Health Care Facility Management Flashcards
7 cards from real ASHE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Health Care Facility Management flashcards as text
A healthcare facility manager wants to implement a Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) program. What is the core principle of RCM?
Answer: Focus maintenance resources on tasks that prevent consequential failures
RCM prioritizes maintenance tasks based on the consequences of failure, focusing resources where failures would most impact safety, operations, or cost.
Which plumbing fixture location in a healthcare facility is most at risk for Legionella growth and requires special water management attention per ASHRAE 188?
Answer: Seldom-used or infrequently flushed water outlets
Seldom-used outlets allow water to stagnate and warm to temperatures favorable for Legionella proliferation, making them a primary risk point in a water management plan.
When a healthcare facility undergoes a major renovation, which assessment tool evaluates the potential impact of construction on adjacent patient care areas?
Answer: Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA)
An ICRA identifies infection risks posed by construction activities—such as dust and airborne fungi—and prescribes precautions to protect immunocompromised patients.
According to NFPA 101, healthcare occupancies are classified under which occupancy type?
Answer: Institutional — Health Care
NFPA 101 Chapter 18/19 covers Health Care Occupancies, recognizing that patients may be unable to self-evacuate and requiring defend-in-place strategies.
A facility manager is evaluating chiller plant efficiency. Which metric best expresses overall central plant performance?
Answer: kW per ton (kW/ton) for the entire plant
kW/ton for the entire central plant (including chiller, pumps, and cooling tower) is the standard metric for comparing chiller plant energy efficiency.
Which document formally authorizes a contractor to perform work in a healthcare facility and identifies specific safety precautions for that work?
Answer: Permit-to-Work (PTW)
A Permit-to-Work is issued by the facility to contractors before hazardous or high-risk activities begin, specifying required safety controls and approvals.
A hospital's boiler system fails during winter. Which immediate action best supports the 'defend-in-place' strategy for patients who cannot be moved?
Answer: Activate portable heating equipment and closely monitor temperature in patient areas
Portable heating equipment deployed in patient areas supports defend-in-place by maintaining acceptable temperatures while repairs are made, avoiding high-risk patient transport.