ASHE Health Care Facility Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal regulation establishes minimum requirements for healthcare facility construction to receive Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement?
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910
- CMS Conditions of Participation (CoP) (Correct answer)
- EPA Clean Air Act Title V
- DOT 49 CFR Part 173
Correct answer: CMS Conditions of Participation (CoP)
CMS Conditions of Participation set facility and safety requirements that hospitals must meet to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid funding.
Question 2: What document guides the design and construction of new healthcare facilities in most U.S. states?
- ASHE Facility Planning Guide
- FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals (Correct answer)
- ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals
- NFPA 1 Fire Code
Correct answer: FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals
The Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines are the primary reference for healthcare design and construction adopted by most states.
Question 3: During an Interim Life Safety Measure (ILSM), which action is typically required when a fire alarm system is impaired for more than four hours?
- Evacuate the entire facility immediately
- Implement continuous fire watch in the affected area (Correct answer)
- Shut down all HVAC systems
- Notify the local water authority
Correct answer: Implement continuous fire watch in the affected area
When a fire alarm or suppression system is impaired, a continuous fire watch must be maintained in the affected area to compensate for the loss of protection.
Question 4: What is the recommended maximum water temperature at patient-accessible fixtures to prevent scalding, per ASHRAE 188?
- 100°F (38°C)
- 110°F (43°C) (Correct answer)
- 120°F (49°C)
- 140°F (60°C)
Correct answer: 110°F (43°C)
ASHRAE 188 and many codes limit patient-accessible hot water to 110°F (43°C) to prevent scald injuries in vulnerable populations.
Question 5: A healthcare facility engineer notices the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in a wet location patient bathroom fails to trip during testing. What is the correct immediate action?
- Label the outlet as out-of-service and submit a work order (Correct answer)
- Continue use until the next annual inspection
- Replace with a standard outlet temporarily
- Increase the circuit breaker amperage
Correct answer: Label the outlet as out-of-service and submit a work order
A failed GFCI in a patient care wet location must be immediately taken out of service and repaired before further use to prevent electrocution risk.
Question 6: Which rating system is most commonly used to certify sustainable design in U.S. healthcare construction projects?
- BREEAM Healthcare
- LEED for Healthcare (Correct answer)
- WELL Building Standard
- Green Globes
Correct answer: LEED for Healthcare
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Healthcare is the predominant green building certification system for U.S. hospital projects.
Question 7: In healthcare, a 'commissioning' process for a new building primarily ensures which outcome?
- Occupancy permits are filed on schedule
- All installed systems perform according to the owner's project requirements (Correct answer)
- Construction costs remain within budget
- Staff training is completed before move-in
Correct answer: All installed systems perform according to the owner's project requirements
Commissioning verifies and documents that building systems are installed, tested, and operating in conformance with the owner's project requirements and design intent.
ASHE Health Care Facility Management 3
Which federal regulation establishes minimum requirements for healthcare facility construction to receive Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement?