je dunn construction master logo
In The News
Healthcare

Preventing the Spread

Upping the ante on infection control in healthcare construction.

Now more than a year into the pandemic, the healthcare construction industry is continuing its transition from reacting to adapting and innovating. One aspect of healthcare construction especially impacted by COVID-19 has been infection control and preventing the spread. From protocols and processes to the solutions themselves, healthcare construction professionals are closely evaluating ways to enhance infection control practices to protect hospitalsโ€™ staff and their vulnerable patients, including:

Enhancing indoor air quality
Similar to the attention given to preventing water intrusion during a project, COVID-19 has led construction firms to give more attention to control and mitigation of potential contaminants in the air. In general, this is leading to greater scrutiny of infection control plans and oversight. According to JE Dunn project manager Brian Hatvick, โ€œAll healthcare construction teams should regularly be asking themselves, โ€˜If an air particle contains something that could harm a patient, is there any way it could get through our ICRA (Infection Control Risk Assessment) containment? And how do we mitigate that risk?โ€™โ€

To that end, โ€œIt wouldnโ€™t surprise me if we start seeing stricter ranges for negative air pressure in our anterooms and construction spaces, more similar to the air quality standards for hospital clean rooms,โ€ added Hatvick. Steps like this take airborne infection control to the next level, further protecting the rest of the hospital from air in construction areas.

Just as construction professionals are taking steps to improve indoor air quality, they are also further scrutinizing the air exhausted to the outside of the hospital. โ€œMore frequent use, inspection and replacement of HEPA filters on all negative air machines โ€“ including those used to push air outside the hospital โ€“ helps ensure even cleaner air intake for hospitalsโ€™ mechanical units, while also minimizing potential air pollution in the community overall,โ€ said Hatvick.

Teams must also exercise greater caution about inadvertently transporting potential airborne contamination from workersโ€™ clothing, PPE, hair and shoes via jobsite traffic. Particularly with demolition activities, teams must prevent workers from carrying dust and other contaminants when they leave a contained construction area. This is typically addressed by requiring workers to use HEPA-filtered vacuums on themselves and their clothing and exit on sticky mats to clean their shoes.

Teams should also consider taking additional measures, including consistently donning and doffing protective suits in anterooms, maintaining even cleaner anterooms, and assigning someone to perform quality control of workersโ€™ cleanliness in anterooms.

Enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols
COVID-19 has also changed the way infection control is managed on floors, handles, walls and other high-touch surfaces. For one, these surfaces are being cleaned much more frequently than pre-pandemic. Secondly, bleach-based cleaners have become increasingly more important. This comes with a need to enhance safety protocols and understand the impact of cleaning on surfaces. โ€œWhen increasing disinfection practices and using new cleaners, teams need to educate workers on product safety, including proper ventilation and limiting exposure to fumes,โ€ said Hatvick.

Understanding which surfaces can tolerate certain cleaners and what frequency of disinfection they can accommodate is also important.

Impact of modularization
In the past, construction teams used plastic or built temporary walls using conventional construction methods, like metal stud framing and drywall, for infection control barriers. Fortunately, the construction industryโ€™s general use of modular solutions has also led to enhanced infection control practices.

Now teams are taking advantage of temporary, modular wall systems and panels to efficiently contain construction areas and create more effective dust barriers. โ€œFor most scenarios, conventional construction methods are not optimal,โ€ said Project Manager Jake Siler. โ€œTodayโ€™s modular systems are much more effective at creating infection control barriers, easier and quicker to install, easier to clean, reusable, and can quickly be moved or changed as needed.โ€

Tried and true best practices
Education & empathy
There are countless practices for maintaining infection control, so educating construction teams on the intricacies of working in a hospital is critical. Formalized, documented training and educational materials regarding infection control, designed specifically for the healthcare environment are essential.

As standards and best practices evolve and change, firms must remain diligent about updating their healthcare training programs and materials, ensuring all workers have the latest information at their fingertips.

