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