Environment of Care

The following links are APIC resources on the environment of care for healthcare professionals.

Implementation guides and tools

• Infection Prevention Manual for Construction & Renovation
• Comments on CMS infection control surveyors’ worksheet—APIC Government Affairs 
• APIC Text (subscription required)
• Chapter 112, “Maintenance and Engineering”
• Chapter 113, “Waste Management”
• Chapter 114, “Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning” 
• Chapter 115, “Water Systems Issues and Prevention of Waterborne Infectious Diseases in Healthcare Facilities” 
• Chapter 116, “Construction and Renovation”
• It takes a team infographic—from the AHRQ Safety Program for Ambulatory Surgery (funded by AHRQ, developed by APIC and HRET) 

Education & training

APIC offers a comprehensive collection of clinical education and professional development programs. The following resources are educational opportunities related to the environment of care.

Visit the Education & Certification page for more educational opportunities.

• Visit the APIC 2016 Annual Conference website to search for education on the environment of care

AJIC articles

Search the American Journal of Infection Control website for more articles on the environment of care. To access these articles, you need to first login to the APIC website.

External resources

• Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for Safe Care—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Environment of care—The Joint Commission
• Environment of care management plans—The Joint Commission 
• Environment of care and safety self-assessment checklist—American Society for Healthcare Engineering
• Medical safety Environment of care/physical environment risk management toolkit—United States Army Public Health Command
• Legionella prevention
• Legionnaires’ Disease—Occupational Safety & Health Administration
• Minimizing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems—American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
• Guidelines—American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers 
• EXAMPLE CHECKLISTS FROM NATIONAL HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS:
• Environment of care/infection control inspection checklists—Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority
• EOC rounds checklist—Premier Medical Group
• Environment of care checklist—Massachusetts General Hospital 
• Facilities inspection checklist—Clinica Sierra Vista
• Sterilization resources—Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
• HVAC Design Manual For Hospitals And Clinics—American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
• FGI Guidelines available for purchase—Facility Guidelines Institute 
• The 2007 minimum design standards for health care facilities in Michigan—Michigan Department of Community Health

The following links are APIC and external resources on the environment of care and infection prevention for consumers.

APIC

• It takes a team infographic—from the AHRQ Safety Program for Ambulatory Surgery (funded by AHRQ, developed by APIC and HRET) 
• Staying healthy at home—Infection Prevention and You
• Staying healthy when you’re out and about—in schools, at work, and everywhere else—Infection Prevention and You
• Keeping your hospital room clean—Monthly alert for consumers
• Infection prevention in the home—Monthly alert for consumers
• Prevent infections by keeping your environment clean—Monthly alert for consumers
• Clean your home to prevent winter illness—Monthly alert for consumers

External resources

• Measuring patients’ perceptions of their hospital experience—Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS)