Is The Joint Commission considering a hazmat focus?
As you ponder the 2009 EC standards, hazardous materials and waste under EC.02.02.01 bears watching.
The Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO) did a lot of shifting around in this section. My fear is that Joint Commission officials are readying this area for some intensified scrutiny.
I think the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) healthcare-based activities in different parts of the country have identified hazmat management as something hospitals don’t yet do especially well (though, to be honest, I don’t think Joint Commission surveyors have received good education about EPA topics, either).
One to keep an eye on.
About the Author: Steve MacArthur is a consultant for The Greeley Company, a division of HCPro. He brings 30 years of healthcare management and consulting experience to his work with hospitals, physician offices, and ambulatory care facilities across the country. He is the author of HCPro's Hospital Safety Director's Handbook and is contributing editor for Briefings on Hospital Safety. Contact Steve at 
Debbie Reynolds | Aug 28, 2008 | Reply
It would be helpful to have more information on changes in EPA requirements that impact hospitals. One example is the EtO standard requiring action by the end of this year. 40 CFR Part 63 National Emission Standards for Hospital Ethylene Oxide Sterilizers.
Also US DOT made changes to the definition of medical waste last fall and added n.o.s (noth otherwise specified). Manifests need to have the new definition.
Scott Wallask | Aug 29, 2008 | Reply
Debbie, I don’t know if you subscribe to Briefings on Hospital Safety, but if you do, the March 2008 issue talked about the new EtO requirements. We will also be updating folks on this in the near future in Briefings.