Facility Operations - September 2015
Health system uses IT with acquisition strategy
Citizen Memorial Hospital focusing on connecting its system
9/30/2015
Mass. hospital practices emergency planning
Lowell General Hospital prepares for disaster with an all-hazards plan
9/30/2015
Q&A on fire-rated barriers vs. smoke compartment barriers
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question on fire-rated barriers vs. smoke compartment barriers
9/30/2015
307 hand-washing stations set for Jamaican healthcare facilities
Regional Health Authority is installing the stations as part of measures to improve infection control
9/29/2015
BIM can bring efficiency to facility management
A building information model (BIM) allows facilities managers to share information about building components from initial design through ongoing maintenance
9/29/2015
Bacteria-fighting copper making a comeback in hospitals
Hospitals are installing copper components on 'high-touch' surfaces
9/28/2015
Meeting the emergency management requirement
Each of the six EM areas should be broken down to identify single-point-of-failure items and critical consumable resources
9/28/2015
Infographic addresses when to use bleach in healthcare facility
Managing spending while attacking HAIs can be a tough balance
9/28/2015
Massachusetts hospital honored for sustainability
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts has received a 2015 Redevelopment and Renewal Awards for sustainability impact, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
9/28/2015
Drywall poses danger at max-security psych hospital
Patients are destroying the drywall and make weapons from materials found inside
9/25/2015
Securing protected health information during file disposal
When a healthcare provider changes facilities, it is important that they understand how to properly dispose of or transfer PHI
9/25/2015
Careful specifications can prevent flooring failure
Flaws often begin to occur at the base with the concrete slab
9/25/2015
Operating room environment can address strategic challenges
When operating rooms have the correct levels of HVAC, they can help hospitals decrease risk of infection
9/24/2015
Cleaning standards at UK hospital questioned with 22 C. diff cases in four months
James Cook Hospital cited for a lack of adequate isolation facilities and standards of cleanliness
9/24/2015
Low-cost ways to improve environmental services
Report includes staff-based initiatives to improve operations
9/24/2015
Q&A on E Size O2 cylinders with handles
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question on E Size O2 cylinders with handles
9/24/2015
Boston safety net hospital aims to become city's greenest
Boston Medical Center expects a 50% reduction by 2020
9/23/2015
Taking a closer look at waste-removal operations
More health systems are looking at ways to minimize waste and safely reduce waste-handling costs
9/22/2015
New sewage leak reported at Venice hospital
Latest sewage breach forced Venice Regional Bayfront Health to evacuate patients and wall off a section of the facility
9/22/2015
Ontario hospital doubles number of security guards
Guelph General Hospital's new program was a result of a security audit done in the emergency department
9/21/2015
ES plays a growing role in fighting HAIs
Blog on CDC website says organisms that are difficult to kill and impossible to treat make environmental cleaning more important for the safety of patients
9/21/2015
MD Cancer Center ES manager honored
Facility Cleaning Decisions names 2015 Managers of Distinction
9/21/2015
Strategies for successful collaboration between infection prevention and environmental services to target zero HAIs
Studies suggest that when infection prevention (IP) and environmental services professionals work collaboratively, rates of infection transmission, process redundancies and costs are reduced
9/18/2015
Hunterdon Medical Center ES director honored
Facility Cleaning Decisions names 2015 Managers of Distinction
9/18/2015
Q&A on offsite fire drills
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question on offsite fire drills
9/18/2015
Review of sterilizing procedures for reusable devices urged
CDC and FDA stressing public health need to properly maintain, clean and disinfect or sterilize devices
9/17/2015
Masking noise and conversation in healthcare facilities
Technology uses loudspeakers to distribute an engineered background sound throughout a facility
9/17/2015
ES staff hand hygiene is key to infection control
But often there is a lack of understanding and training
9/16/2015
Reusable instruments can be an infection issue for outpatient facilities
Infection-spreading medical devices include a range of reusable instruments
9/16/2015
Surveillance cameras key to overall security program
Surveillance systems can enhance access control, reduce theft and provide another opportunity to protect individuals, information and the hospital campus
9/16/2015
Health organization urges safe, 'smart' hospitals in Caribbean
Effort designed to ensure the facilities can function during disasters and reduce their environmental footprint
9/16/2015
N.Y. hospital's green expansion includes co-gen plant
Plant will produce 90 percent of facility's daily electricity needs
9/16/2015
ES 'Departments of the Year' honored
Northside Hospital and Seton Medical Center Williamson win magazine's award
9/15/2015
Special legal and financial factors should be considered for healthcare lease guaranties
A lease is only as strong as the guarantor's financial condition
9/15/2015
Why aren't more facility managers embracing sustainability?
