Ask HRC: Humidity Levels in the OR

​A Healthcare Risk Control(HRC) member recently asked for guidance or standards related to humidity levels in the operating room (OR), particularly whether an OR should be closed if humidity levels become too high.

In our response, we reviewed resources from the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI), and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The most pertinent information is found in CMS's interpretive guidelines for...