An unidentified whistleblower has revealed mold is growing inside the walls of Norman Regional Health System's Porter campus in Norman, Okla., and a contracted construction worker is not adequately removing the deadly substance, according to a local News 9 report.
During hospital construction, mold was found in patient rooms that were undergoing renovation. The whistleblower claimed the mold had spread to multiple floors but that the hired construction worker is not properly cleaning the mold. CDC requires mold at healthcare facilities be eliminated properly, which means applying a bleach solution before wiping it off and painting a barrier agent over the affected area. However, the whistleblower alleged the construction worker simply tiled, plastered and painted over the mold.
Normal Regional Hospital released a statement stating it is hospital policy to perform an infection control risk assessment prior to any construction project and the hospital takes environmental and patient safety seriously, according to the news report. Both the hospital and the construction company said specific action will be taken to eliminate any mold when it is found.
Read the news report about the mold at Norman Regional Hospital.
Read other coverage about patient safety:
- Submission Timeline Changed for AHRQ's Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture
- Johns Hopkins Study: Electronic Faucets Unsafe for Use in Hospital Setting
- Study: Higher Nurse Staffing Levels Can Reduce Infection Rates
During hospital construction, mold was found in patient rooms that were undergoing renovation. The whistleblower claimed the mold had spread to multiple floors but that the hired construction worker is not properly cleaning the mold. CDC requires mold at healthcare facilities be eliminated properly, which means applying a bleach solution before wiping it off and painting a barrier agent over the affected area. However, the whistleblower alleged the construction worker simply tiled, plastered and painted over the mold.
Normal Regional Hospital released a statement stating it is hospital policy to perform an infection control risk assessment prior to any construction project and the hospital takes environmental and patient safety seriously, according to the news report. Both the hospital and the construction company said specific action will be taken to eliminate any mold when it is found.
Read the news report about the mold at Norman Regional Hospital.
Read other coverage about patient safety:
- Submission Timeline Changed for AHRQ's Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture
- Johns Hopkins Study: Electronic Faucets Unsafe for Use in Hospital Setting
- Study: Higher Nurse Staffing Levels Can Reduce Infection Rates