There are not many places where indoor air quality (IAQ) is as important as it is in a hospital setting. Whether you’re undergoing a renovation, building a new wing, or experiencing a potential IAQ problem, you need to know that the air your staff and patients breathe is safe. When hiring an environmental consultant may be a matter of life and death, here’s what you should look for.
One: Specific Experience in Hospital Settings
The hospital setting is unique, as are its environmental needs. It’s not enough for your consultant to have experience in environmental consulting–they should have specific experience in hospital settings. This ensures that they understand and can accommodate:
- The need to confine pathogens
- 24/7 occupancy and operation
- Confidentiality laws including HIPAA
- Business model considerations, especially the need to keep beds available for use
Two: Quick Response and Multiple Locations
When you have a potential IAQ problem, you need to know that your environmental consultant will be there, and fast. A firm with multiple locations across the region you serve can be available quickly and consistently when you need them. Multiple locations also help ensure that when there’s a localized or regional natural disaster, your environmental consultant can access resources elsewhere to meet your immediate needs.
Three: Multi-Disciplinary
IAQ issues rarely happen by themselves. Often, they’re connected to other issues such as materials disrupted by construction, mold growth, ventilation problems, or issues with the building’s systems. Look for a multi-disciplinary firm that can analyze the situation effectively by bringing experience in mold, asbestos, lead, industrial hygiene, mechanical systems, construction, architecture, and related environmental engineering disciplines. This ensures that whatever the underlying issue is, your consultant can design an effective and economical remediation plan.
Four: Regulatory Expertise
Few industries are as heavily regulated as the healthcare industry. Your environmental consultant should be well versed in all applicable national and regional laws, including OSHA, HIPAA, and all state and local regulations.
Five: A Partnership Mindset
When you’re facing an IAQ issue, the last thing you want to worry about is babysitting your environmental consultant. When your environmental consulting firm has a partnership mindset, you can make a single call and let them handle the details, knowing that they have your best interests at heart.
At GLE, we’re committed to helping our hospital clients get and stay up and running after an IAQ incident, as well as before, during, and after construction and renovation. We bring 27 years of experience with hospitals, and maintain up to date regulatory expertise. We maintain offices across the Southeast so that our multi-disciplinary team can get on site fast, and help you get operational as quickly as possible. Contact one of our IAQ experts today.
