Blogs - November 2018
Wildfire evacuee shelters hit by viral outbreaks
Cleanup crews work to curb spread of sickness with a powerful chemical disinfectant
11/30/2018
Healthcare worker protection: The key to pandemic containment
Prioritizing the protection of healthcare workers can ensure a resilient frontline defense
11/30/2018
Intelligent ventilation system enables creation of energy-efficient 'Smart Labs'
UC Irvine developed 'Smart Labs' with demand control ventilation systems
11/30/2018
N.Y. hospital institute new security policy for visitors
Security officers have been stationed at all entrances to help guide patients and visitors
11/30/2018
Chicago hospital’s training, preparation praised after fatal shooting
The staff only recently had reviewed how to respond to an active shooter
11/29/2018
Children return to Wanaque facility where 11 died in adenovirus outbreak
Three children have been returned, with their families' permission, after recovering at area hospitals
11/29/2018
Healthcare facility noise pollution can impact quality and safety of healthcare
Noise is a worsening problem, with levels regularly exceeding international recommendations
11/29/2018
ECRI Institute opens access to clinical practice guidelines
The healthcare community has free access to the website
11/29/2018
Experts urge healthcare facilities to review safety plans
The shooting at Mercy Hospital in Chicago demonstrates the difficulty of keeping hospitals safe
11/28/2018
Healthcare facilities focusing on security long before Chicago shooting
Chicago shooting highlights the benefits and limitations of the heightened sense of alert
11/28/2018
Scrubs vending machines designed to curb OR contamination
Sales reps are required to buy scrubs while inside healthcare facilities
11/28/2018
Launderable mattress barrier may cut hospital-acquired infections
Clostridium difficile can be spread via neglected surfaces, such as those underneath hospital beds
11/28/2018
N.J. facility separates patients after 11th child dies from viral outbreak
The state ordered 'medically-fragile' children separated from those who are sick
11/27/2018
Garage becomes makeshift hospital during Calif. wildfires
Ambulance uses garage to keep patients safe
11/27/2018
Survey suggests healthcare facility security is getting better
American Society for Health Care Engineering’s 2018 Hospital Security Survey found hospitals were taking steps to control hospital access
11/27/2018
Hospital evacuates ER due to 'unpleasant odor' caused by blocked grease trap
A 'code yellow' — a disaster that requires an emergency and urgent response — was declared because the Royal Hobart was already operating at the highest stress load
11/27/2018
Environmental health and safety versus demand control ventilation: Challenges and opportunities
New solutions offer ways to proactively prioritize laboratory safety and system performance
11/27/2018
Building a compliant emergency preparedness program
An effective emergency preparedness program is more than a written plan
11/27/2018
Boost ES recognition by providing opportunities for success
Surveys identify cleanliness, appearance and safety as being key for a healthcare facility
11/26/2018
Fla. nursing homes want more time on generator requirements
But the state Agency for Health Care Administration said it won’t approve waiver requests for facilities that haven’t been working on the situation
11/26/2018
Cooking, corridors and compartments: 3 NFPA updates for your longterm care facility
From 2011-2015, there were 5,750 fires in healthcare facilities, and 66 percent were caused by cooking equipment
11/26/2018
University of Washington to close hospital laundry
The university has cited budget shortfalls and pledged to help workers find new jobs
11/26/2018
California hospitals evacuated as wildfires burned
More than 300 patients have been evacuated
11/21/2018
Gas leak blamed for Texas hospital blast that killed 3
The blast was most likely the result of a construction accident
11/21/2018
'Concerned employee' anonymously alerted state to bacteria outbreak in neonatal unit
Four infants contracted the Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria at University Hospital in Newark, N.J.
11/21/2018
Study finds that many hospital linens have mold
Linens tested positive for Mucorales, a type of fungus
11/21/2018
An MRI installation disabled a hospital's iPhones
The issue was linked to the release of helium during the installation
11/20/2018
Donated meals sickened hospital staff after Hurricane Harvey
Fifty staff members suffered acute symptoms after eating a meal that included pork sausage, pulled pork, brisket, chicken and yogurt
11/20/2018
The future of violence response and emergency preparedness in healthcare
Several healthcare organizations have published information to assist security directors
11/20/2018
Surgical instrument discoloration prompts another hospital to cancel procedures
Issue caused Tampa General Hospital to reschedule some elective surgeries
11/19/2018
Effective ways to improve healthcare data security
Be aware of everything included in the network
11/19/2018
Wildfire destroys three Calif. skilled nursing facilities
All three skilled nursing facilities in Paradise have been destroyed
11/19/2018
Hard water blamed for stained instruments at Michigan hospital
Memorial Healthcare in Owosso has switched to a reverse osmosis system for its water
11/19/2018
40 states report flu activity
The proportion of outpatient visits for influenzalike illness increased slightly
11/16/2018
Epidemic calendar tracks seasons of 69 infectious
Influenza is not the only infectious disease with a season
11/16/2018
Tampa Bay hospitals hit by criminal activity
A survey found that hospitals self-reported violent crimes are occurring at the annual rate of once for every 100 hospital beds
11/16/2018
Healthcare facilities have unique floor care issues
In environments such as hospitals and nursing homes there will be a need for optimum hygiene
11/16/2018
Report explores emergency preparedness for healthcare facilities
White paper focuses on the role of facility management during emergency events and for CMS compliance
11/16/2018
Patients evacuated when Camp Fire damages Adventist Health Feather River Hospital
A trio of wildfires has devoured tens of thousands of acres in California, killing at least 42 people
11/15/2018
N.J. lawmakers to investigate infection control at healthcare facilities
New infections continue to be diagnosed at two state longterm care facilities
11/15/2018
Facilitating a successful digital adoption program in your healthcare organization
