Blogs - June 2020
California hospital suspends admission of non-Coronavirus patients after surge of staff cases
The facility has been preparing for this type of surge since the pandemic began
6/30/2020
FEMA paid company $7M for plastic soda bottles
Original order was for test tubes for COVID-19 testing
6/30/2020
Cleanroom requirements and classifications for healthcare facilities
Cleanroom facilities provide an essential barrier against the spread of contaminants and disease in the healthcare sector
6/30/2020
Assisted living facilities running low on PPE equipment
Many facilities said they have less than a two-week supply of specific PPE
6/30/2020
Healthcare facility environmental services managers share top concerns
Role of the environmental services department in patient care often underestimated
6/30/2020
Pandemic has greatly increased the use of telemedicine
Will it be the future of healthcare?
6/30/2020
California long-term care facilities build booths for visits
Families visit loved ones through Plexiglas during pandemic lockdown
6/26/2020
Long Island emergency staff wants more security after bomb scare
Two floors, including the emergency room, were evacuated in the incident
6/26/2020
Infection preventionists are preparing for COVID’s second wave
Part of the process are education and establishing plans
6/26/2020
R.I. hospital using disinfecting units to fight coronavirus
The units use disinfecting solution effective against COVID-19
6/26/2020
Battling COVID with a video camera
With the continued need for social distancing, hospitals are seeking ways to distance healthcare workers form contagious patients
6/26/2020
A sustained response to COVID-19 depends on key capabilities
Kaiser Permanente put together a checklist to manage a pandemic
6/25/2020
How can hospitals prepare for two disasters at once?
Coordination with emergency response agencies is key
6/25/2020
How access control technology is being used in the pandemic
Technology is being used to help eliminate common touch points, isolate infected patients
6/25/2020
Reducing HAIs with touchpoint disinfecting
EVS staff should focus their efforts on one of the most challenging areas to disinfect
6/25/2020
Implementing a healthcare data platform to promote high-value care
The global pandemic amplifies the day-to-day challenges of identifying gaps in care
6/25/2020
Unions say mask decontamination endangers healthcare workers
N95 respirators used by clinical workers are complicated safety devices and are meant to be disposable, according to an expert
6/24/2020
Pittsburgh company repurposing industrial masks to use against Covid-19
Elastomeric masks cost more upfront, but they can be cleaned and reused for years, with the filter replaced monthly
6/24/2020
Outsourcing: Going from 'housekeeping' to 'environmental services'
Professional environmental services make a science of cleaning
6/24/2020
Outsourcing: Going from 'housekeeping' to 'environmental services'
Professional environmental services make a science of cleaning
6/24/2020
Indiana hospital security guard shoots, kills patient and fellow guard during assault
Patient had attacked nurse and was choking guard that was killed
6/23/2020
Senior living facilities applying Covid’s infection-control lessons long term
Procedures have come under scrutiny during the pandemic
6/23/2020
The impact of blue light on patients at night
Light is critical to our health because it helps synchronize the biological clock that maintains our circadian rhythms
6/23/2020
What if hospitals face a hurricane and coronavirus at the same time?
COVID 19 has made storm preparations even more critical
6/22/2020
N.H. nursing home workers petition for COVID-19 stipends
Facility staff in Rockingham County want to be compensated as front-line workers
6/22/2020
How hospitals can prepare for a ‘new normal’
Hospitals are facing new challenges that have lead to technological innovations
6/22/2020
How to curb the spread of airborne and surface contaminants
Building’s mechanical systems can support occupant health
6/19/2020
Lessons learned in pandemic offer opportunities for change
Telehealth became more common with significant advances in the last 10 weeks
6/19/2020
Improving facility door security as crime risk increases
Door can have vulnerabilities that can be exploited
6/19/2020
Infection preventionists, environmental services staff urged to work together
COVID-19 is inspiring teams to improvise
6/19/2020
Cleaning machines may be smart investment for healthcare facilities
It is important that floor-cleaning machines be employed whether or not an imminent threat is already present
6/19/2020
Purdue University startup creates bedside hand-washing system
Project Process created a portable bedside sink
6/18/2020
Pennsylvania orders stricter COVID-19 protections for hospital workers
The measures include staff members in housekeeping services, dietary services and maintenance
6/18/2020
Sanitizing, stockpiling and communication helps keep nursing home stay COVID-free
Some of these steps happened before the U.S. entered its lockdown phase
6/18/2020
Environmental survey shows how HAIs often start
The researchers sampled 179 sites including sink traps, pulse oximeters, and door handles
6/18/2020
What hospitals can learn from the Parkview Medical shutdown
The good news is COVID-19 is not resistant to disinfectants
6/17/2020
Children in care at risk for coronavirus
Many have been locked down since late February facing isolation with strict social-distancing measures
6/17/2020
Regulations, Codes & Standards Q&A: Dead-bolt lock on closet door
Brad Keyes discusses regulations for a dead-bolt lock on closet door
6/17/2020
Environmental services technician certification proves its worth
Certification also helps decrease infection rates in hospitals
6/17/2020
Protecting healthcare facilities from drones
There continues to be a sharp increase in uses for drones - both positive and negative
6/16/2020
Reliable power source key during pandemic
In some countries, 25 percent of health clinics lack electricity
6/16/2020
N.Y. initiative boosts cleaning in longterm care facilities
Daily, discharge cleaning show improvements
6/16/2020
Alabama doctor invents hand-sanitizer-dispensing wristband
The device could be helpful in combating illnesses commonly spread by hand, such as the flu, the common cold and food poisoning
6/16/2020
Pop-up grocery stores popping into healthcare facilities
