Certified Healthcare Safety—Long Term Care

(CHS-LTC)

The CHS-LTC credential focuses on using management principles to improve the safety and health performance of nursing homes and other nursing care facilities. The certification would be appropriate for individuals managing, leading, or coordinating nursing home safety. Earning the CHS-LTC credential provides recognition, documents achievement, and supports overall facility safety efforts.  Nursing care facilities need safety personnel that understand how proactive safety practice and management and supports operational effectiveness, improves resident care processes, and reduces organizational costs by preventing accidents.

certification handbook
Apply here

CHS-LTC Exam Blueprint

Domains 100-150 items
1. Management & Leadership36%
2. Hazard Control Management & Practice28%
3. Compliance & Standards36%

IBFCSM exams contain 100-150 multiple choice items. Exam results permit the assessment to determine a candidate’s minimum competency for certification. The blueprint reflects specifications published in the JTA Technical Report. Percentages reflect proportion of test items in each domain. Candidates use recall, recognition, comprehension, and application to answer items related to professional practice.

Domain 1—Management & Leadership (36%)

Domain 1 Topics

1.1 Identify accident investigation principles

1.2 Identify hazard reporting & analysis concepts

1.3 Identify principles of communication effectiveness

1.4 Identify key decision-making concepts

1.5 Identify disaster & emergency management

1.6 Given a scenario Identify facility safety priorities

1.7 Identify appropriate use of high reliability concepts

1.8 Identify human factors impacting safety

1.9 Given a scenario identify improvement processes

1.10 Identify leadership principles

1.11 Identify management concepts

1.12 Identify medical & care related errors

1.13 Identify occupational health issues and concerns

1.14 Identify dynamics operational safety culture

1.15 Identify quality improvement processes

1.16 Identify resident safety concepts

1.17 Identify risk management principles

1.18 Identify safety assessment processes

1.19 Identify safety priorities

1.20 Identify system safety methods

1.21 Identify training, education, & orientation requirements

Domain 2—Hazard Control (28%)

Domain 2 Topics

2.1 Identify principles of accident investigations

2.2 Identify appropriate antimicrobial solutions to use in various setting

2.3 Identify workplace equipment, tool, and physical hazards

2.4 Identify clinical and departmental hazards

2.5 Given a scenario identify employee personal protection equipment

2.6 Identify tool and equipment hazards

2.7 Given a scenario identify the scope of a facility safety assessment

2.8 Identify exposure risks gases and vapors

2.9 Given a scenario identify departmental hazards

2.10 Identify fundamental elements of hazardous material management

2.11 Given a scenario identify appropriate hazard controls

2.12 Given a scenario identify infection control and prevention risks

2.13 Identify key elements of job safety practice

2.14 Given a scenario identify risks of medical equipment

2.15 Identify methods for reporting hazards & injuries

2.16 Given a scenario identify safety priorities

Domain 3—Compliance & Standards (36%)

Domain 3 Topics

3.1 Identify accreditation standards (JC, CMS, DNV, HFAP, etc.)

3.2 Identify appropriate disinfectant safety regulations

3.3 Given a scenario identify regulatory requirements for biological/chemical hazards

3.4 Identify resident safety requirements and standards

3.5 Identify standards published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR 10, 21, 29, 40, 42, 44, 49)

3.6 Identify major healthcare relevant OSHA standards and compliance requirements

3.7 Identify safety procedures for using and handling of compressed gases requirements

3.8 Identify emergency and environmental management standards and requirements

3.10 Given a scenario identify ergonomics & human factors hazards or risks

3.11 Given a scenario identify facility wide safety regulations & standards

3.12 Identify roles and responsibilities of Federal Agencies (CDC, DHHS, EPA, FDA, NRC, & OSHA, etc.)

3.13 Given a scenario identify life and fire safety standards and requirements

3.14 Identify standards regulating use and handling of flammable or combustible substances

3.15 Given a scenario Identify hazardous materials management regulations

3.16 Given a scenario identify standards or guidelines affecting Infection control

3.17 Identify relevant medical equipment regulations and standards

3.18 Identify medical wastes storage and handling requirements

3.19 Given a scenario identify relevant occupational safety and health standards

3.20 Identify voluntary standards (ANSI, ASTM, ASHRAE, ASME, CGA, FGI, NFPA, NIOSH, etc.)

CHS-LTC Sample Questions

  1. What best describes the benefit of implementing a resident lifting program?

a. Improved quality of care*

b. Reduced worker compensation costs

c. Greater resident satisfaction

 

  1. Which NFPA publication exclusively addresses healthcare facility topics?

a. NFPA 13

b. NFPA 72

c. NFPA 99*

 

  1. What control would be first when protecting workers from airborne contaminants?

a. Isolating the hazard far from most workers

b. Providing proper local and general ventilation*

c. Requiring use of supplied air respirators immediately

 

  1. What control would be least effective in preventing potential food-borne illnesses?

a. Requiring food preparation workers to wash hands frequently

b. Maintaining hot foods on the serving line at 140F or higher

c. Providing a supply of cloth towels to wipe food prep surfaces frequently*

 

CHS-LTC Study Resources

Studying the resources listed does not guarantee that a candidate will pass the examination. Candidates must personally decide how they can best prepare for the examination. IBFCSM does not require any candidate to purchase study materials, resources, or attend any review session to qualify for certification. Study references include the following resources:

  • Healthcare Hazard Control and Safety Management, 3rd Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2014, J.T. Tweedy, ISBN: 978-1-4822-0655-5 Buy it here!
  • Self-Directed Study Guide, TLCS, Available in downloadable PDF and PRINT format. Buy it here!
  • Introduction to Hazard Control Management, CRC Press, 2014, IBSN: 978-1-4665-5158-9 Buy it here!
  • OSHA Hospital and Healthcare References, Online at: www.osha.gov
  • To Do No Harm, Jossey-Bass/Wiley & Sons, San Francisco, CA, 2005, J.M. Morath & J.E. Turnbull, ISBN: 0-7879-6770-X
  • NFPA 99-2012, Health Care Facilities Code Handbook, NFPA, Quincy, MA, 2011, MA, R.E. Bielen & J.K. Lathrop, ISBN: 978-161665141-1
  • NFPA 101-2012, Life Safety Code Handbook, NFPA, Quincy, MA 2011, ISBN: 978-006461807
Apply here