July 14, 2000

FYI: Protecting the MGH environment of care

Many MGHers at some point in their employment have been involved in a fire drill or have had to secure medications or dispose of hazardous materials. These and many other practices contribute to how the environment of care (EOC) at the MGH is managed. Managing EOC involves maintaining a set of standards – defined by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) – that address the creation of a safe, functional and effective environment for patients, visitors and staff. EOC considerations include issues of safety, security, patient privacy and adequacy of signage.

To maintain a proper EOC at the MGH, employees should be familiar with life safety requirements – any safeguards in case of a fire emergency – as well as other safety and security issues that can be found in The Green Book, an employee health and safety handbook.

This handbook is distributed to all new employees during orientation and can be obtained through the Partners Corporate Training Department. Employees also should be familiar with department-specific EOC requirements, which may include instructions about medical equipment use and handling of hazardous materials. Another resource for EOC standards is the MGH Safety Manual, which has been distributed to all units and departments and also can be obtained through the MGH Safety Office.

"When the environment of care is properly managed, we can create a welcoming place that supports and maintains patient dignity and allows for ease of interaction between patients and staff," says Maryanne Spicer, director of the Compliance Office and chair of the hospital's JCAHO steering committee.

A safe and functional environment benefits employees as well as patients. "Paying greater attention to the place and conditions in which we work offers a real benefit for staff," says Spicer. "They shouldn't have to fear injury, exposure to hazards or breaches to their personal security as they go about their daily routines providing care and comfort to our patients."

Jeanette Ives Erickson, RN, MS, senior vice president for Patient Care Services and chief nurse, adds: "Patient safety and employee safety are essential components of providing the highest quality of patient care. It is for this reason that we all must work together to provide the best possible environment of care at the MGH."

For more information about the JCAHO standards for EOC, call the Compliance Office at 6-5109.