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Mac's Safety Space

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Issue

CMS provides yet a little more flexibility for the management of the physical environment

May 12, 2020

Environment and Facilities, Infection Control

By Steve MacArthur, Hospital Safety Consultant In the ever-unfolding saga of pandemic response, the folks at CMS have issued another couple of waivers relating to the physical environment. Of cours...

CMS emergency waivers now include some testing, inspections

May 08, 2020

Environment and Facilities, Policies and Procedures, Accreditation & Survey Preparation, Infection Control

After several requests, CMS finally issued a waiver for some — but not all — equipment inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) requirements at hospitals and other healthcare facilities for the dura...

Accreditation & Quality Compliance Advisor

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Issue

Coronavirus: Studies find steam effective in sterilizing used medical masks

February 15, 2026

Infection Control, Workplace safety

Two new studies show steam can effectively decontaminate medical masks including the N95 respirator mask. ...

Inside Accreditation & Quality

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Issue

Track infection rates to signal when to resume non-emergent care

February 15, 2026

Patient Safety, Infection Control

While some hospitals are just approaching their peak of treating COVID-19 patients, others are already looking toward the time facilities can start taking in patients—and revenues—for non-emergent ill...

Inside Accreditation & Quality

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Issue

Officials warn to stay prepared for second wave of COVID-19 infections

February 15, 2026

Natural & Manmade Disasters, Infection Control, Accreditation & Survey Preparation

Whether your hospital is already working toward recovery from a peak load of COVID-19 patients or is still amidst the onslaught and looking for extra space to put beds, remember there will be a second...

Patient Safety Monitor Journal

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Reusing N95 masks

February 15, 2026

Infection Control, Workplace safety

“Only respirator manufacturers can reliably provide guidance on how to decontaminate their specific models of FFRs.” ...

Accreditation & Quality Compliance Advisor

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Issue

New Infection Prevention Guidelines Highlight Lessons Learned From COVID-19

February 15, 2026

Infection Control, Patient Safety

“There is still much to learn about this virus, but these recommendations give hospitals an evidence-based reference,” said Judith Guzman-Cottrill, DO, the SHEA representative on the author panel, in ...

Accreditation & Quality Compliance Advisor

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Issue

Researcher: Coronavirus Pandemic Increases Risk of Physician Suicide

February 15, 2026

Workplace safety, Behavioral & Mental Health, Infection Control

The April 26 suicide death of a New York emergency room physician appears to be related to the pandemic, according to the New York Times. ...

Mac's Safety Space

- Volume

Issue

In the grand scheme of things, this helps—but how much?

May 05, 2020

Environment and Facilities, Infection Control

By Steve MacArthur, Hospital Safety Consultant A few weeks back we chatted about efforts to engage the 1135 Waiver process as a function of fire and life safety systems inspection, testing and main...

Inside Accreditation & Quality

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Issue

Inside Accreditation and Quality, May 2020

February 15, 2026

Accreditation & Survey Preparation, Natural & Manmade Disasters, Environment and Facilities, Infection Control, Patient Safety, Policies and Procedures, Workplace safety

Subscribers, download this month's full IAQ newsletter ...

CMS provides yet a little more flexibility for the management of the physical environment

CMS emergency waivers now include some testing, inspections

Coronavirus: Studies find steam effective in sterilizing used medical masks

Track infection rates to signal when to resume non-emergent care

Officials warn to stay prepared for second wave of COVID-19 infections

Reusing N95 masks

New Infection Prevention Guidelines Highlight Lessons Learned From COVID-19

Researcher: Coronavirus Pandemic Increases Risk of Physician Suicide

In the grand scheme of things, this helps—but how much?

Inside Accreditation and Quality, May 2020

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