HVAC - July 2014

Mice, filth alleged at New Jersey facility

Broken furniture, moldy mattresses and cigarette burns on floors and walls cited by former employee

7/31/2014



Hawaiian facility to shift beds from long-term to acute care

Hilo Medical Center wants to increase its acute medical care beds to 20 and eliminate 20 of its skilled nursing facility beds

7/31/2014



N.H. facilities drug-test law to begin

Most must adopt a written testing and diversion policy in August

7/31/2014



Fire alarm system Q&A

In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answers a question about fire alarm systems in a business occupancy

7/31/2014



Data analytics effective energy efficiency tool

Effective use of data analytics in healthcare facilities can reduce major equipment spending and increase energy savings by up to 30 percent

7/30/2014



UV cuts resistant organisms by 20 percent: study says

New York hospital added ultraviolet environmental disinfection (UVD) to its cleaning regimen of patient rooms

7/30/2014



Grand Falls Hospital uses pellet-fired heating system

Hospital is one of the first public buildings in New Brunswick to use a new energy-efficient heating system

7/30/2014



Design choices may reduce fall risk for elderly

Improving the design of walking environments may reduce risk of falling, according to an article on the Environments for Aging website

7/30/2014



Healthcare industry urged to address climate change

The healthcare industry could experience a "surge" from people without the means to move in response to increased temperatures

7/29/2014



Survey says wireless applications growing in hospitals

Examples include cellular service, nurse call systems and patient monitoring

7/29/2014



Joint Commission online learning module addresses long-term care infections

Online educational tool focuses on how to apply high-reliability principles

7/29/2014



Smart building automation systems can add intelligence, efficiency

Healthcare facilities differ from other buildings making them challenging and demanding places to install and manage a BAS

7/29/2014



Systems engineering called crucial to transforming healthcare delivery

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services urged to transform healthcare nationally by engineering a 'robust' health information infrastructure

7/29/2014



California hospital implements new security procedure

Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock has a new check-in and visitor-badge procedure

7/28/2014



Facility backup power requires correct connectivity

A careful assessment helps hospitals ensure outage protection

7/28/2014



Brigham and Women's Hospital project honored for safety in construction practices

IFMA Boston Excellence Award for Best Practices in Sustainability given to Brigham and Women's Hospital and EH&E

7/28/2014



ASHRAE, IAQA agree to join forces

Indoor Air Quality Association will become a part of ASHRAE while maintaining its own brand and board of directors

7/25/2014



Hospital engineering should integrate infection prevention in design

Many hospitals within the GCC region lack the availability of negative pressure rooms and HEPA filters to deal with the surge of airborne respiratory infection

7/25/2014



Legionella bacteria found again at UPMC Presbyterian

Infection control workers found the bacteria in sinks in three patient rooms

7/24/2014



Support kit helps prevent healthcare injuries

Kit contains tools and tips for implementing and sustaining a facility-wide healthcare injuries prevention program

7/24/2014



Tennessee hospital creates culture of safety

Vanderbilt University Medical Center boosted hand washing, cut infections

7/24/2014



Technology used for hospital bed safety

High-tech system uses digital lines to draw a safety zone around patients to provide continual monitoring

7/24/2014



Evacuation map Q&A

In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answeres a question about evacuation route maps

7/24/2014



Savannah hospital unveils $1 million kitchen

Memorial University Medical Center cafe has new furnishings, lighting, flooring and millwork

7/23/2014



Carnival Cruises launches in-house medical facility

Miami-based Carnival employees can get their non-emergency medical needs taken care of at the office

7/22/2014



Joint Commission PFI list rules changed

The changes align the Joint Commission's survey process with the requirements of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

7/22/2014



More than $637 million in maintenance deferred for Alberta health facilities

The deferred costs make up three percent of the total value of health facilities in Alberta

7/22/2014



Wisconsin health system near energy independence

The Gundersen Health System's conservation measures have reached $2 million in annual energy savings

7/22/2014



Hospital bans showers after legionella bacteria is found

Leicester General Hospital says boiled drinking water is being provided and hand-wash basins and toilets remained safer to use

7/21/2014



Low-cost energy efficiency upgrades

A preliminary feasibility assessment (PFA), completed by an energy engineer, is a good, cost-effective first step

7/21/2014



Experts join to offer guidance on hand hygiene

Strategies include updated evidence, reviews and recommendations

7/21/2014



White paper on healthcare laundry cooperatives available

White paper offers an overview of laundry options available to healthcare providers, including laundry cooperatives

7/21/2014



Ensuring patient safety during construction

Interim life safety measures often are needed during a renovation project or new construction

7/21/2014



Rising obesity rate spurs hospitals to adapt equipment

Facility, supply changes made to ensure safety and prevent embarrassment

7/18/2014



Saskatchewan care home 'held together with duct tape'

Aging Pioneer Village in Regina falling apart, according to report

7/18/2014



Wisconsin health system reduces energy footprint with LED luminaires

ThedaCare Health System saves more than $40,000 annually on energy and maintenance, while improving security of its outdoor spaces with LED luminaires

7/18/2014



Waste-treating autoclaves getting more efficient

The technology has been around for awhile, but vendors are still adding features to waste-treating autoclaves to make them safer and more efficient

7/18/2014



Probe of Greenville deadly infections focuses on water

Federal officials are focusing on water as the potential source of the bacteria that infected 15 patients at Greenville Memorial Hospital and may have contributed to three deaths

7/17/2014



Maryland fails to inspect many facilities for developmentally disabled, assisted living

In 2012, Maryland's Office of Health Care Quality failed to inspect more that half of the state's assisted living facilities and almost three-quarters of facilities for the developmentally disabled

7/17/2014



Workplace clinic system may expand into Wisconsin

On-site workplace health clinics have been called critical to the shift toward preventive care

