Following the release of a recent study questioning the quality of water in U.S. hospitals, a group of researchers from Central Michigan University is calling for federal mandates to regularly test tap water to protect patients from infections caused by waterborne pathogens.
CMU's Center for Applied Research and Rural Studies conducted a national study of U.S. hospitals and found the frequency of water testing in hospital facilities to be inconsistent. The results revealed the following irregularity of water testing among the 900 hospitals surveyed:
• 9.9 percent test daily
• 8.4 percent test weekly
• 1 percent test bi-weekly
• 27.5 percent test monthly
• 15.8 percent test yearly
CMU researchers are advocating for weekly water testing at a minimum. In addition, they advocate all healthcare facilities should be required to have a formal waterborne risk management plan, a waterborne infection response team and waterborne pathogen training for all staff. The university researchers have also issued a call to action to several healthcare organizations, including the American Hospital Association, The Joint Commission, the American College of Healthcare Executives, CMS and the insurance industry.
CMU's Center for Applied Research and Rural Studies conducted a national study of U.S. hospitals and found the frequency of water testing in hospital facilities to be inconsistent. The results revealed the following irregularity of water testing among the 900 hospitals surveyed:
• 9.9 percent test daily
• 8.4 percent test weekly
• 1 percent test bi-weekly
• 27.5 percent test monthly
• 15.8 percent test yearly
CMU researchers are advocating for weekly water testing at a minimum. In addition, they advocate all healthcare facilities should be required to have a formal waterborne risk management plan, a waterborne infection response team and waterborne pathogen training for all staff. The university researchers have also issued a call to action to several healthcare organizations, including the American Hospital Association, The Joint Commission, the American College of Healthcare Executives, CMS and the insurance industry.
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