What do the big(gest) dogs say about emergency power systems?
When it comes down to compliance in the healthcare physical environment, the “true” Authority Having Jurisdiction resides with the folks at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in all their glory. In general, it falls upon the various accreditation organizations to “police” the requirements in the field, but the basis of all understanding comes with a solid grasp of the elements contained in the compliance “stew” (I’m writing this on a Monday morning at the airport, so my reference points may be a little bit wonky). It’s been rather busy in the travel department for me, so the time (and, to be honest, energy) to take on scholarly works has been quite limited, but that doesn’t stop me from checking out thought pieces by industry leaders and sharing them with you good folks—and today is no exception.
When it comes down to all things emergency power, I can’t think of a more reliable source of information than the good folks at the Motor & Generator Institute (MGI) and their blog is a spot to which I frequently return—and I would encourage you to do likewise. At the end of last month, MGI posted an excellent summary of the codes and regulations that form the fundamental expectations relative to the management of your organization’s emergency power supply systems and equipment. It’s a lot to take in, but I can tell you, it is well worth the time and effort to increase your familiarity with what is actually required. At the very least, it will help you to identify when surveyors stray a little too far away from what is required. Compliance looks different to different people, so being conversant with how your organization is in compliance with the standards can help inform the conversations before citations.
About the Author: Steve MacArthur is a safety consultant with The Chartis Group. He brings more than 30 years of healthcare management and consulting experience to his work with hospitals, physician offices, and ambulatory care facilities across the country. He is the author of HCPro's Hospital Safety Director's Handbook and is an advisory board member for Accreditation and Quality Compliance Center. Contact Steve at stevemacsafetyspace@gmail.com.