In a health care environment, risks abound. This must-have book provides organizations with the tools and know-how to conduct effective assessments of potential risks and take steps to minimize them. Whether the risk issue is infant and pediatric abduction, infection control during construction, fire safety, or potential disaster emergencies, Environment of Carer Risk Assessment guides organizations through a basic risk assessment process and suggests potential high-profile, high-risk areas for consideration. It shows how to use existing standards tools such as the Periodic Performance Review, Interim Life Safety Measures, the hazard vulnerability analysis, and more. And, it provides case studies, examples, and worksheets for assessing and minimizing risk and includes a CD-ROM with interactive risk assessment forms. Performing risk assessments can help organizations avoid OSHA fines, accreditation noncompliance, and more. But the bottom line is that by performing prudent and timely risk assessments, organizations can help ensure patient, staff, and visitor safety.

The purpose of risk assessment is to support science-based decisions about how to solve complex societal problems. Indeed, the problems humankind faces in the 21st century have many social, political, and technical complexities. Environmental risk assessment in particular is of increasing importance as health and safety regulations grow and become more complicated. Environmental Risk Assessment: A Toxicological Approach, 2nd Edition looks at various factors relating to exposure and toxicity, human health, and risk. In addition to the original chapters being updated and expanded upon, four new chapters discuss current software and platforms that have recently been developed and provide examples of risk characterizations and scenarios. Features: Introduces the science of risk assessment—past, present, and future Provides environmental sampling data for conducting practice risk assessments Considers how bias and conflict of interest affect science-based decisions in the 21st century Includes fully worked examples, case studies, discussion questions, and suggestions for additional reading Discusses new software and computational platforms that have developed since the first edition Aimed at the next generation of risk assessors and students who need to know more about developing, conducting, and interpreting risk assessments, the book delivers a comprehensive view of the field, complete with sufficient background to enable readers to probe for themselves the science underlying the key issues in environmental risk.

The Chapter Leader's Guide to Environment of Care: Practical Insight on Joint Commission Standards Thomas J. Huser, MS, CHPS Quick, concise standard explanations for Environment of Care chapter leaders "This book has significant daily use and will prepare and support facility professionals. The author candidly describes how to make difficult things happen even when other people may not be immediately on board...and the survey preparation is thorough and very user intuitive. I like the easy-to-follow format. The policy and procedure forms and examples are excellent." --Stephen J. Thurston, Safety Officer, Emergency Managment Coordinator, Indiana University Health The Chapter Leader's Guide to Environment of Care breaks down the Joint Commission's Environment of Care requirements into easy-to-understand solutions to meet the challenges of these complex standards. You get simplified explanations of the chapter's key components along with communication techniques to help foster a strong and successful partnership between survey coordinator, chapter leader and staff of all levels. Plus, to make staff training easy, this guide includes two downloadable PowerPoint(R) presentations highlighting key compliance takeaways. Benefits of The Chapter Leader's Guide to Environment of Care: Build an interdisciplinary team to ensure Environment of Care compliance Achieve buy-in and support from leadership Educate staff of all levels on compliance utilizing ready-made tools and strategies Use practical advice from a seasoned expert in the field to avoid RFIs on your next survey What's inside: Standard-by-standard breakdowns and explanation by hospital safety veteran and expert Practical advice for successfully communicating with multiple levels of staff to better gain buy-in and compliance Quick tip sheets, checklists, and PowerPoint presentations for educating staff Sample mock tracer observations and questions in all areas of EOC Hospital safety and construction risk assessments Dozens of EOC policies, procedures, reports, and maintenance logs Department EOC report card and simplified scoring sheet to better communicate current compliance to department leaders and board members Table of Contents Part I: Organization and Accountabilities Board of Directors CEO Medical Staff Management Staff Key Players Part 2: Communication and Culture Hospital Staff Departmental Leadership Board of Directors Senior Leadership Part 3: Policy and Procedures Plan (EC.01.01.01) Safety and Security (EC.02.01.01, EC.02.01.03) Hazardous Materials and Waste (EC.02.02.01) Fire Safety (EC.02.03.01, EC.02.03.03, EC.02.03.05) Medical Equipment (EC.02.04.01, EC.02.04.03) Utilities (EC.02.05.01, EC.02.05.03, EC.02.05.05, EC.02.05.07, EC.02.05.09) Other Physical Environment Requirements (EC.02.06.01, EC.02.06.05) Staff Competence (EC.03.01.01) Monitor and Improve (EC.04.01.01, EC.04.01.03, EC.04.01.05) Part 4: Effective Survey Preparation Education and Training Organization Preparation Data Collection List of tools: Sample Board of Directors Report Survey Preparation for Physicians: Emergency Management Information Environment of Care Compliance: Sample Observations and Questions Survey Preparation for Staff: Emergency Management Information Security Quick Tips Temperature Logs Quick Tips Maintaining a Safe Environment Quick Tips Emergency Medical Equipment Quick Tips Fire Response Quick Tips Hazardous Materials Quick Tips Medical Equipment Failure Quick Tips Utility Failure Quick Tips Environment of Care Report Card Scoring Worksheet Safety Inspection Report Environment of Care Report Card for Department Leaders Safety Officer Statement of Authority Safety Risk Assessment Tool Officer's Report of Fall/Injury Forensic Patient Policy and Procedure Smoking Interventions Log Life Safety System Preventative Maintenance Grid Life Safety Equipment Repairs Log Interim Life Safety Management Implementation Worksheet Safe Medical Device Reporting Policy Emergency Generator Test Log and Report Construction Risk Assessment Form Employee Environment of Care Survey Plus: EOC Power Point Presentations: What You Need to Know to Train Your Staff Annual Education for Staff Who will benefit? Accreditation coordinator, accreditation specialist, survey coordinator, Joint Commission survey coordinator, Environment of Care chapter leader, safety officer, safety director, facility manager, and facility director Earn Continuing Education CreditsNational Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) This activity is pending approval by the National Association of Healthcare Quality for CE credits.

Risk assessment has become a dominant public policy tool for making choices, based on limited resources, to protect public health and the environment. It has been instrumental to the mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as other federal agencies in evaluating public health concerns, informing regulatory and technological decisions, prioritizing research needs and funding, and in developing approaches for cost-benefit analysis. However, risk assessment is at a crossroads. Despite advances in the field, risk assessment faces a number of significant challenges including lengthy delays in making complex decisions; lack of data leading to significant uncertainty in risk assessments; and many chemicals in the marketplace that have not been evaluated and emerging agents requiring assessment. Science and Decisions makes practical scientific and technical recommendations to address these challenges. This book is a complement to the widely used 1983 National Academies book, Risk Assessment in the Federal Government (also known as the Red Book). The earlier book established a framework for the concepts and conduct of risk assessment that has been adopted by numerous expert committees, regulatory agencies, and public health institutions. The new book embeds these concepts within a broader framework for risk-based decision-making. Together, these are essential references for those working in the regulatory and public health fields.