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Safety Management Services, Inc.
Welcome to Safety Management Services, Inc.’s (SMS, Inc.’s) website “Safemgt.com.” Safemgt.com is the homepage for our group and the entrance to “EC-Online™” – SMS, Inc.’s subscription website designed specifically for healthcare professionals who manage those areas known as The Environment of Care®. For subscribers of and visitors to EC-Online, the 2008 materials (Manuals, Monographs & reference tools) are being completed presently, and will be posted to the respective libraries by December 18th, 2007. We will be posting one section at a time, beginning with Safety Risks (EC.1.10-EC.1.20) and moving through the nine sections (to EC.9.30) in short order.
July 4, 2008 – Dear Healthcare Professional & EC-Online™ Subscriber:

The Joint Commission® has made available on their website their 2009 standards, including the sections for the Environment of Care®, Emergency Management and Life Safety (New!). These may be accessed at the URL:

http://www.jointcommission.org/Standards/SII/sii_hap.htm

Accompanying the standards are “History Tracking Reports” which are “crosswalks” comparing the Year 2008 requirements to Year 2009. Presently, TJC does not indicate the scoring for these standards, but that information is sure to follow. Presently, our technical staff are reviewing these requirements and it is apparent there are numerous changes for healthcare professionals to consider – as we flesh this information out, we will keep you posted with our recommendations on how best to proceed in your process of integrating these requirements.

Please remember, SMS, Inc.’s remaining educational programs in 2008 will have a complete overview of the 2009 requirements! If you are in Washington, DC for the ASHE meeting July 21-22, please come by and see us during the tradeshow. Have a safe and happy 4th of July holiday!
May, 2008 – SMS, Inc.’s 2008-2009 Joint Commission®-Environment of Care® Crosswalk. The “final-final” version of these changes have not yet “officially” been made available from The Joint Commission, and therefore this should be considered an interim crosswalk and a draft copy. The Joint Commission typically makes available the final-final standards in mid-June or thereafter…however, this crosswalk should be ~98% accurate. As soon as The Joint Commission finalizes the standards changes for 2009, this draft crosswalk will be replaced with a final version. Additionally, we will be expanding this crosswalk to include more detailed information as to what the changes mean to you and organizational tips for preparing your EC programs in 2009. Shortly after The Joint Commission releases the final copy of the EC Standards, SMS, Inc. will make available updated versions of our popular EC and EM “tab sets” for 2009, and will make the corresponding changes to our EC Manual, EM Manual, and the numerous other publications which reside in our EC-Online Library.

Within the EC-Online Library, please refer to our EC-Joint Commission Crosswalk – 2007-2008 to see the actual changes between the standards from 2007 to 2008. As it turns out, the lion’s share of changes will be found in the newly re-organized Emergency Management sections – EC.4.11 to EC.4.20. We have updated these sections first, so you’ll have access to them sooner rather than later – the updated Emergency Management materials are available now in the EC-Online Library under the heading of our 2008 Emergency Management Manual. Additionally, you may find it helpful to purchase from SMS, Inc. an expanded Emergency Management Tab Set, as the elements of performance for this section have been greatly expanded. Also, look to SMS, Inc.’s 2008 Environment of Care Tab Builder – the EC Tab Builder gives the user tools by which to “build” one’s Joint Commission® survey preparation documentation, often referred to as “Survey Presentation Books.” The EC Tab Builder directs the user – standard to standard, element of performance to element of performance, as to what the requirements are and which SMS, Inc. templates are appropriate to use in building one’s Survey Books.

