Sustainable Operations - October 2020
Water Vapor In Hospitals Is A Good (Necessary) Thing
Humidity in buildings has acquired a bad reputation
10/30/2020
Healthcare Facilities Stocking Up On Personal Protective Equipment
Midwest hospitals looking for supplies as numbers surge
10/30/2020
COVID-19 Can Impact Restroom Upgrades
Pandemic has increased focus on improved hygiene and improved accessibility
10/30/2020
Trends Shaping The Future of Healthcare Real Estate
Divesting in healthcare real estate is also key to reducing unnecessary costs to a health system
10/30/2020
Chicago Nursing Home Security Caught 'Ghost' On Security Camera
Guard posts footage on Facebook, where it has racked up more than 2.5 million views
10/30/2020
The 'Kevin Bacon' Factor May Help COVID Spread In Nursing Homes
A lot of nursing home workers are working at more than one facility
10/29/2020
Completely Wireless Hospital Bed Launched
The new bed has intuitive patient positioning and bed alarms
10/29/2020
Protecting Practices And Patient Data During COVID-19
Renovating to create segregated areas and reconfigure existing spaces will be key
10/29/2020
Former Employee Suing Ohio Hospital After Nearly Freezing To Death In Parking Lot
The suit claims the hospital was negligent for not having adequate security cameras in the parking lot and that a security guard who promised to help did not
10/29/2020
Twin Hurricanes Of Flu And COVID-19 Approach
Experts deliver pattern analysis and action guide to help
10/28/2020
Hospices Work To Keep Families Connected With COVID Patients
Hospices have had to get creative about how they help infectious patients safely maintain contact with their families
10/28/2020
Controlling Infection When Using Mobile Devices
COVID-19 has put renewed focus on the potential for cross-contamination
10/28/2020
Numbers Tell the Story for Facility Department Diversity
At Froedtert Health, measurable goals drive and document progress
10/28/2020
Can Nursing Homes Social Distance If The Power Goes Off During A Hurricane?
Many longterm care facilities have temporary generators, which may require moving residents into a single large space
10/28/2020
COVID Provides Ideal Conditions For Candida Auris
A patient with both COVID and C. auris should only be placed in the same room as another patient with COVID-19 and C. auris
10/27/2020
LEED Safety First Credits Embraced Quickly
Cleaning, indoor air quality and ventilation rates, and water system recommissioning are also strategies covered in the LEED Safety First credits
10/27/2020
How Facilities Can Prepare for Flu Season Amidst COVID-19
Helping COVID-19 and flu patients and your healthcare staff safely navigate within your facility can make a huge difference in stopping the spread
10/27/2020
IoT Reshapes Healthcare By Cutting Costs, Increasing Efficiency
Healthcare is a prime candidate for IoT solutions
10/27/2020
Infographic: How To Clean Different Mats
Choosing the proper products can makes cleaning more efficient
10/27/2020
Kaiser Cited For Not Treating COVID-19 As Airborne
Kaiser says it will appeal the citation against its psychiatric facility in Santa Clara, Calif.
10/26/2020
Covid-19 Is Turning South African Hospitals Into ‘Obsessive Infection Control Bubbles’
Where necessary, hospitals triage so arrivals are diverted into categories that separate positive patients from Persons Under Investigation, who are in turn separated from Covid-19 negative patients
10/26/2020
Healthcare Cybersecurity Consistently A Concern
With technology and the movement of information on virtual and cloud systems, there are vulnerabilities
10/26/2020
Solar Array Covers 90 Percent Of Healthcare Facility’s Energy Needs
The installation will generate an estimated 541,645 kWh of clean energy annually
10/26/2020
Healthcare Facility Design Can Impact Infection Control
Environmental services should participate in the design process
10/26/2020
Bill Would Allow Hospitals To Repair Their Own Medical Equipment
Because of the pandemic, many manufacturers are restricting travel for their repair technicians
10/23/2020
Massachusetts Sets New Nursing Home Room Limits
Residential rooms that hold more than two people will be phased out
10/23/2020
Mass ER Nurse Raising Awareness Of Violence
‘We’re just human punching bags’ according to the nurse after attack
10/23/2020
Ohio Hospital Installs Metal Detectors at ER Entrance
Wheeling Hospital has boosted safety measures
10/23/2020
Calif. Hospital Staff Protests After Deputy Shoots Patient
The patient was shot by a deputy who was inside the hospital as part of a security detail for a different patient
10/22/2020
Key Questions When Renting Generators
Create detailed specifications regarding requirements, usage and site conditions.
