Safety - August 2014
Child killed by security golf cart in hospital parking lot
Three-year-old was hit by vehicle driven by Aiken Regional Medical Center security guard
8/29/2014
White paper on antimicrobial protection available
'Antimicrobial Protection for Public Building Applications' can be downloaded for free
8/29/2014
Experts question hospital infection-control policies
Screening and isolating infected patients not proven effective
8/29/2014
Probe finds hospital security not properly trained after man jumps to his death
The St. Luke's University Hospital security guard had not been fully trained in monitoring patients, according to Pennsylvania state investigation
8/28/2014
Maryland hospital trains for emergency drill
Statewide exercise tests rapid response during an earthquake
8/27/2014
Optimizing hospital security with identity management software
Need for security must be balanced with the individual's need to easily move about the hospital
8/27/2014
Study says C. diff patients will contaminate some staff
Healthcare workers urged to take extra precautions
8/26/2014
Study says health workers exposed to high levels of antibacterial soap chemical
Effects of potentially unsafe levels of triclosan under review by the Food and Drug Administration
8/26/2014
Preventing common hospital accidents
Ensure facility workers remember dangers by recognizing some of the most common hazards in your environment
8/22/2014
Century-old trees to be removed from Georgia hospital
Trees at Gwinnett Hospital declared unsafe after storm
8/22/2014
Infection control recommendations for Ebola questioned
Healthcare Coalition for Emergency Preparedness says CDC issuing contradictory guidelines
8/21/2014
Video shows flood waters burst through Nebraska hospital
Good Samaritan Hospital surveillance footage shows the flash flood waters burst through the cafeteria
8/20/2014
Study compares hand hygiene and environmental cleaning
Hand-hygiene compliance outperformed cleaning in infection control
8/20/2014
Georgia medical center working to balance gun law, safety
Safe Carry Protection Act of 2014 will likely mean guns can be brought onto the hospital campus
8/19/2014
OSHA updates respiratory protection directive for hazardous chemicals
Employers may be cited for violating the OSHA standard even when workers are voluntarily wearing filtering facepiece respirators
8/19/2014
OSHA cites Brooklyn hospital over violence to employees
Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center told to implement a workplace violence prevention program immediately
8/18/2014
Pennsylvania hospital found noncompliant after patient jumps from window
St. Luke's University Hospital-Bethlehem was not compliant with certain safety regulations
8/18/2014
Nebraska hospital hit with severe flooding
Flood waters at Kearney's Good Samaritan Hospital broke through the two-story ground-to-ceiling windows of the dining room
8/15/2014
Hand-sanitizer dispenser's color can increase hygiene compliance
A recent study showed that bright red hand-sanitizer dispensers can increase hand-hygiene compliance in hospitals
8/15/2014
Study says flashing lights increase hand hygiene
Hand-hygiene compliance at one hospital doubled after flashing red lights were placed on hand sanitizer dispensers
8/14/2014
Bed rail entrapment linked to mattress size, loose rails
Irish study says poorly sized or compressible mattresses may increase risk, according to an article on the Long-Term Living website
8/14/2014
Life Safety Code for IT closets
According to the 2000 Life Safety Code (LSC), there are no requirements to do so
8/13/2014
Smoke detector Q&A
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about smoke detectors in IT closets
8/11/2014
Delhi hospitals cited for inadequate fire-safety measures
Problems were primarily with non-functioning fire fighting systems
8/7/2014
Building deficiencies found at Maine hospital
Building safety codes issues found at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport
8/6/2014
Nursing home worker alleges she wasn't warned of shooter drill
Nurse says she was traumatized after she was 'taken hostage' during safety exercise
8/6/2014
Dozens of Alberta health facilities lack fire sprinklers
More than 80 facilities are not equipped with sprinklers and another 50 only have sprinklers in some areas
8/6/2014
Infection prevention recommendations for Ebola patients
Standard, contact and droplet precautions are recommended by the CDC for management of hospitalized patients with known or suspected Ebola Viral Disease
8/5/2014
New CMS regulations could mean changes for healthcare facilities
A key change would involve a requirement that 'high-rise' buildings be sprinklered throughout
8/5/2014
Minnesota hospital stops to increase patient safety
Rice Memorial Hospital uses red stop sign to indicate a no-interuption zone
8/5/2014
Ventilation checks Q&A
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about ventilation-check frequency
8/5/2014
Physician shoots armed patient at Philadelphia hospital
Facility policy allows only on-duty law enforcement officers to bringing weapons onto the campus
8/1/2014