Summa Health System to implement ICRA/Best Practices Training and Certification

AKRON, Ohio - Sept. 24, 2014 - PRLog -- Summa Health System has partnered with the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters (IKORCC) to provide Infection Control Training and Certification to all carpenters and tradespeople performing work in its hospitals. Beginning in 2015, per the bidding specifications, 24 hours of training and certification will be a requirement for all carpenters performing construction work at any of Summa Health System’s hospitals. In addition, an 8-hour awareness-training course will be mandatory for any other tradespeople.

Ed Friedl, P.E., Vice President Construction Department at Summa stated, “At the heart of every decision we make is patient care. It’s not enough that we have a highly trained team of doctors and nurses. We also want our carpenters and other trades people to have the best training possible for the work they do in our hospitals.”

In preparation for this change, Summa Health System is training its maintenance staff, key management, and construction related professionals in the 8-hour awareness-training course.

Friedl added, “We are excited about this new chapter at Summa. We look forward to working with the IKORCC and our contractors to continually be the best we can be and stay at the forefront of patient safety and construction.”

“I (Summa) have been looking for a hospital training and onboarding program for a very long time. After reviewing the ICRA program with Mike Bohan and Aaron Wright, it was exactly what I was looking for. The presentation given was right on point and brings into account the seriousness of what happens in a hospital on the construction side of the business. The program has been very well received by all of the local building trades and companies Summa does business with. The Construction ICRA Best Practices training is currently ongoing for both the 24 hour certification and the 8 hour awareness.”

Mike Bohan, Business Representative, ICRA Lead, APIC Associate, of the IKORCC said, “Our goal is to deliver a workforce of construction professionals that have a greater awareness and understanding of how to protect the patients, staff, and themselves, during building projects in occupied healthcare facilities, while productively performing their work without disrupting daily operations.”

Bohan added, “Construction ICRA Best Practices Training is building the bridge of communication to work in unison with healthcare facilities’ ICRA protocols that will ultimately lead to saving lives and lives affected by construction related hospital acquired infections.”

Aaron Wright, Business Representative, ICRA Lead, APIC Associate, of the IKORCC said, “Our partnership with Summa is raising the bar on patient safety. By utilizing this top-notch training, Summa is ensuring that their contractors and employees are implementing and adhering to cutting-edge techniques to minimize any risk to patients.”