Safety - May 2014
Clarifying proposed changes to smoke compartment size requirements
ASHE supports the change in NFPA 101: Life Safety Code that would increase the maximum smoke compartment size in new facilities
5/30/2014
ASHE survey seeks feedback on CMS Life Safety Code proposal
ASHE is also encouraging members to submit public comments about the proposal
5/29/2014
Florida hospital solves infection problem with communication
Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami uses weekly reports to hospital leaders to help nearly eliminate Acinetobacter baumannii infections
5/29/2014
Illinois hospital uses disinfection robot
Palos Community Hospital implements system to improve patient safety and prevent infection
5/29/2014
Video tracks path of hospital linen
Five children at Children's Hospital in New Orleans died from a fungal infection most likely spread through hospital linens
5/28/2014
Protecting safety while respecting patient autonomy
Once patients are admitted, hospitals have the responsibility to keep them safe. But hospitals aren't prisons.
5/28/2014
Real-time feedback encourages hand hygiene
Using real-time feedback may encourage hand-hygiene compliance, according to a study in American Journal of Infection Control
5/28/2014
Eyewash station Q&A
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about non-ANSI-approved eyewash stations
5/28/2014
White paper discusses fighting infection in long-term care facilities
As many as 2.8 million adults living in long-term care facilities contract HAIs every year
5/27/2014
Health facility business continuity planning
With increased risks of natural and man-made disasters, many hospitals have upgraded their business continuity planning
5/27/2014
Deadly fungal outbreak puts hospital laundry oversight in spotlight
While the CDC determined that the mucormycosis was likely transmitted through the linens, there has been no determination of where the contamination occurred - in the laundering process, in transit or at the hospital
5/22/2014
HIEs can improve disaster planning
Recent disasters have illustrated the need to access patient records remotely because of evacuations or damage to hospitals and clinics
5/22/2014
London hospital steps up infection control after rise in C-diff cases
There have been 22 cases of C-diff recorded at the Whittington Hospital - more than double its threshold
5/22/2014
Hospital staff prepares for decontamination emergency
Mayo Clinic Health System training simulates accident involving a chemical carrier
5/21/2014
Preparing for severe weather
In spring stormy weather plays a disproportionately large role in the disaster preparedness planning facilities managers do for their health facilities
5/21/2014
Common goals strengthen infection prevention policies
To achieve the level of communication and collaboration necessary to uphold their objective, the infection prevention and sterile processing departments must understand the roles they play
5/20/2014
Making senior care bathrooms safer
Chance of bathing injuries can be reduced by correctly using bath safety equipment
5/19/2014
'Hand Hygiene All-Americans' named
100 healthcare workers recognized for demonstrating safety, quality and leadership in their hand hygiene practices
5/19/2014
Fire dampers Q&A
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about installing fire dampers in a pneumatic tube system
5/19/2014
Nursing home tornado shelters recommended
Government report says the tornado that destroyed a Missouri nursing home three years ago showed that long-term care facilities need to have specially designed shelters
5/15/2014
Oklahoma hospital prepares well before the storm
St. Anthony Shawnee Hospital starts working days before severe weather comes to keep all patients, visitors and staff safe
5/15/2014
New devices launched to improve hand-hygiene compliance
Two new entires in the hand-hygiene market were designed to make it more convenient for healthcare workers to remain compliant
5/15/2014
White paper series explores clinical alarm safety
Two-part white paper discusses managing alarms, alerts and interruptions to improve patient safety
5/14/2014
How to prepare for the 2012 Life Safety Code
Although the CMS proposed rule covers a lot of ground, the vast majority of it is familiar territory
5/14/2014
Facility says security guard charged with killing resident passed background check, drug tests
Two residents were beaten with a car jack and one subsequently died of his injuries
5/13/2014
Calculating the cost of adopting 2012 Life Safety Code
CMS estimates cost to healthcare organizations to implement the new Life Safety Code rules
5/13/2014
Spreading information can help curb HAIs
According to research, frequent e-mails to facility leaders can help fight an outbreak
5/9/2014
50 leaders in patient safety field
Becker's Hospital Review list includes professionals from healthcare organizations, national organizations, universities and other institutions
5/9/2014
Temporary hospital sent to Mississippi after tornado
North Carolina sends 18 trucks of equipment and supplies after storm damages Louisville healthcare facilities
5/8/2014
Mock disaster tests Ontario hospital privacy procedures
Soldiers' Memorial Hospital in Simcoe County stages car accident with chemical spill to test the hospital's emergency preparedness
5/8/2014
Hand hygiene in New Zealand hospitals improving
Good hand-hygiene practices are being followed nearly 73 percent of the time across the country's hospitals, report says
5/8/2014
New superbug infection found every 18 minutes in Hong Kong public hospitals
Cases have risen 15 percent since 2011, with overcrowding and Hong Kong's ageing population blamed
5/7/2014
Safety scores say hospitals are showing improvement
According to newly released data, despite progress, even some premier medical institutions are falling behind when it comes to patient safety
5/7/2014
Infection control measures at Worcestershire hospitals get thumbs-up
Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited both hospitals to assess the standards of cleanliness and how staff were working to prevent the spread of infections such as norovirus
5/6/2014
Florida hospital on mock 'high alert'
Highlands Regional Medical Center holds disaster drill, coordinated to give county crisis-response employees, first-responders and staff a hands-on experience of what would take place in the event of an actual crisis situation
5/6/2014
New Orleans area hospital conducts 'active shooter' drill
East Jefferson General Hospital simulates a scenario involving a gunman roaming the facility
5/5/2014
New Orleans deaths raise questions about handling of linens
Five children died during an outbreak of a flesh-eating fungal infection at Children's Hospital between August 2008 and July 2009
5/2/2014
Rally in Sacramento calls for stronger safety standards throughout hospitals
California lawmakers are working on a bill to make hospitals safer in an effort that some are calling a waste of time and money
5/2/2014
UK hospital issuing personal alarms, panic buttons to staff
Accident and emergency department at Noble's Hospital is reviewing safety procedures
5/1/2014
Hospital bug blamed for hospital ward closures in Wales
Increases in bed closures at Glan Clwyd Hospital were six times higher than at other hospitals in North Wales
5/1/2014
South Carolina Hospital honored for infection control
GHS Laurens County Memorial Hospital in Clinton has received two patient safety awards
5/1/2014