Upcoming Events
◂ October 2026Water Management Programs: Protecting Residents from Legionella
Water Management Programs: Protecting Residents from Legionella10/19/20261pm2:30pm
Venue
via Zoom
Contact
Zoom Webinar with Kenneth Daily, Elder Care Systems
Healthcare facilities have complex water systems that, when improperly designed, maintained, or monitored, can support the growth and spread of Legionella and other opportunistic waterborne pathogens. In October 2022, CMS reinforced the requirement for nursing homes to develop and implement effective water management programs under F880 – Infection Control, building on the guidance previously outlined in QSO-17-30.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious and potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets or aerosols contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable to severe illness, making effective water management an essential component of resident safety, infection prevention, and regulatory compliance.
An effective water management program is not simply a written plan—it is an ongoing process of identifying risks, implementing control measures, monitoring system performance, and responding to identified hazards.
This webinar will examine the responsibilities of nursing facilities in developing, implementing, and maintaining a comprehensive water management program. Participants will explore CMS expectations under QSO-17-30 and Appendix PP, F880, while learning practical strategies to assess facility water systems, reduce Legionella risks, document compliance, and respond to potential outbreaks.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Recognize the Risks: Explain why Legionnaires’ disease and other waterborne pathogens pose a significant health and safety risk to nursing home residents.
- Understand CMS Requirements: Describe the expectations outlined in CMS QSO-17-30 and Appendix PP, F880, regarding water management programs.
- Conduct Risk Assessments: Identify hazardous conditions within facility water systems that may contribute to Legionella growth and transmission.
- Implement Control Measures: Describe practical prevention, monitoring, and remediation strategies to reduce the risk of waterborne pathogens.
- Develop Effective Programs: Identify the essential components of a comprehensive, facility-specific water management program.
- Document Compliance: Explain documentation requirements and how facilities can demonstrate program implementation and ongoing effectiveness.