22 Violations 2015 iHARLES D.BAKER
Governor
KARYN E.POLITO
.leutenant Governor
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Public Health
Bureau of Environmental Health
Community Sanitation Program
250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108-4619
Phone: 617-624-5757 Fax: 617-624-5777
TTY: 617-624-5286
Ellen Himmelman,Office Manage
Women's Health of Cooley Dickinson Medical Group
22 Atwood Drive
Northampton,MA 01060
Ms. Ellen Himmelman,
February 24,2015
MARYLOU SUDDERS
Secretary
MONICA SHAREL,MD,MP
Commissioner
Te(i'9f7 e24-8000
-www.mass.govidph
In accordance with M.G.L. c. I 1 I, §127A, and Massachusetts Department of Public Heal
105 CMR 480.000: Minimum Requirements for the Management of Medical or Biological Waste (State Sanitary nCode,
Chapter VIII),an inspection was conducted at Women's Health of Cooley Dickinson Medical Group at 22 Atwood Drive,
Northampton, MA 01060 on Wednesday February 4, 2015 by staff of the Department's Community Sanitation Program
(CSP). This inspection was performed as a follow-up to a January 21, 2015 roadway spill incident involving alleged
medical or biological waste on Rte. 5 in the town of Northampton, MA. The purpose of this follow-up inspection was to
ensure your facility's current compliance with 105 CMR 480.000.
FINDINGS
Based on observations made during the February 4, 2015 CSP inspection, the following violations of 105 CMR 480.000
were noted. Specifically:
105 CMR 480.100(C)(1)—The room designated for medical or biological waste storage prior
to pick-up for off-site treatment lacks adequate signage(universal biohazard warning symbol
and the word `Biohazard"in a contrasting color, preferably red, fluorescent orange or orange
red).
05 CMR 480.500(A)(I)
05 CMR 480.500(A)(2)—
—No written procedures were available on site for the identification of types and
quantities of medical or biological waste generated at the facility.
No written procedures were available on site for the safe handling and transport of
medical or biological waste within the facility from the point of generation to
the point of storage.
05 CMR 480.500(A)(4)—No list of emergency contact information was available on site.
05 CMR 480.500(A)(5)—No description of on site medical or biological waste storage areas was
available.
05 CMR 480.500(B) —No current record-keeping log for medical or biological waste was available on site.
30-Women's Health of Cooley Dickinson Medical Group-02-24-2015
Page I of2
IECOMMENDATIONS
'lased on the February 4, 2015 inspection of Women's Health of Cooley Dickinson Medical Group, 22 Atwood Drive,
lorthampton, MA, the Department recommends the following actions regarding the proper storage and handling of
tedical or biological waste:
Women's Health of Cooley Dickinson Medical Group should maintain written policies and procedures for the
handling of medical or biological waste on site to ensure compliance with 105 CMR 480.000 including:
o policies, procedures and training for the proper handling of medical or biological waste at the
point of generation through disposal to ensure appropriate documentation of medical and
biological waste management at Women's Health of Cooley Dickinson Medical Group;
o the establishment and on-going review (or revising as needed) of all such written policies
and procedures shall be maintained with the record keeping log on site;
o appropriate signage for the storage room where medical or biological waste is stored.
o maintenance of onsite Record Keeping Log for off-site treatment of medical or biological waste.
• Women's Health of Cooley Dickinson Medical Group shall provide the Department a written response within
30 days of the receipt of this letter that documents the correction of these deficiencies and on-going efforts to
ensure future regulatory compliance with 105 CMR 480.000.
'lease feel free to contact me at(617)624-5736 if you have questions concerning this matter.
sincerely,
3harathi Patimalla-Dipali,Environmental Analyst III
:c: Suzanne K. Condon,Associate Commissioner, Director, BEH
Steven F. Hughes, Director,CSP, BEH
James Bailin,Deputy General Counsel, DPH
David T. Williams, Senior Analyst,CSP, BEH
Merridith O'Leary, Director of Public Health,Northampton MA
John Lombardi, Director of Facilities/Engineering, Cooley Dickinson Hospital,Northampton,MA
480-Women's Health of Cooley Dickinson Medical Group-02-24-2015
Page 2 of 2
SRLES D.BAKER
Governor
tRYN E.POLITO
tenant Governor
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Public Health
Bureau of Environmental Health
Community Sanitation Program
250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108-4619
Phone: 617-624-5757 Fax: 617-624-5777
TTY: 617-624-5286
February 24, 2015
atricia Shaughnessy,Director
orthampton Council on Aging and Senior Center
7 Conz St.
lorthampton,MA 01060
Is. Patricia Shaughnessy,
MARYLOU SUDDERS
Secretary
MONICA BHAREL,MD,MP
Commissioner
Tel:617-6246000
www.mass.gov/Cph
t accordance with M.G.L.c. 111, §127A,and Massachusetts Department of Public Health(Department) Regulations
05 CMR 480.000: Minimum Requirements for the Management of Medical or Biological Waste (State Sanitary Code,
'hapter VIII), a visit was made to the Northampton Council on Aging and Senior Center at 67 Conz St., Northampton,
7A 01060 on Wednesday February 4, 2015 by staff of the Department's Community Sanitation Program (CSP). This
isit was a follow-up to a roadway spill incident involving alleged medical or biological waste on January 21, 2015 on
lte.5 in the town of Northampton, MA. The goal of this visit was to ensure your facility's current compliance with 105
'MR 480.000.
Ve spoke with two of the volunteers at the front desk, Mary Lastowski and Deb Bangham, and were advised that no
iedical or biological waste is generated on site. Although that is the case, we want to make you aware of our regulations
F such waste is ever generated on site. Please note that 105 CMR 480.000 shall apply to all generators of medical or
Biological waste and Sharps Collection Centers established for the sole purpose of collecting sharps pursuant to M.G.L. c.
'4C, § 27A, and shall also apply to home sharps,generated by residents at private dwellings.
1.copy of the regulations is attached for your viewing.
'lease feel free to contact me at(617)624-5736 if you have questions concerning this matter.
lincerely,
d'tAG.r�S�r.
lharathi Patimalla-Dipal
nvironmenta Analyst III
3c: Suzanne K. Condon,Associate Commissioner, Director,BEH
Steven F. Hughes,Director,CSP,BEH
James Bailin,Deputy General Counsel,DPH
David T. Williams,CSP, BEH
Merridith O'Leary,Director of Public Health,Northampton MA
Enclosure
180-Northemptan&eniorC G2-24-20t5
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