Ohio Department of Health has finalized the Residential Care Licensure rules with a significant increase in the expectation for facilities to prepare and maintain a comprehensive water management programs. These water management programs help reduce the risk for Legionella and other pathogens in their water systems. Healthcare facilities have complex water systems that may promote growth of pathogenic organisms if not properly maintained. For this reason, ODH feels that it is essential that Residential Care Facilities must have a water management program that is effective in limiting Legionella and other opportunistic pathogens of premise plumbing from growing and spreading in their facility.

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious, potentially deadly form of bacterial pneumonia. The primary sources of infection are Legionella-contaminated water from showers, faucets, cooling towers, hydrotherapy pools and decorative water features such as fountains or water walls. The U.S. CDC reports a 300% increase in cases of LD diagnosed over the past 15 years. Reducing the risk of LD is a winnable battle. According to the CDC, nine out of 10 (90%) outbreaks of LD are preventable through a water management program. This webinar will focus on RCF’s responsibility for water management and assessing and controlling Legionnaires’ disease. Facilities must document its approaches to preventing outbreaks and ODH requires facilities to have water management plan.