Infection Control - January 2018
CDC says deadly flu season has a way to go
Based on the latest data, the flu season may not have peaked yet
1/31/2018
Before Nebraska hospital is demolished, former workers share stories
The Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center building will come down after crews remove asbestos before the final demolition
1/31/2018
CMS to investigate University of Maryland hospital after patient dumping
A video of a woman discharged in her hospital gown went viral on Facebook
1/31/2018
Healthcare facilities need disaster recovery plans for EHR security
Having a current backup plan and contingency plan are federal requirements under the HIPAA Security Rule
1/30/2018
Tips for upgrading, replacing healthcare facility equipment
With multiple systems, a proactive planning process is critical
1/30/2018
Staff: Two assaults by patients at Manitoba hospital within an hour show 'something has to be done'
The assaults happened at the locked forensic psychiatry unit at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg
1/30/2018
Developing a water management program
The impact of Legionnaires' disease is particularly dangerous in healthcare facilities
1/30/2018
California wildfires tested hospitals' disaster plans
There is more pressure for hospitals to be prepared even though many lack the resources and funding to upgrade their disaster plans
1/30/2018
Healthcare facilities slammed by flu treating patients in tents
Hospitals are asking staff to work overtime, setting up triage tents, restricting visitors and canceling elective surgeries
1/29/2018
Milwaukee hospital employees suspended for leaving homeless patient in cold
Staff discharged a mentally ill homeless man clothed in only a hospital gown and scrub pants
1/29/2018
Integrative design plus early commissioning role prevent building performance problems
Lessons from past projects should inform new designs
1/29/2018
New safety concerns rise at Montreal hospital
The Montreal General Hospital reports more violent incidents involving patients and visitors than any other acute-care hospital in Quebec
1/29/2018
Benefits of maintenance planning and scheduling
It can be difficult to justify a full-time MPS position, but you should be able to justify the function
1/29/2018
Super Bowl LII to impact hospital access in Minneapolis
Road closures make it difficult for patients to reach Hennepin County Medical Center
1/26/2018
Texas hospital evacuated after gas leaks from sewer line
Patients and staff at Baylor Scott & White Emergency Center were cleared from the building
1/26/2018
Chicago hospitals dealing with worst flu season in a decade
Hospitals stocking more hand sanitizer and implementing stricter visitor policies
1/25/2018
Calif. healthcare facility ED has bedbug emergency
Kaweah Delta staff and a pest control company treated the emergency department and surrounding areas
1/25/2018
Can a different approach to printer security benefit facilities management?
Hospitals have seen an 11 percent increase in print post implementation of EHRs
1/25/2018
UPMC Pinnacle changing environmental, food service vendor
Switch will affect more than 450 workers
1/25/2018
Judge orders new superbug trial for Olympus
Court said manufacturer didn't properly disclose safety concerns
1/24/2018
Low water pressure forces closures for New Orleans hospitals
Several healthcare facilities in the New Orleans area closed after losing water service amid freezing temperatures
1/24/2018
NFPA developing minimum requirements for active shooter response
National Fire Protection Association fast-tracking a new standard designed to better prepare facilities for active shooters
1/24/2018
White paper explores how flooring impacts patient care
Noise levels can affect healing, reduce efficiency
1/24/2018
How the government slowed flu response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention furloughed staff
1/23/2018
Indiana health system pays $47,000 ransom to unlock patient data
Hackers logged into a remote access portal using a third-party vendor’s username and password
1/23/2018
Attention to roof inspections, maintenance can help prevent leaks
Regular inspections and maintenance are critical to keep roofs in good condition
1/23/2018
Sword-handled umbrella sparks lockdown at Seattle-area hospital
Man's umbrella was mistaken for a rifle
1/22/2018
Document storage systems: Embracing the documentation paradigm shift
One of the most important features of any DMS used in the healthcare setting is that it is HIPAA compliant at every interaction point
1/22/2018
NHS launches emergency plans after cleaning contractor collapses
Extra staff sent to six major hospitals to ensure cleaning, maintenance and catering services keep operating
1/22/2018
Maintaining a reliable and efficient HVAC system
Understanding long-term goals and specific upgrade components can help
1/22/2018
The benefits of managing healthcare operating expense with a CMMS
This critical healthcare system gives HTM professionals the ability to proactively manage work requests, inventory items, and assets, which in turn can improve patient care and reduce operating costs
1/19/2018
Understanding lighting codes and standards
Guidance from ASHRAE, Title 24 and LEED will affect project planning, as well as longer-term savings and performance
1/19/2018
Deer crashes through window at S.D. healthcare facility
Doe had a broken back right hoof but officials think it will be OK
1/18/2018
Penn. healthcare facility installs tri-generation energy center
Lancaster General Hospital invested $28 million in energy upgrades
1/18/2018
Hospital-based sleep labs moving toward disposables
Shift linked to increased focus on hospital infection control
1/18/2018
OSHA finds no violations after N.H. healthcare facility workers were sickened
Authorities responded to the hospital on the morning of Aug. 11 after several employees in the operating room department began feeling dizzy
1/18/2018
CDC back-burners nuclear war prep to focus on the flu epidemic
Briefing on preparation for nuclear war postponed
1/17/2018
State judge denies link between forced-air warming and infection
Minnesota lawsuits that allege that the Bair Hugger forced-air warmer caused deep joint infections are dismissed
1/17/2018
Joint Commission will now cite individual hand-hygiene failures
Hand hygiene is widely considered to be the most important intervention for preventing hospital-acquired infections
1/17/2018
Baltimore hospital apologizes after security guards leave discharged patient on street in hospital gown
Hospital system is talking to everyone who came into contact with the woman
1/16/2018
Legionnaires’ risk can't be eliminated at Illinois VA home
13 people have died of Legionnaires’ disease at Quincy healthcare facility
1/16/2018
Ham radio operators train to help healthcare facilities, others in disasters
Operators take classes on operating in a hospital
1/16/2018
Healthcare facilities weigh in on weather safety for employees
Some hospitals offer sleeping accommodations, food and other essential items.
