Checklist for the application of Pan American Health Organization guidance on indoor environmental quality in healthcare facilities

This checklist was developed to support the implementation of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Guidance on Indoor Environmental Quality in Health Care Facilities. It provides a practical and standardized tool for assessing key environmental conditions that influence indoor environmental quality, including ventilation, air filtration, thermal comfort, and pressure differentials. 

Indoor environmental quality plays a critical role in reducing the transmission of infectious diseases, protecting healthcare workers, and improving the safety, comfort, and wellbeing of patients and visitors. However, many healthcare facilities face challenges in evaluating and maintaining the environmental conditions necessary to support effective facility management and infection prevention and control (IPC) programs. 

This checklist translates technical recommendations into a structured assessment framework that can be applied across a wide range of healthcare settings. The tool enables healthcare facilities to establish a baseline, identify strengths and gaps, prioritize corrective actions, and monitor progress over time through a transparent scoring system. 

It is intended for healthcare professionals, IPC teams, facility managers, engineers, maintenance personnel, and technical staff involved in the planning, operation, and evaluation of healthcare facilities. The checklist can be used as a self-assessment instrument or as part of joint evaluations involving external experts and health authorities. By promoting a systematic approach to indoor environmental quality, it supports evidence-based decision-making, continuous improvement, and the development of safer, healthier, and more resilient healthcare environments. 

Ultimately, this tool contributes to strengthening patient safety, improving healthcare facility preparedness, reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections, and enhancing the resilience of health systems. By supporting better indoor environmental quality, it advances quality of care and helps create healthcare environments that protect patients, healthcare workers, and communities across the Region of the Americas.