HospitalInspections.org

Based on observations during the survey walk at the Harlingen Campus on the afternoon of 7/26/2011 while being accompanied by the Director of Plant Operations, the facility failed to maintain a rated barrier. The door did not latch at the door frame when closed at the west wing stairwell door.

Based on observations during the survey walk at the Brownsville Campus on the morning of 7/27/2011, while being accompanied by the Director of Plant Operations, the facility failed to assure the doors in smoke barriers had the required smoke control amenities. The opposite swing cross-corridor smoke doors did not have astragals installed to provide a smoke tight seal at the meeting edges of the doors when close.

Based on observations during the survey walk at the Harlingen Campus on the afternoon of 7/26/2011while being accompanied by the Director of Plant Operations, the facility failed to maintain a rated barrier. The door did not latch at the door frame when closed at the soiled utility door, which the soiled utility room is a hazardous area.


Based on observations during the survey walk at the Brownsville Campus on the morning of 7/27/2011, while being accompanied by the Director of Plant Operations, the facility failed to maintain a rated barrier. Soiled utility door was missing a closure to keep the door in a closed position.

Based on observations during the survey walk at the Harlingen Campus on the morning of 7/27/2011, while being accompanied by the Director of Plant Operations, the facility failed to provide, at emergency generator set location, a task illumination and an emergency receptacle. The light fixture(s) illuminating the generator set must be energized by battery power. The battery in turn must be charged by an electrical connection to a life safety branch panelboard. In addition an electrical outlet must be provided in proximity to the generator and this outlet must be circuited to a life safety branch panelboard. This receptacle is required to be red with the circuit and panelboard numbers on the receptacle ' s plate. Verify that the three conditions are in compliance

Based on observations during the survey walk at the Brownsville Campus on the morning of 7/27/2011, while being accompanied by the Director of Plant Operations, the facility failed to provide, at emergency generator set location, a light fixture which illuminates the generator that is energized by battery power. The battery in turn must be charged by an electrical connection to a life safety branch panelboard. The existing light at the emergency generator appeared to be only controlled via light switch.

Based on observations during the survey walk at the Harlingen Campus on the afternoon of 7/26/2011 while being accompanied by the Director of Plant Operations, the facility failed to provide documentation that the grounding system at inpatient critical care areas is being tested at least semi-annually. Facility must initiate a log to retain these records.
Facility did provide a log for receptacle testing in patient care areas annually.

Based on observations during the survey walk at the Harlingen Campus on the afternoon of 7/26/2011 while being accompanied by the Director of Plant Operations, the facility failed to assure that the essential electrical system was in full compliance. North air conditioning unit was supplied with power from the life safety branch of the essential electrical system and needs to be moved to the either the critical or equipment branch panel. The life safety branch of the emergency system shall supply power for the following lighting, receptacles and equipment: 1. Illumination of means of egress as required in NFPA 101, Life Safety Code; 2. Exit signs and exit direction signs required in NFPA 101, Life safety Code; 3. Alarm and alerting systems including the following: a. Fire Alarms, b. Alarms required for systems used for the piping of nonflammable medical gases as specified in Chapter 4, "Gas and Vacuum Systems;" 4. (Hospital or ASC) communication systems, where used for issuing instruction during emergency conditions; 5. Task illumination, battery charger for emergency battery-powered lighting unit(s), and selected receptacles at the generator set location; 6. Elevator ... 7. Automatically opened doors used for building egress. No functions other than those listed above in items 1 through 7 shall be connected to the life safety branch.

Based on observations during the survey walk at the Brownsville Campus on the morning of 7/27/2011, while being accompanied by the Director of Plant Operations, the facility failed to provide a distinctive color at the generator's emergency system electrical receptacle. The existing electrical receptacle at the emergency generator was white in color. This receptacle is required to be red with the circuit and panelboard numbers on the receptacle ' s plate. Per NFPA 99 ..... The cover plates for the electrical receptacles or the electrical receptacles themselves supplied from the emergency system shall have a distinctive color or marking so as to be readily identifiable. This receptacle must be powered from the electrical Type 1 EES panelboard.