As always, if you have questions of any kind, please do not hesitate in contacting us by email (info@safemgt.com), telephone (847-577-6550) or via EC-Online’s “Ask the EC Expert” utility so we might help you sort this out effectively and efficiently. If you’re a new visitor to our home page and would wish to tour and try our web-based services, please contact us at the numbers given above and ask for a no-charge/no-obligation “trial” to EC-Online.
The latest edition of our newsletter, Managing the Healthcare Environment, can now be accessed at the link listed below. The lead article addresses safety concerns around MRI equipment, which has led to a new Sentinel Event Alert # 38. MRI safety is also specifically identified in the Safety and Security Chapter (EC.2.02.0) in the 2009 proposed Environment of Care® Standards.
Will the BMP Scoring Advantage be Lost in 2009?
Reliable sources at The Joint Commission®’s Standards Interpretation Group (SIG) confirmed today that recent changes in the overall accreditation scoring process for 2009 would effectively negate the current scoring advantages a facility enjoys by managing a Building Maintenance Program (BMP). Under the present system, the scoring advantages as published in The Joint Commission’s Environment of Care® News™ are described as follows: (Read More...)
NEW to EC-Online the Joint Commission® Standards Crosswalk 2007-2008. Also available for free - Simply visit and fill-out the order form online or send an email to info@safemgt.com and it will be emailed to you as soon as possible!
NEWS RELEASE
SMS, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of a new seminar to our repertoire –

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 2008
Ready or not … it’s not a matter of “IF” but “WHEN”

This seminar is intended to benefit both the seasoned healthcare professional and those new to the requirements of Disaster Preparedness. We’ve designed this program to be relevant to Safety Officers, Emergency Management Program Directors, Emergency Medicine Physicians, ED Managers and Facilities Management staff. Our first program kicks off in Atlanta (GA), Wednesday, December 5, 2007 and then again in San Mateo (CA) Wednesday, January 9, 2008. In addition to a complete review of how to comply with The Joint Commission’s EM standards, we’ll also feature a tabletop EM exercise using the new HICS format, and show how to use and get the most out of Tracer Methodology for your Emergency Management program. These programs immediately precede our previously scheduled Environment of Care seminars – so come early & attend both, or come for Wednesday’s program only.
THE NEW EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
According to The Joint Commission®, an organization must be compliant with the new Emergency Management Standards (EC.4.11-4.20) by January 1, 2008. However, the Standards will not be released with the new scoring format and additional information until the end of October or the beginning of November. This does not leave much time for an organization to prepare.

To assist our clients, Safety Management Services, Inc™ (SMS, Inc™.) has prepared a revised “template” for an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and an Emergency Management Plan (EMP) to reflect the new 2008 Standards. Even though the EMP is not mentioned directly in the Standards, there are direct references to this document in other areas of the Standard that implies the EMP is still required (EC.4.11.11).

The revised EOP parallels the requirements identified in the Elements of Performance for the new Standards. In addition, it includes references to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) requirements and indicates the specific NIMS Elements required for compliance in blue text. These two documents can be used as the main sources for demonstrating compliance with the new Emergency Management Standards. An organization can use these “templates” to begin to develop their own Plans. It is extremely important that the individuals responsible for the Emergency Management Program review the documents and revise them to meet their needs. Utilize policies and procedures currently in place where appropriate. It will require a multi-disciplinary group to evaluate the information and decisions will need to be made on how the processes will be established

The organization’s Emergency Response Plans (ERP) can be included as part of the Appendix to EOP or be a freestanding document. Samples of ERP, as well as an Evacuation and Alternate Care Site Plan will also available from SMS, Inc. Forms, developed by SMS, Inc. and from HICS, are great tools to use for documentation and can be included in the Appendix. Remember, using the HICS forms are ideal when requesting reimbursement from FEMA as they have approved by them and are NIMS compliant.

As the deadline approaches, we will continue to provide examples policies and procedures for reference. If you have a question, please contact either myself or any of our staff members at SMS, Inc. at 847-577-6550. We are all in this together.

Lorrie Jansen-Adams, CHSP
Staff Consultant
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The final version of the “approved” revisions to the Emergency Management Standards for the Environment of Care® (EC) appeared in the June 2007 edition of The Joint Commission® Perspectives®. The Emergency Management Chapter will contain nine standards (EC.4.11 – EC.4.20), which incorporate the existing Elements of Performance (EP’s) from EC.4.10 and 4.20 into 85 EP’s in the new standards. Some of the existing EP’s, which contained several items, or bullets, become many of the newly numbered EP’s. However, there are 25 new EP’s that an organization must document compliance with the standards beginning in January 2008.

