Healthcare Facilities
Protect your patients and staff. Control risk, reduce liability, and get science-based solutions to your most challenging healthcare environmental issues.
Contact FACSConstruction Risk Management & Monitoring
Construction workers, whether in-house or contracted labor, aren’t always aware of potential environmental risks their work can create. FACS helps you manage and monitor those risks.
See moreIndoor Air Quality
Air quality is critical to the healthcare environment. We help your team create programs and procedures to monitor and maintain indoor air quality for your patients and staff.
See moreOutbreak Response Investigations
Outbreaks from agents like Legionella, Candida, Aspergillus, and many others can arise from a number of different sources in the healthcare environment. We help track down the source of the outbreak and stop it.
See moreWaterborne Pathogen Management and Response
Waterborne pathogens in the healthcare environment often result from inadequate water system management or construction activities. FACS’ team of experts can respond if an outbreak occurs at your facility, in addition to helping you avoid them by building and managing your water management plan.
See moreMold and Moisture Management
Mold and moisture can be especially problematic in healthcare facilities. Exposure to mold spores can cause or increase the severity of health issues already faced by patients, create an unhealthy environment for staff, and potentially leave your facility open to regulatory and legal consequences.
See MoreWhy Work With FACS
Specialized Experts
Our Healthcare Sector Team is comprised of experts who have spent much of their careers working within the healthcare environment. Our experience allows us to addresses the day-to-day as well as the high-profile crisis issues in the healthcare environment.
The Right Perspective
FACS relies on science-based approaches and follows a strict internal quality control process for all projects. The safety of your patients and staff demands no less.
Current with Regulations
The Healthcare Sector Team stays abreast of changes in regulations affecting the healthcare environment. We help your team keep clear of regulatory agency problems.
Case Studies
Aspergillosis Outbreak at a Medical Center
Forensic Analytical Consulting Services, Inc. (FACS) was retained by a medical center in Southern California to assist in an outbreak investigation which included a mold and moisture investigation in selected patient rooms and nurse stations in one of the hospital’s critical care units. The assessment was performed to assess for potential sources and airborne levels of Aspergillus fumigatus mold spores following a reported Aspergillosis outbreak. The hospital was especially concerned about potential threats to patient health.
Fungal Infection Outbreak at a Medical Center
Forensic Analytical Consulting Services, Inc. (FACS) was retained by a university medical center to evaluate indoor environmental quality with respect to Rhizopus fungal spores in the air and on surfaces in their bone marrow therapy department. While no single source of the reported outbreak was identified, FACS did uncover conditions and issues that have the potential to negatively impact environmental quality at the facility.
Hospital Construction Project Requires Environmental Monitoring
A hospital construction project required cutting through the exterior walls of the existing structure to tie-in to a new building being erected adjacent to it. FACS was retained to assist with evaluating the project impact on the environment of care, which included monitoring concentrations of airborne particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5).
Waterborne Pathogens in Healthcare
A dental group discovered the limitations of filtration systems the hard way. By the time CDC officials and a local health officer pinpointed the source of the issue, dozens of adolescent dental patients treated by the dental group were infected with Mycobacterium abscessus, a type of bacteria that can colonize healthcare facility water supplies. In all cases, hospitalization and surgery were required to combat the infection. After irrigation water used at the practice was identified as the cause, the dental group filed suit against the filtration company that supplied the system used at the practice’s several offices. FACS environmental scientists were hired by the attorney representing that company to investigate and report their findings.
FACS Insider Blog
Fit Testing Respirators
Not only is fit testing required by OSHA, but — when done well — it provides assurance to workers that the employer is properly protecting their health in a potentially hazardous environment. For example, the COVID pandemic created an unprecedented need for healthcare staff to wear respirators during patient care. Entering a room where you… Read more »
Complying with The Joint Commission’s New Water Management Standard
Did you know that on January 1, 2022, The Joint Commission’s new water management standard for healthcare facilities went into effect? This new standard (EC.02.05.02, EPs 1 through 4) supersedes the previous version (EC.02.05.01, EP 14) which “addressed the need for healthcare organizations to minimize pathogenic biological agents in cooling towers, domestic hot- and cold-water… Read more »
Managing Waterborne Pathogen Risks During Hospital Construction
All demolition, construction, and renovation activities in healthcare facilities — whether planned or unplanned — require a pre-construction risk assessment (PCRA). Some guidance documents refer to this procedure as an “Infection Control Risk Assessment” (ICRA). The Joint Commission’s Environment of Care Standard establishes the framework. Certain concerns tend to get the most attention during renovation… Read more »
Our Healthcare Team
The FACS team has been dedicated to improving public health and the environment for almost 40 years. Our healthcare experts are actively involved with and members of respected healthcare industry associations, such as the California Society of Healthcare Engineers, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare, and more. With over 150 experts and our national reach, we’re ready to partner with your team to ensure the safety of your staff, patients, and the public.
View All Experts
The healthcare industry is rife with challenges that continue to evolve. Fortunately, FACS has consistently proven its dependability in Industrial Hygiene and other related services. Our organization values urgency, and FACS always delivers whenever we require their assistance. They are committed to adopting the best practices to meet our standards, and we remain focused on ensuring employee safety and a positive patient experience. FACS has been an instrumental partner in helping us achieve our mission, thanks to their team of highly experienced and trustworthy professionals.
PATRION MCMICKLE, MS
Senior Manager, Occupational Safety & Health