When are hospitals required to use Interim Life Safety Measures?

Interim Life Safety Measures (ILSMs) are temporary measures that hospitals can take to improve their life safety systems in response to a deficiency cited by the fire marshal or other authority having jurisdiction. Hospitals are required to use ILSMs when:

* The deficiency poses an immediate threat to the life or safety of patients, staff, or visitors.

* The hospital does not have the financial resources to immediately correct the deficiency.

* The hospital is waiting for approval of a construction project that will correct the deficiency.

ILSMs are not a permanent solution to life safety deficiencies, and hospitals must ultimately correct the deficiencies within a reasonable timeframe.