To facilitate the location of the existing EP’s in the new standards, Safety Management Service, (SMS) Inc, has developed two “crosswalks.” The EM Crosswalk Complete provides a side-by-side comparison of the EP’s for the 2008 and 2007 Standards. The EM Crosswalk Numbers is a matrix that identifies the location of the 2007 EP’s in the 2008 standards for Hospitals (HAP) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) only. Copies of both are available here for you to download. If you have questions or need clarification, please either email us at info@safemgt.com or call our office at 877-577-6550.
As the deadline (December 31, 2007) approaches for hospitals to complete the electronic version (eBBI™) of their "Basic Building Information" portion (aka, "part two") of their Statement of Conditions™ (aka, "SOC™" or "eSOC™") document, many organizations have expressed having great difficulty completing the eBBI while online at the Joint Commission®’s extranet website. A significant part of the problem appears to be the fact that there are many more and different questions to respond to than have been required in the traditional (paper) BBI document.

To assist facilities in gathering the appropriate information so that they might efficiently and accurately complete their eBBI, Safety Management Services, Inc (SMS, Inc) has prepared the following data collection tool. We encourage facilities to use this tool PRIOR to attempting to complete the eBBI and use it as a guide as one enters the data into the Joint Commission®’s website.
Safety Management Services, Inc (SMS, Inc) is proud to introduce our newsletter, "Managing the Healthcare Environment™." Our intentions for this newsletter are to provide the reader with current information and necessary tools to stay informed and ahead of The Joint Commission® and other regulatory curves. The articles are developed by individuals with widespread experience with the Joint Commission®, CDC, NFPA®, ASHE, OSHA, EPA and other organizations involved in the healthcare environment. Being better informed will allow you to spend your time and money where it is appropriate, and not waste it on bad advice or speculation.

The healthcare industry has undergone tremendous change in the past two years and is headed for changes that are even more dramatic in the future. Unannounced surveys, tracer methodology, periodic performance reviews, the Life Safety Specialists’ surveyor, and electronic SOC™ (see the lead article in the first edition) are but a few of the issues that can alter the industry. Our Editor, staff, and authors are charged with delivering current and accurate information regarding the healthcare environment. Please take this opportunity to review this complimentary edition of the newsletter.

A brief list of articles for this edition includes:
  • QuickCheck Fire Code matrix is now available
  • NIMS Compliance Training Deadline Approaches
  • Healthcare Facility Evacuated Because of Toxic Fumes
  • FDA Issues Immediate Recall on Infusion Pumps
  • Crosswalks Bridge Gaps in New Emergency Management Standards
  • Lead Aprons: When to Inspect and When to Discard
  • FAQ: Battery-Powered Emergency Lights in the OR
For a no charge copy of the Newsletter in .pdf format, click here… (Adobe Acrobat Reader required – if you need a copy of the Reader, please click here)
SMS, Inc. is a consulting company dedicated to providing health care facilities expert consultation in the area of accreditation and regulatory affairs. SMS, Inc. assists healthcare organizations as they prepare for their respective surveys, whether they be based on The Joint Commission®, American Osteopathic Association (AOA) or Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) standards. SMS, Inc. provides comprehensive Environment of Care® and Life Safety Code® support services, including Statement of Conditions™, electronic Statement of Conditions™, Plan Reviews, mock surveys, safety risk assessments, and publishes a variety of technical publications. Additionally, SMS, Inc. sponsors "EC-Online™", the health care industry's foremost web-based code and standards research service - EC-Online addresses facility-generated questions posed in relation to the Joint Commission®, AOA, CMS, NFPA®, OSHA and EPA standards and guidelines.

1500 N. Arlington Heights Road, Suite 1502
Arlington Heights, IL 60004-4827
877-577-6550 Toll Free ** 847-577-6550 Tel ** 847-577-6653 Fax
Email:info@safemgt.com



Joint Commission™ Reg.®, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations®

NFPA® Reg.®, The National Fire Protection Association, Inc.

Copyright © 1998, 1999 by Safety Management Services Inc. All rights reserved. The Joint Commission is a trademark of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. SMS, Inc. has no relationship or affiliation with the Joint Commission and the Joint Commission does not endorse or sponsor SMS, Inc.’s educational programming or publications.