NJHA will host a complimentary webinar May 21, “CMS Requirements to Reduce Legionella: Risk in Healthcare Facility Water Systems.”

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services revised its policy memorandum concerning Legionella in healthcare facilities last summer. The memorandum applies to all hospital types and to long term care facilities. The bacterium Legionella can cause a serious type of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease in persons at risk, including those who are at least 50 years old, smokers or those with underlying medical conditions such as chronic lung disease or immunosuppression. Outbreaks have been linked to poorly maintained water systems in buildings with large or complex water systems including hospital and long term care facilities.

According to the CMS memorandum, facilities must develop and adhere to policies and procedures that inhibit microbial growth in building water systems to reduce the risk of growth and spread of Legionella and other opportunistic pathogens in water.

Faculty for this webinar are from the New Jersey Department Communicable Disease Service and Health Facility Survey and Field Operations.

This webinar is intended for physicians, chief medial officers, nurse administrators, infection control directors, infection control practitioners, quality directors, plant operations managers, environmental services and public health professionals.

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