* EC: Take a Walk-Through: Make an environmental tour part of your spring cleaning (PDF/QV) [REF: EOC, JCSC, LDR] EC News, May 2015, Vol 18, #5, Pg 9 JCe1501_B7

The need to perform Environmental Tours is supported by EC.02.01.01 and EC.04.01.03, but specifically required by EC.04.01.01. It is required annually in non-patient areas (business occupancies) and every six months in patient care areas (health care occupancies). Although the requirement can be addressed via monthly tours targeting “different designated” areas, it is not the same thing as a patient safety tour. This article recommends spring time (e.g., April) as an advantageous time for the first tour and advocates for scheduling the q 6-month tours around the same time each year for progress comparison purposes.  It also suggests the process be conducted by a multidisciplinary  group and suggested participants for such team are provided in a sidebar on page 10.  There is also a recommendation that the  process consist of 3 components: 1 – Visual observations, 2 – Random staff interviews and 3 – Review of relevant documents.  Useful examples are given for each of the components.
Tip: The relevant points of observation, staff questions and documents suggested in this article should be incorporated into your Environmental Tours. Consider including them on a checklist that can be used to collect data from the tour that will help with your evaluation and the demonstration of your compliance during survey.