1/16/2018
Noisy ORs can put patients at risk
Excessive noise can be distracting to healthcare providers
1/16/2018
Health system moves food service beyond tray line
Diet clerks virtually track nutritionals as the patients place their order, guiding them through their options
1/16/2018
Minneapolis hospital develops emergency plan for Super Bowl
Road closures around the stadium will affect routes ambulances take to Hennepin County Medical Center
1/15/2018
How hospitals safely dispose of infectious fluid waste
Proper waste disposal practices are a crucial part of a safe working environment
1/15/2018
Top application security threats
Although social media apps have revolutionized the healthcare industry and changed the way patients and providers interact, they also have opened new avenues for risk
1/15/2018
Healthcare facilities use various methods to keep dementia patients safe
Studies suggest that the unexplained absence of a nursing home resident is one of the most challenging issues for facilities
1/15/2018
Oregon hospital lauded for infection-control efforts
Portland Business Journal named Samaritan Albany General Hospital the least infected facility among 61 hospitals in the state for 2016
1/12/2018
New hospitals bring new tech challenge
The tech crews at OSF HealthCare face a formidable challenge of simultaneously replacing the entire IT systems at two hospitals
1/12/2018
Fresno VA facility tested for Legionnaires'
Residents, staff and visitors at the Veterans Home are getting bottled water
1/12/2018
Cyberattack takes down New York hospital’s computer systems
Jones information technology experts partnered with IT professionals from the University of Rochester, Noyes, and St. James hospitals
1/12/2018
Select an HVAC system for a healthcare facility
Energy efficiency is also critical in choosing the best system
1/12/2018
Office workers at Scottish health board redeployed to hospital cleaning due to flu outbreak
NHS was swamped by an outbreak of flu and respiratory illness
1/11/2018
Recent and ongoing outbreaks listed
Regions of the United States have experienced outbreaks caused by bacteria and viruses in recent months
1/11/2018
Geisinger Health removes sugar-sweetened beverages from campuses
Geisinger food service locations will no longer sell regular soda, sugar-added fruit juices, sugar-sweetened teas, sugar-added energy drinks, bottled sugar-added iced coffee drinks and flavored milks
1/11/2018
N.Z. hospital stops frozen-meal program due to safety concerns
Tokoroa Hospital has stopped selling meals to the community, made from the surplus food cooked for patient meals
1/10/2018
Takeaways from online security summit
Event explored active shooter response, weather plans and lockdowns
1/10/2018
CDC to issue guidance to prepare for nuclear war
Hospital disaster planning has shifted to preparing for mass casualties
1/9/2018
Boston area healthcare facilities were prepared for storm
Hospitals opened rooms so staff could stay overnight
1/9/2018
2017's worst healthcare data breaches
Data show hundreds of incidents in the past two years, affecting tens of millions of individuals
1/9/2018
Building energy modeling can help build an HVAC plan
Modeling systems can help facilities reach optimal efficiency
1/9/2018
Most US cooling towers contain Legionella bacteria
Study finds Legionella bacteria is percent in 84 precent of towers
1/9/2018
Amtrak derailment emergency response went well
Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia drills two to three times a year on its disaster response
1/9/2018
Healthcare facilities leading way in climate change prep
Hospitals are recycling, turning off lights and computers, planting trees in the community, and buying Energy Star-certified equipment
1/8/2018
Healthcare facilities looking at new ways to reduce noise
Hospital noise is a growing concern for patients, family and staff
1/8/2018
New Orleans healthcare facility deploys infection-fighting robots
The robots can destroy deadly pathogens and multi-drug resistant organisms
1/8/2018
Infections are common in nursing homes, punishment is not
Repeat citations are common, fines are rare
1/8/2018
Study explores microbial colonies in ORs
The microbial concentration influences surgical site infection rates
1/5/2018
French survey shows patients happy with care but not the food
Hospital food was identified by the study as one of the main areas requiring improvement
1/5/2018
Building energy modeling can help build an HVAC plan
Modeling systems can help facilities reach optimal efficiency
1/5/2018
Key points in mass-casualty disaster planning
Many facilities overlook this type of emergency
1/5/2018
Mayo workers who went on one-day strike back to work in a week
Mayo officials said they had to fulfill a one-week contract signed with replacement workers
1/4/2018
Los Angeles County adds recuperative beds to help homeless
Two-hundred fifty new beds brings the total to 432
1/4/2018
Spanish hospital wins battle with two superbugs
From July to October 2015, the infection control team identified a surge in cases of patients infected or colonized with OXA-48-PE or MRAB.
1/4/2018
Belfast children's hospital cited for water safety problems
A series of failings have been uncovered at Northern Ireland's regional children's hospital
1/4/2018
Pomona Valley Hospital ES staff seeks ballot measure addressing infection rates, wages, staffing
Despite repairs, facility issues were ongoing.
1/3/2018
Cleveland Clinic moving toward carbon-neutrality
Health system planning renewable energy purchases, continued energy efficiency
1/3/2018
Hospital's HVAC upgrades benefit from in-house expertise
Maintenance and engineering managers know they can’t monitor what they don’t measure
1/3/2018
Study says thinking about germs makes people concerned about their appearance
Findings suggest that the possibility of contagion activates the 'behavioral immune system'
1/3/2018