Healthcare organizations are seeing opportunities in the evolution of technology and are adopting newer, better solutions
11/15/2018
Keeping healthcare facilities safe during construction
Construction projects come with infection control measures
11/15/2018
Niagara Falls hospital investing $60,000+ in security
Employees asking for more controls at entrances
11/15/2018
N.J. facility where 10 children died did not inform parents about outbreak, suit says
Mother of a sick child says facility failed to follow safety protocols
11/14/2018
Superheroes wash windows at San Diego Children’s Hospital
Captain America, The Hulk and Spider-Man gave the villains a break and focused on cleaning glass and surprise the sick kids
11/14/2018
A/V systems integration in today’s OR: Enabling healthcare providers to focus on delivering care
Care providers are increasingly relying on operating room AV technology as communications sources of vital information
11/14/2018
CDC says Ebola outbreak in Congo may not be containable
If the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo becomes more serious, containment efforts may be impossible
11/13/2018
Indiana healthcare facility working to enhance patient experience
Highpoint Health's Patient & Family Advisory Council offers input to improve patient and visitor experience
11/13/2018
Hospital keeps ceiling fans despite warnings
Large ceiling fans operating in multi-occupancy rooms pose an infection control threat, the experts said
11/13/2018
Pittsburgh-area healthcare facility facing suit for unclean ultrasound probes
UPMC Jameson Hospital in New Castle is facing a class action lawsuit
11/13/2018
Central Pa. hospital getting armed guards, tougher security
Some security guards at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center are carrying guns
11/12/2018
La. hospital reviews safety procedures following lockdown
During a lockdown, sparked by a call about a suspicious person, some patients and staff were evacuated while others sheltered in place
11/12/2018
Baby abduction attempt sparks hospital security upgrades
Two men attempted to 'collect' mothers with newborns from Addington Hospital
11/12/2018
Shoe and floor contamination a challenge for hospitals
Things that come in contact the floor are contaminated and could spreading germs in healthcare facilities
11/12/2018
New bacteria infects cancer patients in Arkansas
Patients who had ports accessed at ACI between March 22 and September 11 of this year are considered at risk
11/12/2018
Chicago nursing facility linked to one of two Legionnaires' clusters in Illinois
A McHenry County Walmart is also a possible exposure point
11/9/2018
Making accreditation matter
The framework of standards and process of accreditation can offer significant opportunity to build an organizational culture that supports performance and innovation far beyond the survey event
11/9/2018
Thieves target patients, visitors at Va. hospitals
More than a hundred of those crimes happened at VCU Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
11/9/2018
Opening solutions for healthcare facility safety and security
Because every healthcare facility opening differs based on its usage, employing a single solution configuration throughout a facility is not possible
11/9/2018
Arkansas Cancer Institute bacterial outbreak linked to port cleaning method
Many of the patients have had their ports removed and those people who tested positive for the bacteria will undergo a two-week course of antibiotics
11/9/2018
Automation through RTLS can transform patient care
Oregon Medical Group’s self-rooming pilot project, supported by Real-Time Location System (RTLS) technology, dramatically improved patient experience
11/9/2018
Low-pressure taps at hospital blamed for babies' infections
The taps were designed for water savings and were unlikely to be flushing with enough force or volume to remove bacteria
11/8/2018
Legionella bacteria found in Queens hospital
The bacteria was found at New York-Presbyterian Hospital
11/8/2018
Palu disaster leaves hospitals swamped a month later
Poor sanitation and dirty conditions fuel sickness among the displaced
11/8/2018
These are the germiest places in healthcare facilities
There are certain places and things where cleaning is particularly crucial
11/8/2018
Second outbreak of adenovirus reported in N.J.
The second outbreak is believed to be of a milder type than the one responsible for the deaths of 10 children in Wanaque
11/7/2018
UK hospital security equipped with body cameras
If they begin to record an incident, they must first announce they are recording
11/7/2018
Regulations, Codes & Standards Q&A: Eye-wash station tests
Brad Keyes discusses regulations for annual eye-wash station tests
11/7/2018
MRSA and other germs linger in hospital curtains, linens
Studies show both carry infection control risk
11/6/2018
Cybersecurity is a top safety issue for healthcare facilities
Cybersecurity was listed behind severe weather and active shooter incidents
11/6/2018
Using behavioral health design for the emergency department
Material, equipment and design selection can support safe environment
11/6/2018
Iowa Hospital adds 'safety room' store to facility
The Hannah Geneser Learning Center opened inside Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines
11/6/2018
Hospitals use virtual reality tech to ease patient fears
VR tech is also being used to train staff
11/5/2018
Building automation is moving toward mindful, interacting devices
In this world, we can interact with each other and our smart building bots
11/5/2018
Air quality's role in infection prevention can be overlooked
Having the right tools to communicate the importance of temperature and humidity is important
11/5/2018
Worker blames 'filthy' conditions for outbreak at N.J. facility
A worker at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation also points to widespread mismanagement
11/2/2018
'Major' deficiencies found at N.J. hospital following infant's death
Infection control lapses found at University Hospital in Newark
11/2/2018
Technology changing future of healthcare
Technology can be a disruptive force that can change the way we function
11/2/2018
How to maintain security devices
Diligence is key to protecting equipment from damage and loss
11/2/2018
N.J. facility where 10 children died in outbreak not equipped for quarantine
The children became ill in the facility’s ventilator unit
11/1/2018
Balancing safety, peace with ferromagnetic security screening
Workplace violence is prevalent in mental health
11/1/2018
Steps to re-opening after a disaster
The Joint Commission published a new Emergency Management Health Care Environment Checklist
11/1/2018
