Water Safety and Reducing the Risk for Legionella

Holly Harmon

Are concerns about water safety and risk of Legionella keeping you up at night? CMS released a survey & certification memo last year on requirements to reduce Legionella risk in Medicare certified healthcare facility water systems. In response to member requests for more guidance, AHCA has coordinated a webinar with Dr. Nimalie Stone from the CDC to help provide clarity to the issue and invite questions & answers. The webinar will be recorded and available to access on ahcancalED after the event date if you are not able to attend when it is live. Register Now and learn more!

Webinar Title: Water Safety and Reducing the Risk for Legionella in Nursing Homes

Event Date: January 31, 2018 – 1:30pm – 3:00pm (EDT)

Speaker: Nimalie D. Stone, MD, MSMD, MS; LTC Team Lead, Prevention and Response Branch; Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Description: Legionnaires’ disease is caused by a type of bacterium called Legionella. Those at risk include persons 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 hospitals and long-term care facilities.Transmission can occur via aerosols from devices such as showerheads, cooling towers, hot tubs, and decorative fountains. CMS expects Medicare certified healthcare facilities to have water management policies and procedures to reduce the risk of growth and spread of Legionella and other opportunistic pathogens in building water systems. This webinar will review the necessary steps to take and resources available to support your efforts in developing these prevention and management systems and processes.