Foodservice company is converting existing retail space at healthcare facilities into 'pop-up' grocery stores to serve frontline healthcare workers
6/15/2020
Considerations for hospital and healthcare facility evacuations
Facilities should incorporate elements of an evacuation plan, with logistics and alternatives
6/15/2020
Healthcare design can help prevent infection spread in restrooms
The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need for better design in restrooms
6/15/2020
Coronavirus complicates hurricane planning
Storm shelters have to be designed for social distancing
6/12/2020
WHO says there’s a second outbreak of Ebola in Congo
Country already battling COVID-19 and measles
6/12/2020
Avoiding the hidden costs of environmental services staff injuries
Environmental services work-related injuries usually involve either exposure to harmful contaminants or musculoskeletal disorders
6/12/2020
COVID-19 would complicate hospital evacuations
The University of Texas Medical Branch has been training to deal with a complex disaster during a COVID-19 flare up
6/11/2020
CDC updates COVID guidance for assisted living communities
The update provides recommendations on infection reporting, visitor restrictions and group activities
6/11/2020
Tackling difficult carpet stains
When an accident occurs, it is vital to clean bodily fluids from floors immediately and with caution
6/11/2020
Chatbots are reshaping the way COVID-19 ERA healthcare facilities and hospitals connect with patients
Tools that allow self-service customer response techniques are more important than ever
6/11/2020
Survey finds almost 75 percent of campuses use multiple emergency notification systems
But this total represents a drop since the last survey
6/11/2020
Minneapolis hospital cancels surgeries over safety concerns
Emergency procedures continued but other surgeries were postponed
6/10/2020
North Carolina using drones in Covid-19 response
Novant Health received a temporary waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly the drones
6/10/2020
Healthcare facilities urged to redefine their culture
Establishing a career path and offering continued development is important
6/10/2020
HEPA containment systems for isolation rooms
Because the ductwork is protected by the filter, there is a reduced risk of a potential contagion spreading in the ceiling service spaces
6/10/2020
Resilient design for healthcare facilities about more than disasters
Resilience can be about how the design holds up in the long-term
6/10/2020
Georgia student creating COVID-19 protective equipment
The equipment is made using a water-jet machining process
6/9/2020
Nursing home workers face risks during coronavirus
A third of Covid deaths in the U.S. have been in longterm care facilities
6/9/2020
Kaiser Permanente releases guidance on bringing back employees to the workplace
The playbook was made in response to requests from the health plan's customers
6/9/2020
COVID-19 increases importance of hand hygiene
Proper hand hygiene training called the number one way to reduce the spread of illnesses and viruses
6/9/2020
Environmental services' role goes beyond cleanliness
EVS professionals can impact patient satisfaction
6/9/2020
Elastomeric masks may be an alternative N-95s
Elastomeric masks used with a P100 filter provides 99.97 percent respiratory protection
6/8/2020
Strategies for effective healthcare facility management in the time of COVID-19
To support healthcare workers and limit the spread of the virus in care facilities, the impact of identifying critical areas that need support such as HVAC, fire systems, security, and building automation systems is underestimated
6/8/2020
Many common cleaning products reported effective against COVID-19 virus
The researchers said the microbicidals ethyl alcohol, para-chloro-meta-xylenol (PCMX), salicylic acid; and quaternary ammonium compounds kill 99.9 percent of coronaviruses
6/8/2020
Drones are delivering medical supplies and PPE in North Carolina
It may be the longest-range drone delivery service that’s been approved in the U.S.
6/8/2020
CDC reports pandemic has killed close to 300 U.S. healthcare workers
More than 60,000 workers have been infected
6/5/2020
Maine healthcare facility switches to in-house security
The decision was made after an assessment of the physical environment
6/5/2020
Iowa manufacturer turns ceiling panels into intubation shields
The acrylic and polycarbonate sheets used were turned into medical equipment
6/5/2020
How nursing homes can bolster infection control
Infection control in skilled nursing facilities has come under scrutiny
6/3/2020
Manufacturers and providers – Superheroes in fighting healthcare cybercrime
More and more medical devices are wirelessly connected to the Internet and also to healthcare facility networks and their respective sensitive devices
6/3/2020
How cloud-integrated robotics can make your budget and staff more efficient – choose to make a difference today
The U.S. healthcare system must look for opportunities to automate tedious tasks
6/3/2020
Cleaning strategies during coronavirus pandemic
Focus on cleaning and disinfecting common areas where staff and others providing services
6/3/2020
Banner Health launching virtual waiting room
COVID-19 is expected to bring changes to maintain social distancing guidelines
6/2/2020
Facilities could be liable if healthcare personnel test positive for coronavirus
If an employee tests positive for coronavirus they contracted while working, or they unknowingly brought the disease to work and infected others, employers can be held liable for a workers’ compensation claim
6/2/2020
HVAC considerations for healthy offices
HVAC and cleaning strategies can create emotional safety for workers
6/2/2020
Pandemic will change how environmental service teams operate
Before the pandemic, infection prevention in healthcare facilities focused on hospital-acquired infections
6/1/2020
How Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is working to keeping facility safe
The hospital is encouraging families not to delay needed care for their children
6/1/2020
Longterm care facilities face challenges battling Covid 19
One of these challenges is the continued struggle to keep PPE in stock
6/1/2020
Optimizing physical spaces for telehealth
In 2020 alone, experts predict virtual visits will soar to more than one billion, with more than 900 million visits related to COVID-19
6/1/2020