Not every facility manager is able to prioritize energy efficiency projects
9/14/2015
Nonclinical staff have role in patient satisfaction
Nonclinical staff should consider the myriad ways they can help to improve patient outcomes
9/14/2015
Practice Greenhealth releases sustainability report
Report encourages hospitals to improve sustainability efforts
9/11/2015
Safety protocols questioned after patient dies after falling from hospital balcony
Saint John Regional Hospital patient fell from a balcony to the hospital's lobby below
9/10/2015
New hospital compliance resources available
Joint Commission adds resources to physical environment portal
9/10/2015
Quebec superhospital plagued by sewage floods
SNC-Lavalin and the McGill University Health Centre working to fix recurring daily backups
9/10/2015
Europe's oldest hospital gets green energy upgrade
London's St Bartholomew's Hospital is investing in a combined cooling, heat and power plant to help boost the capital's energy security
9/10/2015
Sioux City hospitals increase security, training
Hospital staff trained as trainers for active shooter situations
9/10/2015
Q&A on suite boundary
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question on suite boundary
9/10/2015
Natural disasters can hit healthcare finances hard
Emergency preparedness plans sometimes don't survive a natural disaster
9/9/2015
Networked lighting systems can unlock a healthcare facilities connectivity
The systems' capabilities include occupancy and vacancy sensing, flexible programming, task tuning and daylight harvesting
9/9/2015
Contractors can sink an accreditation survey
Healthcare facility staff should try and control the process as much as possible
9/8/2015
New technologies changing healthcare
Information technology will increasingly alter how and where healthcare is accessed and delivered
9/8/2015
Theft and budgets keep hospital's coffee under lock and key
The emergency department at Australia's Canberra Hospital to lock up the coffee and tea supplies due to budget restrictions and suspected theft
9/4/2015
Coordinating workplace violence prevention with community partners
A quality provider with experience in the industry will be familiar with best practices and standards that will enhance your plan
9/4/2015
Children's hospital installs a germ-zapping robot
The device is used as an extra layer of patient protection after hospital staff has cleaned the area
9/4/2015
Sarasota hospital is storm-ready
Sarasota Memorial Hospital has protocols in place to protect patients
9/3/2015
Kansas City hospital adds 'violence interrupters' to security efforts
'Interrupter's' job is to quell urges of retaliatory violence among shooting, stabbing and assault survivors and the victims' social circle
9/2/2015
Missouri hospitals working to prevent nurses' injuries
State is one of 11 requiring facilities to adopt safety initiatives
9/2/2015
Q&A on the path of egress through a construction area
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question on the path of egress through a construction area
9/2/2015
Dirty surgical equipment may have been used on 12,000 pediatric patients
Seattle hospital advises those who visited surgery center to get tested for hepatitis, HIV
9/1/2015
Four ways to save money while running a hospital
The average cost of running a small city hospital is nearly $200,000 a day not including clinicians' wages.
9/1/2015
Bike patrol targets smokers on Boston hospital campus
Brigham and Women's Hospital security guards check for smokers while making rounds on bikes
9/1/2015
Building automation can improve patient experience
Today's technology is allowing FMs to provide greater individual control in patient room
9/1/2015