Controlled Areas

• 3/2/2010
• Author: Kristine Miller
• Category: EC News Blog
• 7016 Views
• 0 Comments
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What constitutes a sensitive area in a health care facility—one that should be controlled by keys, key card access, or some other method?

The Joint Commission doesn’t specify or recommend to organizations which areas should be designated as sensitive. Instead, it’s up to the organization to decide that. How does an organization decide? By performing a proactive risk assessment that evaluates the impact external forces could have on the areas in question, say Joint Commission EC experts.

Based on this risk assessment, the organization will take the steps to designate an area as sensitive and decide what would constitute appropriate access control for that area. Whether the method of access control is the use of keys, key cards, or some other technique is up to the organization. The only stipulation is that the method of access control not conflict with the Life Safety Code®* (NFPA 101-2000).

* Life Safety Code is a registered trademark of the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA.