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Documenting Your COVID-19 Experience for Compliance Purposes |
Today, most healthcare providers find themselves still dealing with the greatest health emergency in modern times. By documenting their actions and efforts in a formal After Action Report (AAR), an organization’s COVID-19 response can offset the need to conduct a full-scale community-based exercise. |
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TJC Gets More Focused on Business Occupancies |
For years, The Joint Commission (TJC) dedicated little focus on business occupancies even though they often make-up a significant portion of an organization’s healthcare campus and services portfolio. That stance is going to change in 2021. TJC recently announced that they are adding business occupancy standards to the life safety chapters for hospitals, critical access hospitals, and behavioral health organizations.
Commencing in July of 2021, TJC survey teams will be applying the new standards.
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Storing Bulk PPE - Have You Created a Hazardous Area? |
Like so many new focus areas and challenges brought on by the pandemic, the emphasis on personal protective equipment (PPE) has created some unintended consequences in regard to Life Safety Code® compliance. With various states mandating significant PPE quantities to be on-hand, some organizations are forced to create new storage locations. This sometime involves the repurposing of existing spaces that were utilized differently in the past. In many cases, this essentially creates “new” hazardous areas. |
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2021 Will Be a Big Year For RPA Navigator |
In 2021, many exciting enhancements are coming to RPA Navigator to help you streamline, customize and simplify your emergency management and fire and life safety processes. We developed these enhancements using insights from over 1,000 emergency management event activations in the platform, lessons learned from working with more than 1,200 healthcare facilities, regional, state and federal operation centers, as well as feedback from our client partners, all of you.
The most visible change will be the name. In the first quarter of 2021, RPA Navigator will become ProtectAdvisr, reflecting our continued integration into Jensen Hughes, a global leader in safety, security, emergency management and risk-based engineering and consulting.
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RPA Welcomes Ted Pappas
Practice Leader, Technology Solutions
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Ted Pappas has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector with a focus of consulting health systems on implementing and managing enterprise solutions related to the physical environment. Ted’s expertise in solutions for the physical environment has given his clients the ability to realize operational efficiencies, reduce risk related to building systems and provide a better patient experience.
Prior to joining Jensen Hughes, Mr. Pappas served in leadership positions as Principal and Senior Vice President within the Healthcare sector providing Computer Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) solutions, Regulatory Compliance Consulting, and CAD services for hospitals throughout the United States. Mr. Pappas has a degree in Architectural Studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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RPA Welcomes Ronald Klus
Fire & Emergency Management Consultant
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Ron has been with RPA since 2020 after serving over 25 years as a firefighter, instructor and Fire Marshal. As Fire Marshal he conducted fire inspections, fire and non-structural building plan reviews and the commissioning of fixed fire protection systems. He is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) and holds other certifications in NFPA, ICC and NICET. Ron holds a Master’s Degree in Emergency Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Protection Technology. In addition, Ron serves as a member of the Technical Exam Committee for ICC and NICET. Ron serves RPA clients from the Richmond, Virginia area.. |
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RPA Welcomes Andrew Rice
Fire & Emergency Management Consultant
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Andrew is a Consultant with over 10 years of experience in the fire protection industry. He has extensive knowledge and professional experience in fire protection and life safety code interpretation, firefighting and rescue operations, emergency response planning, fire and explosion investigation, hazardous materials operations, and academic research. Prior to Jensen Hughes, he worked as a fire protection consultant in Muscat, Oman and a firefighter in Lincolnshire, IL. Andrew holds a Master of Science Degree in Safety, Security, & Emergency Management and dual Bachelor of Science Degrees from Eastern Kentucky University. His current responsibilities include reviewing architectural and engineering drawings and specifications for conformance with domestic and international codes including: NFPA, ICC, GCC, QCDD, UL and FM Standards. |
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RPA Welcomes Sierra Marchese
Fire & Emergency Management Consultant
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Sierra joined RPA in 2020. She has a Master’s Degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security from Arizona State University. She has served in the fire service for 15 years and continues to serve at the Mendon Fire Department, where she has held multiple positions, up to Captain. She enjoys training firefighters, creating policies and procedures and helping her community. She is actively involved as an EMT and maintains a position on the Monroe County Hazmat Team. Among her background, Sierra has training in safety officer, fire officer, fire police, and building construction. Sierra is in charge of the Explorer (jr. firefighter) Program at the Mendon Fire Department, which trains 10-18 year olds in fire safety, teamwork and steps to becoming a first responder. She serves RPA clients out of the Rochester, NY office. |
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RPA, a Jensen Hughes Company | Phone: 1-585-223-1130 | www.phillipsllc.com
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