CHC Healthcare Compliance & Regulations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which regulatory body publishes the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals?
- The Joint Commission
- American Institute of Architects (AIA)
- Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) (Correct answer)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Correct answer: Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI)
The Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) publishes the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities, which many states adopt as code.
Question 2: Under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), healthcare construction contractors must provide which protection to workers who may be exposed to blood?
- N95 respirators only
- Hepatitis B vaccination at no cost to the worker (Correct answer)
- Annual TB testing
- Lead blood level monitoring
Correct answer: Hepatitis B vaccination at no cost to the worker
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard requires employers to offer Hepatitis B vaccinations at no cost to workers with potential occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
Question 3: In healthcare construction, a 'Type C' ICRA barrier is BEST described as:
- Plastic sheeting stapled to existing walls
- A sealed, floor-to-deck hard wall barrier with negative air pressure (Correct answer)
- Caution tape around the work area
- A temporary chain-link fence
Correct answer: A sealed, floor-to-deck hard wall barrier with negative air pressure
A Type C (also called Class III or IV) ICRA barrier is a hard-wall, floor-to-deck enclosure with negative air pressure maintained to prevent fungal spore migration into occupied areas.
Question 4: Which federal law requires healthcare facilities receiving Medicare or Medicaid funding to meet specific physical environment standards?
- HIPAA
- Social Security Act (Conditions of Participation) (Correct answer)
- Sarbanes-Oxley Act
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Correct answer: Social Security Act (Conditions of Participation)
The Social Security Act's Conditions of Participation (CoPs) establish the physical environment and life safety requirements that facilities must meet to receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
Question 5: A healthcare facility's construction project requires a new medical gas system. Which code primarily governs its design and installation?
- NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code (Correct answer)
- NFPA 13 Sprinkler Systems
- ASME B31.3 Process Piping
- ASHRAE 170 Ventilation of Health Care Facilities
Correct answer: NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code
NFPA 99, the Health Care Facilities Code, contains the comprehensive requirements for medical gas and vacuum systems in healthcare occupancies.
Question 6: What does the term 'authority having jurisdiction' (AHJ) mean in the context of healthcare construction compliance?
- The general contractor's project manager
- The organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code (Correct answer)
- The hospital's legal department
- The architect of record
Correct answer: The organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code
The AHJ is the organization, office, or individual (such as a fire marshal or building official) responsible for enforcing requirements of a code or standard.
Question 7: During a healthcare renovation, a contractor must maintain egress paths for building occupants. What minimum clear width is typically required for corridors in a hospital per NFPA 101?
- 36 inches
- 44 inches
- 60 inches (Correct answer)
- 72 inches
Correct answer: 60 inches
NFPA 101 Life Safety Code requires a minimum corridor width of 8 feet (96 inches) in new hospitals, but the functional minimum for maintaining egress during construction is typically 60 inches to allow patient bed movement.
CHC Healthcare Compliance & Regulations 3
Which regulatory body publishes the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals?