After attending the presentation by Ray Dufresne I have come to the
conclusion that the infection control/ risk assessment requirements
being met is the most important practice to ensure this organization's
capital plan is successful. This best practice is commited to prior to
construction of the building. This process makes sure that there are
ways to transport waste, ante room layout, and negative pressure
rooms using HEPA-rated filters with monitoring systems.
I think that we all know the past two years have been hard on this
organization. The number one priority to combat this pandemic
should be controlling infection and spread of disease. Proper handling
and disposal of waste created at our organization needs to be one
factor we focus on. Excess debris can lead to spread of contaminates,
pests, and unsafe conditions.
Another factor to focus on is the layout of AnteRooms throughout
the hospital. "AnteRooms protect patients from harmful debris and
airborne pathogens, and for patient isolation and infection control"
(Hepacart, 2019). AnteRooms are a separate room from the patient
that provide a staging area for donning and doffing of PPE as well as
creating an airlock to prevent the spread of airborne pathogens like
Covid-19. "AnteRooms are necessary when hospitals have limited
isolation rooms or an emergency isolation situation to protect
patients from serious hospital acquired illnesses" (Hepacart, 2019).
Finally the use of HEPA-rated filters in negative pressure rooms will
filter pathogens that are spread through the air. As we all know Covid-
19 is an airborne pathogen and these filtration systems can prevent
the spread to caregivers and other patients. "Negative pressure
systems are designed to prevent contaminated air and particles from
escaping a room and infecting others" (Technologies, 2021).
Through these changes in our capital plan we can make sure our
patients and caregivers are in a safe healing environment with
minimal risk of hospital acquired infections.
References
Hepacart. (2019). What is an AnteRoom? Hepacart.Com.
https://www.hepacart.com/blog/what-is-an-
anteroom#:%7E:text=Why%20AnteRooms%20are%20Important%20
in,patient%20isolation%20and%20infection%20control.
Technologies, I. C. (2021, January 28). HEPA Negative Pressure
Systems and COVID-19 Patients. Infection Control Technologies.
https://www.infectioncontroltech.com/hepa-negative-pressure-
systems-and-covid-19-patients/
