?
Mechanical contractors play a key role as issues of proper ventilation and water systems must be considered in both mitigation and design. Examples of mitigation practices might consist of dust and moisture control, pressurization strategies, and the creation of temporary barriers between construction areas and patient occupied spaces. Design items may include anything from sink and hand sanitation dispenser placement to construction of airborne infection isolation rooms. Proper selection of HVAC systems is crucial to help minimize the transmission of airborne infectious disease.
If you are planning a healthcare project and need information about construction zone ventilation, pre-construction test and balance, or any other ICRA based item, contact a member of the BCH team. Our design team has worked on many of the area’s largest health care projects and is ready to work with your firm and ICRA committee to ensure a safe and healthy environment for your clients.
BCH Mechanical has been a trusted name in Florida construction since 1976, delivering innovative design, high quality craftsmanship and excellent customer service. BCH capabilities include HVAC, plumbing, medical gas, piping, sheet metal, LEED, Design/Build, 3D-CAD/BIM coordination, and HVAC service. Visit BCH on the web: www.bchmechanical.com.