According to the California Department of Public Health—all California healthcare facilities are required to have a Legionella prevention program in place.
- Does the facility treat patients over 65 years old?
- Does the facility have patients who stay overnight?
- Does the facility treat patients who have chronic or acute medical problems?
- Does your building have a cooling tower?
- Does your facility have emergency water storage?
- Does the building have a water fountain?
- Does the building have a misting system, atomizer or humidifier?
- Do the lavatories have aerators?
- Does the facility have showers, eyewash stations, infrequently used equipment, ice machines and/or filters?
- Obtain a copy of the facility’s most recent water sample report and where samples were taken.
- Have there been recent renovations where piping systems were disrupted?
- Is there an issue with sediment and scale build-up within the piping?
- Does the facility use instantaneous water heaters?
- Does the facility use domestic hot water storage tanks?
- Obtain the temperature of storage tanks, hot water supplies and return lines.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you will need to provide a protection and mitigation program.
It is helpful to create a flow chart or diagram of how the systems are piped using all of the data collected. Place it into a diagram or flow chart that allows you to see the entire facility as a whole and identify hot spots (potential sites for Legionella). Remember, Legionella’s fatality rate for a general public outbreak is 10%, however, in a Nursing or Long-term Care facility, the fatality rate could exceed 25%!
Are you prepared? OnSite Legionella Testing can help you develop a Legionella Prevention and Mitigation program, including a Water Management Plan and Support Services for all your Legionella prevention needs.
With thanks to phcppros.com for the above checklist.