While education about protocols and tools is important, the qualitative, subjective side of infection control is just as important. โ€œJE Dunnโ€™s proprietary healthcare construction training program ensures everyone on the jobsite understands not just the how of infection control, but also the why,โ€ said Siler. Namely, leaders must ensure all team members understand whatโ€™s truly at stake during construction โ€“ potentially putting fragile patients like newborns, cancer patients, or ICU patients at risk of increased illness or even death.

Flexibility, dynamic planning & ongoing communication
As conditions change inside or around a construction area, infection control measures need to change with them. Thatโ€™s why project teams must remain flexible and recognize the importance of dynamic planning based on each projectโ€™s day-to-day needs. For example, creating awareness of changes in travel paths and movement of construction workers to and from contained construction areas ensures those surfaces are kept clean. This involves constant evaluation to ensure the correct plans, processes and resources, like cleaning supplies and PPE, are in place to maintain safety as things change.

Maintaining open lines of communication with the hospital regarding patient and staff movement throughout the hospital and other operational changes is another tried and true infection control best practice. โ€œThe facility keeps us informed of changes on their end, just like we keep them informed of any changes to our construction plans. For example, with COVID-19, some hospitals have quickly designated new areas for COVID-19 patients or triage, entry and exit points, consequently requiring our construction teams to assess and change our infection control practices,โ€ said Hatvick. โ€œThings can change at a momentโ€™s notice, so constant communication and collaboration between the owner and all partners is essential.โ€

Comprehensive process
Each hospital has different operations, as well as infection control processes and preferences, so infection control plans must be customized for each facility. They should fit the logistical and technical considerations of a jobsite, while also reflecting unique differences from one hospital to the next. While they are always founded on basic standards and best practices, comprehensive infection control plans must also be flexible with an emphasis on continuous improvement.

โ€œWith a customized plan, communication and partnership among all stakeholders, and a commitment to constantly evaluating, improving and implementing best practices,โ€ added Hatvick,โ€œ we can protect the well-being of all those within the hospital, which is our first and foremost responsibility.โ€

Article was originally published in the March/April 2021 issue of Medical Construction and Design magazine.

Read Now
Brandon Moore
Vice President

related headlines

Projects
Healthcare
Atlanta
Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
Tower Addition
Wellstar Health System
Marietta, GA
Projects
Healthcare
Des Moines Kansas City
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Forevergreen Road
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
North Liberty, IA
Projects
Healthcare
Tampa
Tampa General Health Behavioral Health Hospital
LifePoint Health / Tampa General Hospital
Tampa, FL
Projects
Healthcare
Denver
West Pines Behavioral Health Hospital
Intermountain Health / Acadia Healthcare
Westminster, CO
Projects
Healthcare
Nashville
Williamson Health
ED Expansion & Renovation
Williamson Health
Franklin, TN
Projects
Healthcare
Denver
Rose Medical Center
Rose Medical Center / HCA Healthcare
Denver, CO
Projects
Healthcare
Atlanta
Northeast Georgia Health System
Lumpkin County Replacement Hospital
Northeast Georgia Medical Center
Dahlonega, GA
Projects
Federal Healthcare
Kansas City
Fort Leonard Wood
Hospital Replacement
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Projects
Healthcare
Austin
University Health System
Women's & Children's Tower & Parking Garage
University Health System
San Antonio, TX
Projects
Healthcare
Denver
HCA Swedish Medical Center
Tower Expansion
HCA Healthcare
Englewood, CO
Projects
Healthcare
Portland
PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center 8th Floor Renovation
PeaceHealth
Longview, WA
Projects
Healthcare
Dickinson Kansas City Williston
Trinity Health Regional Healthcare Campus
Trinity Health
Minot, ND
Thought Leadership
Healthcare
Phoenix
Ahead of the Game: Leveraging Procurement to Keep Project Schedules Intact
Ethan Schneider
Senior Project Engineer
March 2023
Women in Construction Week
Campaigns
Healthcare
Nashville
HCA Southern Hills Medical Center Operating Room Renovation
March 2023
Projects
Healthcare
Oklahoma City Tulsa
Norman Regional 9
Free Standing Emergency Department Plus
Norman Regional Health System
Norman, OK
Brandon Moore
Vice President
No data was found