7/17/2014



During natural disasters, hospital resilience is key

American Meteorological Society suggests having medical centers look at their structural designs and consider relocating critical components to higher ground

7/17/2014



Hospital housekeeping best practices

Infection prevention and operational efficiency can both be accomplished with a clear protocol

7/17/2014



Hospital elevator button called bacterial hotspot

Study says hospital elevator buttons were dirtier than toilet surfaces

7/16/2014



Study: Hospital wards overheat because windows don't open

Most hospital wards are prone to overheating because health and safety fears have triggered restrictions on opening windows

7/16/2014



Fire extinguisher cabinet Q&A

In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answeres a question about fire extinguisher cabinet labeling

7/16/2014



White paper offers tips to create a culture of safety

Free publication says an effective hospital safety program starts at the top

7/16/2014



Bed bugs force hospital waiting room to close

Cleaning crews at a Springfield, Mo., hospital found the bed bugs while people were in the waiting room and immediately closed the area

7/15/2014



Report says University of Chicago has too many beds

U of C Medicine's $124 million plan to shuffle beds at two facilities is in question as regulators say the hospital already has more capacity than is justified under state standards

7/15/2014



Trendy flooring choices are often wax-free

The elimination of wax and wax-stripping products is better for indoor air quality and minimizes downtime for patient rooms

7/15/2014



'Quiet Kits' can change patient experience

Packages containing ear plugs, an eye mask, lip balm and puzzles are put on the pillows of patient beds to help patients relax

7/15/2014



Virginia Hospital ready for disaster

Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital has Stabilization Treat in Place (STIP) tent

7/15/2014



Healthcare robotics can do some heavy lifting

Automated guided vehicles can handle large material transport activities

7/15/2014



Annapolis medical center will stop hiring smokers in July 2015

Anne Arundel Medical Center has banned all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes on its campus

7/14/2014



Facility readiness vital in weather disasters

Healthcare facilities should be ready to recover and move forward after a violent weather event

7/14/2014



Disasters bring hospitals valuable lessons along with damage

Health Facilities Management survey asks 911 health executives about trends in emergency management

7/14/2014



Emergency rooms try online booking

Hospitals across the country are attempting to cut waiting room times

7/11/2014



Nineteenth century heating system relevant to healthcare facilities today

A summer day-trip to a historial building leads to an exploration of healthcare heating systems in a blog by Krista Biason on the HGA website

7/11/2014



Philadelphia hospitals embrace energy efficiency

Mercy Philadelphia Health System has adopted energy-efficient systems

7/11/2014



Long-term care facility evacuation relies on planning and common sense

In an emergency situation, experience, equipment and level heads are needed, according to an article on the Long-Term Living website

7/11/2014



New OSHA resource focuses on reducing nursing home worker injuries

New brochure addresses the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders among nursing home and residential care workers

7/10/2014



UK hospital trust admits health and safety asbestos issues

The Trust admits failing to ensure the safety of Watford General Hospital employees exposed to asbestos between 2000 and 2011

7/10/2014



Topeka hospitals explore healthy food options

Statewide initiative encourages offering more fruits and vegetables, labeling foods with nutrition facts, eliminating fried foods and offering healthier choices in vending machines

7/10/2014



Southwest Florida hospitals increase hand-hygiene compliance

Turnaround credited to training, surveillance and hand-sanitizer stations in needed areas

7/9/2014



Saskatchewan healthcare facilities need $2.2 billion in repairs

Saskatoon's Royal University Hospital requires $435 million to address maintenance needs

7/9/2014



Missouri offers loans for hospital energy efficiency

$7.5 million in low-interest loans is available to complete energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects

7/9/2014



Toilets major source of contamination in healthcare

Study says areas around hospital toilets were more likely to test positive for viruses and bacteria than areas around office toilets

7/9/2014



Hospitals see increase in violent crime

Majority of incidents involve violence directed at employees by clients or patients

7/8/2014



Hospital evacuation best practices

Avoiding evacuation drills and the lack of vulnerability identification are errors in hospital readiness.

7/8/2014



Kansas hospitals commit to healthier environments

51 facilities pledge to make healthier on-site food and beverages a priority

7/8/2014



Saginaw-area hospitals focus on stopping HAIs

Hand-washing, isolation and proper cleaning of rooms are tactics used to prevent the spread of infection

7/8/2014



Missouri hospital participates in national earthquake drill

Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall examined its emergency response capacity and reporting mechanisms

7/7/2014



Indiana hospital cited for safety lapses for lack of permits

Porter Regional Hospital did not secure the necessary county permits before installing two underground diesel fuel tanks

7/7/2014



Low hand-hygiene compliance found during anesthesia administration

Researchers used video to map patterns of hand contact with anesthesia work environment surfaces

7/7/2014



S.C. emergency workers shuttle water to hospitals and nursing homes

Workers try to keep air-conditioning operations running after treatment plant failure

7/3/2014



Florida health system investing $1 million on infection-resistant garments

Baptist Health is buying garments for staff and patients that are designed to repel fluids and minimize transmission of hospital-borne infections

7/2/2014



UV disinfection reduces multidrug-resistant organisms at NY hospital

The rates during UV environmental disinfection are the lowest incidence rates for the past 10 years and were sustained for 22 months

7/2/2014



UK hospitals flagged for poor cleanliness and infection control

Hospitals in Northern England marked down for handling of C diff cases

7/2/2014



Hospital's security a coordinated effort

Security focus at Froedtert Hospital starts with hospital leadership

7/1/2014



Cleveland Clinic launches millennial-friendly experience overhaul

Clinic cuts wait times and offers same-day appointments to woo younger patients

7/1/2014



 
 
 


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