10/22/2020
Robotic Cleaning Can Boost Efficiency
Robotic floor care can free up valuable time to focus on high-touch cleaning and disinfecting
10/22/2020
Why Supplier Financial Stability Matters to Healthcare Facility Managers
The Covid-19 pandemic brings sharp focus on healthcare supply chains
10/22/2020
Acoustics: The Hidden Risk For Mission Critical Data Centers
Focusing on assessment, specification and implementation allows managers can streamline installation and enhance access control
10/22/2020
Wastewater Testing May Provide Indication Of Coronavirus
Some U.S. cities have employed ‘sewage surveillance’
10/21/2020
Regulations, Codes & Standards Q&A: Red Bag Waste Containers
Brad Keyes discusses regulations on red bag waste containers
10/21/2020
Smart Lighting Design, Lighting Controls Can Optimize Daylighting
From window film to lighting controls, here are some strategies for overcoming daylighting challenges
10/21/2020
Study To Explore Whether Wearable Technology Can Boost Infection Control
Wearable devices can register when wearers come into contact with each other
10/21/2020
Pandemic Sparks Access Control Changes
2020 Campus Safety Survey found COVID affected policies, technology
10/21/2020
Two Minnesota Nursing Homes Call National Guard To Help Contain COVID Outbreaks
Staff-shortage issues amplified by pandemic
10/20/2020
Joint Commission Offers Tips For ASCs On An Effective Covid Response
A strong response starts at the top
10/20/2020
Extra Effort In HVAC Optimization Can Be Cost Effective
Optimization project may require some time and expertise to properly tune a system — not necessarily requiring a huge investment
10/20/2020
Half of Philadelphia’s Nursing Home Patients May Have Had COVID-19
Philadelphia's health department believes previously infected nursing home patients can resist a second wave of infection
10/20/2020
Best Practices For Maintaining Flooring During COVID-19
Flooring can often make or break the efficacy of even the most rigorous sanitation efforts
10/20/2020
Natural Disasters Add Challenges For Healthcare Facilities During Pandemic
Hurricanes, etc., can further complicate facility managers’ efforts to help contain COVID-19
10/19/2020
Florida Senate Hires Tampa Hospital For COVID-19 Safety Consulting
The Senate will pay the hospital $200 an hour for providing services
10/19/2020
Utah Ready To Open Temporary COVID-19 Hospital
State health officials still hope they won’t need it
10/19/2020
Hurricane Preparedness Procedures for Healthcare Facilities
Mitigating the risk of a hurricane’s impact requires planning, organization, guidance and teamwork
10/19/2020
Nursing Home Outbreaks May Be Stressing Wisconsin Hospital Capacity
It's increasingly difficult to control COVID in nursing homes during surge
10/16/2020
More than 100 N.J. Nursing Homes Have Had Coronavirus Outbreaks Since Summer
At least 102 longterm care facilities saw new outbreaks this summer or fall after being declared COVID-19 free
10/16/2020
Keeping Hospitals Supplied In A Centralized Operation
Ensuring critical supplies are where they need to be is an important function
10/16/2020
Theme Parks Can Teach Healthcare Systems About Patient Experience
Museums, zoos and other amusements succeed when designing positive consumer experiences
10/16/2020
Wisconsin Opens State Fair Park Facility for COVID Patients
Madison’s Alliant Energy Center is also being prepped to be an alternate care facility
10/15/2020
Two Colorado Alternate Care Sites To Be Deconstructed
Colorado Convention Center, two others, to stay open
10/15/2020
Geisinger Adjusts Food Service Operations
Employees can now order and pay through the hospitals’ payroll deduction system
10/15/2020
Louisiana Hospitals Prepared For Delta While Dealing With Covid
Separation is key when dealing with extra patients or housing staff
10/14/2020
Paris Hospitals Strained By New Wave Of Covid Patients
More than 2,300 Covid-19 patients are hospitalized in Ile-de-France, the country’s most popular region
10/14/2020
Survey: N.J. Adults (50+) Still Hesitant to Go To Hospitals For Non-COVID-19 Procedures
COVID-19 admissions represented less than 5 percent of total patients in the state's medical facilities in Sept.
