Safety - March 2016
Nurse calls for increased hospital safety after attack
University of Minnesota Medical Center nurse urges change after being attacked by patient
3/29/2016
N.J. healthcare facility fighting for safer chemical regulations
Hackensack University Medical Center is working to rid healthcare devices and products of unsafe chemicals
3/29/2016
C. diff called deadly plague American hospitals refuse to face
Opinion piece in the New York Post says hospitals and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are bungling their response to spread of infection
3/28/2016
Hospital parking permit plan has staff fearing for safety
657 hospital employees were refused parking permits on site during normal working hours
3/28/2016
Q&A on locks on patient sleeping rooms
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about locks on patient sleeping rooms
3/28/2016
Are biofilms from hospital shower pipes harmful?
Some new bacteria with characteristics of species known to be harmful were seen
3/24/2016
Bacterial biofilms in hospital water pipes may be pathogenic
Researchers discover potentially pathogenic bacteria living inside water supply pipes
3/22/2016
Working with law enforcement for better healthcare facility security
Communicating a potential threat to all staff members is key
3/22/2016
Kansas College Hospitals to allow guns on campus
The hospitals will hire additional officers and ban guns in certain buildings
3/21/2016
Ohio behavioral facility reviewing security after employees assaulted
Two court-ordered patients at Heartland Behavioral Healthcare escaped the facility by stealing an employee's car
3/21/2016
Dealing with workplace violence at ambulatory care facilities
Freestanding site healthcare workers' risk may be elevated because police or security officers are not routinely assigned to these locations
3/16/2016
Q&A on connecting bridges
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about connecting bridges
3/16/2016
Healthcare facilities evolving as America's obesity rates rise
Sturdier medical equipment and heavier-duty hospital beds have been developed, but lifts are still an issue
3/15/2016
Elite are among America's germiest hospitals
One-third of hospitals rated by Consumer Reports got low scores on how well they prevent Clostridium difficile
3/14/2016
Lead found in water at N.J. healthcare facility
The staff has been using bottled water in lieu of tap water for drinking and food preparation at Morristown Medical Center
3/11/2016
Joint Commission updates sentinel event statistics
Most frequently reported types of events and the most frequently identified root causes are included
3/11/2016
ERs working to improve autistic patients' experience
More healthcare facilities are adding comfort aids, quiet waiting rooms
3/11/2016
Indiana hospital disarms its police officers
IU Health La Porte's security force was disarmed when Community Health Systems officially took ownership of 80 percent of the facility
3/10/2016
Antibacterial properties of graphene-oxide explored
Coating medical instruments and devices in the carbon-based material could help to reduce infections
3/10/2016
Do armed guards make health facility pharmacies safer?
Fifty-two percent of hospital security guards currently carry handguns, according to a 2014 International Healthcare Security and Safety Foundation report
3/9/2016
Keeping elderly patients safe and secure
Video interview discusses the issues associated with providing a safe environment for patients with memory and other issues
3/7/2016
Today's smoke evacuators clear surgical smoke at the source
Latest devices can be affordable, quiet and effective
3/7/2016
Study finds increase in use when hand sanitizer is located in hospital lobby
Placing alcohol-based hand sanitizers in front of the visitor entrance increases visitor usage by 528 percent
3/7/2016
Hospitals to cut purchases of furniture with antimicrobials
The Safer Chemicals Challenge is created to reduce the use of five chemicals in healthcare facilities
3/4/2016
Cardiovascular care facility removes fabrics to boost infection control
Allegheny General Hospital's new $26 million cardiovascular care facility has minimal linen and no curtains
3/4/2016
Designing a biocontainment unit
Early involvement of the frontline staff is crucial to creating a unit that meets the complex safety, operational, and psychological needs of clinicians, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
3/4/2016
Preparing for the emergencies in a healthcare facility
The challenge is to strike a balance between creating a secure facility and maintaining an open, welcoming environment
3/3/2016
Q&A on interior finish
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about interior finish
3/3/2016
Throwback photo of disaster planning
St. Louis hospitals revise disaster planning after tornado
3/2/2016
Study says copper surfaces destroy MRSA
Contamination often occurs via fingertips, drying rapidly unlike visible droplets
3/1/2016
N.Y. hospital security manager puts safety first
Retired police senior investigator now at Putnam Hospital Center in Carmel
3/1/2016