10/14/2020
Energy Reviews Reveal Hidden Inefficiencies
University of Maryland Medical Center discovers ways to decrease energy use
10/14/2020
Focusing On The Bottom Line During COVID
Facility managers must handle the financial challenges created by COVID-19
10/13/2020
What Clean Really Means To A Healthcare Organization’s Culture
If people do not feel safe, or if they feel they don’t have the support or resources to provide safe care, poor PX scores, high infection rates and staff attrition can result
10/13/2020
S.C.Hospital Using Software To Control Energy Use
Fault-detection diagnostic software can reduce waste
10/13/2020
CDC Confirms Airborne Transmission Plays Role In COVID Spread
Update comes after website error in September
10/12/2020
Healthcare Tech Needs Up-To-Date Security
Healthcare security needs to include ways to protect data
10/12/2020
Senior Facilities Need To Be Part Of Emergency Prep Plan
Report says Connecticut should have worked with more closely with assisted living communities and nursing homes
10/12/2020
Designing A Disaster Plan During COVID-19
COVID’s impact on a disaster plan focuses on risk analysis, emergency response and business continuity
10/9/2020
Senate To Investigate Use of Security Cameras at VA Hospitals
Legislation to support transparency
10/9/2020
Coronavirus Surge Starting to Stress Wis. Hospitals
Governor issues emergency order to bring in out-of-state healthcare workers
10/9/2020
For HVAC Efficiency, Go Beyond The Obvious
Energy-use data and analysis is crucial to identifying and picking projects that can have huge longterm impact on efficiency
10/9/2020
How Healthcare Facilities Are Dealing With Hurricanes, Wildfires And A Pandemic
Medical centers use lessons learned from pandemic response to manage natural disasters
10/8/2020
Pandemic Experience Is Changing ASCs infection Control
During COVID, facilities have improved their infection control procedures
10/8/2020
Virtual Reality Can Facilitate Hospital Design Input
Medical professionals are able to comment on design decisions
10/8/2020
Wisconsin Coronavirus Surge Forced To Wait-List Or Transfer Patients
Bellin Hospital hopes to convert a facility on its campus into another space for hospital beds
10/8/2020
Brigham and Women's Hospital Nurses Urge Stronger COVID Safety Measures
42 patients and staff and one visitor have tested positive in hospital cluster
10/7/2020
How To Avoid A Wrecked Boiler
Water-side corrosion and thermal shock or stress are calamities all facility manager should do their best to avoid
10/7/2020
Study Says Shallow Hospital Sinks Can Spread Infections
Researchers found that a shallow sink can lead to the contamination of worker hands and patient care equipment and surfaces
10/7/2020
San Bernardino Hospital Workers Protest Coronavirus Protocols
Demonstrations were held at more than 30 Dignity Health and Sutter Health facilities
10/7/2020
Health System Eases PPE Issues By Buying Stake In Company
Genesis Health System purchased a minority stake in Prestige Ameritech
10/6/2020
Green Cleaning Challenges for Healthcare Facilities Due To COVID-19
The healthcare industry continues to advance its efforts on green cleaning and its mission to 'do no harm' while also effectively addressing COVID-19
10/6/2020
Hospital System Hobbled By Cyberattack
Universal Health Services Inc. experienced treatment interruptions at US facilities
10/6/2020
Hospitals Brace For Impact Of Flu, COVID
A main challenge will be differentiating patients being admitted with the flu from those with COVID-19
10/5/2020
Despite Charleston’s Chronic Flooding, Hospitals Plan To Stay Put
Investments into the peninsula continue
10/5/2020
Firefighters Work To Protect California Hospital
A hospital skeleton crew stayed back to wet the roof and make last-minute arrangements
10/5/2020
Banned Hand Sanitizer List Nears 200
The list of hand sanitizers deemed unsafe by the FDA topped 100 in early August
10/5/2020
How Hospital Food Service Can Improve Patient Experiences And Outcomes
Food is fundamental to the human experience, and that’s doubly true for the patient experience
10/5/2020
Achieving Net-Zero Energy
Historically high energy users, hospitals do have a pathway to net-zero energy
10/2/2020
Milwaukee Hospital Opens Separate Emergency Department For Pregnant Women
The specialized ER is the first of its kind in the area
10/2/2020
ER Waste Generation Examined
85 percent of all items disposed of as regulated medical waste, did not meet the criteria
10/2/2020
Interior Design Choices Can Support Infection Prevention
Style must be balanced with ease of cleaning
10/2/2020
Patient Equipment Decontamination Can Impact Infection Control
Quick and effective decontamination of shared patient equipment is essential
10/1/2020
Preventing HVAC from Spreading Coronavirus
Good ventilation, filtration and humidity control are crucial
10/1/2020
New Air Speed And Direction Measurement Technology Delivering Airflow Visualization For Healthcare Environments.
It is critically important to understand how the airflow can impact the time between scheduling procedures in different types of healthcare environments
10/1/2020
Proper Ventilation, Filtration To Curb COVID Risk
Air disinfection in healthcare facilities may be just as important as using fitted N95 respirators
10/1/2020
Ultraviolet Lamp Said to Kill COVID Without Risk To People
The company plans to sell the lamp to medical facilities first
10/1/2020
