Sustainable Operations - February 2015
Blackpool Victoria hospital to cut annual energy and maintenance costs by 274,000 pounds
U.K. facility to upgrade the heating and hot water supply in 10 plant rooms, introduce a reverse osmosis system and update the steam trap population
2/27/2015
Sarasota hospital designs wayfinding app
Visitors can get location-based content and tips for navigating hospital's main campus
2/27/2015
Q&A on positive latching doors
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about positive latching doors
2/27/2015
Design considerations for biocontainment units
Design should provide safety and peace of mind to caregivers, while facilitating staff efficiency and patient-centered care
2/26/2015
Arkansas hospital installs electronically tintable glass
Glass offers efficiency and an architectural statement about the organization's healthcare mission of Mercy Orthopedic Hospital
2/26/2015
Noise levels greatly influence patient comfort
An environment that produces fewer disruptions and allows for more consistent patient rest contributes to faster recovery and lower readmission rates
2/26/2015
Major Pakistani hospitals lack fire safety equipment
Public sector hospitals in Karachi require safety equipments and other rescue measures
2/25/2015
Achieving consistent high performance in hospitals requires monitoring
High-performing hospitals need guidelines and standards to help the facility operate to exacting criteria
2/25/2015
Cleanliness concerns cited at Fife hospital
Inspection of U.K.'s Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital found dusty equipment as well as trolleys and chairs contaminated by blood and body fluids
2/25/2015
U.S. Army medical facilities in Georgia to enhance electrical safety
Electrical system safety studies to include in-depth analysis of possible risk associated with arc flash hazards and short-circuit fault currents
2/25/2015
Boston hospitals battle to keep things running during winter storms
Facilities struggle with shortages of beds, linens and transportation
2/24/2015
Nursing home janitor and cook keep working without pay
Pair spent several days providing round-the-clock care for elderly patients after nursing home closes leaving residents behind
2/24/2015
Accreditation surveys offer lessons in compliance
AAAHC has analyzed compliance data from surveys to identify the accreditation standards with which organizations struggle
2/24/2015
Important hospital patient safety supplies
Article lists five tools, supplies and resources hospitals need to have to ensure patient safety
2/24/2015
Executives' strategies to improve hand hygiene
Executives offered novel concepts and suggestions to modify existing strategies
2/24/2015
New standards set for healthcare laundry facilities
Hygienically Clean Advisory Board introduces new testing protocols for certification
2/23/2015
Probe finds some Florida hospitals have infection control issues
Investigators found several Southwest Florida hospitals falling below national standards
2/23/2015
Cornwall hospital reopens after safety problems
Stratton Community Hospital reopens after safety repairs
2/23/2015
San Diego hospitals fined for safety lapses
Two facilities were cited after an investigation found the facilities had dangerous practices in place that caused or likely caused serious injury or death to patients
2/23/2015
Managing long-term costs of infection control
Healthcare organizations are looking for ways to better prepare facilities for potential pandemics and widespread viral outbreaks
2/20/2015
Handwashing leads to more worker dermatitis
Study reveals that dermatitis has increased 4.5 times in healthcare workers following increased hand-hygiene efforts
2/20/2015
Central UPS protects diagnostic imaging applications
A central uninterruptable power supply (UPS) approach offers cost and space savings
2/20/2015
South Carolina hospitals gear up for storms
Hospitals throughout the Greenville region prepared for the worst of expected storms
2/20/2015
Gundersen Health System hits net zero goal
Gundersen became the first health system in the nation to produce more energy than it consumed, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
2/20/2015
Life Safety Code Q&A
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about the process CMS uses to adopt a new edition of the Life Safety Code
2/20/2015
Ice machines can be toxic breeding grounds
If commercial ice machines aren't regularly emptied and cleaned, biofilm can form and turn the bin into a low-tech bio-breeding ground
2/19/2015
Designing for infection control after Ebola scare
The healthcare community is taking advantage of renewed awareness of the importance of infection prevention to educate each other on infection control
2/19/2015
Deadly tech hazards include patient-handling device errors
With the increasing use of advanced technology in hospitals comes an increasing risk of harm from misuse, according to a blog on the Forbes website
2/19/2015
Access control systems can boost security, workflow for healthcare facilities
New technology allows an authorized user to open locked cabinets and other access points throughout a facility with a single swipe card, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
2/19/2015
Fire disables Maryland cardiac lab
Lab at University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air suffered major damage after an electrical fire
2/19/2015
Illinois nursing home given plan to shape up
Champaign County Nursing Home in Urbana instructed to improve conditions, food service
2/18/2015
Top eight risks in healthcare industry
Healthcare risks in South Africa analysis similar to those of worldwide peers
2/18/2015
Dealing with water outages
Planning can help ensure an outage does not cause a hospital shut-down
2/18/2015
EPA developing proposal for hazardous waste pharmaceuticals
Proposal will address concerns over the lack of notification requirements for those facilities that generate, handle or transport 'universal waste' pharmaceuticals
2/17/2015
Outdoor LED signs can promote community
Signage can promote a facility's mission, enhance a sense of community and disseminate of new, timely information
2/17/2015
CDC, EPA develop guidelines for dealing with emerging pathogens
The guidelines can be extended to the use of supplemental UV devices
2/17/2015
Improving facility manager 'soft skills'
The ability to communicate the needs of maintenance staff to the C suite is key to promotion
2/17/2015
Internet of Things is turning the home hospital into a reality
The connected home is pivotal to the future of healthcare
2/13/2015
$75M gift to SF General to buy equipment and technology
Some of the money will be spent on smart beds, which can provide nurses with real-time patient information
2/13/2015
Kansas hospital hit by power cut-off scam
Salina Regional Health Center employee tricked out of $1,500
2/13/2015
Most hospitals not protecting nurses from injuries
There are more than 35,000 back and other injuries among nursing employees every year
2/12/2015
Hospital's active shooter drill offers lessons to other facilities
Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla exercise designed to maximize survival in emergency situations
2/12/2015
Surgeries cancelled after burst pipe floods Ontario hospital
St. Mary's Hospital in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, and it's neighbors face days of cleanup
2/12/2015
Fire door smoke detectors Q&A
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about fire door smoke detectors
2/12/2015
Focus on Ebola leaves gap in attention to other outbreaks
In survey, 79 percent reported that such focus reduced capacity to prepare for other disease threats
2/11/2015
Preventing burst pipes Q&A
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, preventing burst pipes is discussed by several plumbing professionals
2/11/2015
Risk assessment toolkit developed
The Center for Health Design is completing a three-year grant project to develop a proactive risk assessment tool for facility design, according to an article on the Behavioral Healthcare website
2/11/2015
Hazard vulnerability assessment is a valuable design tool
HVAs are one method of measuring the probability of certain hazards
2/10/2015
Investigations help curb accidents
Accident investigations are done to identify contributing factors that led up to the event, according to an article on the Long-Term Living website
2/10/2015
Walk-in behavioral health clinics gaining popularity
The emerging trend of walk-in behavioral health facilities is providing a potentially better alternative to an emergency room visit, according to an article on the Behavioral Healthcare website
2/10/2015
Floors can make, break first impressive
Cleanliness is a primary indicator of the overall quality of care
2/10/2015
Can Disney MagicBands work for hospitals?
A MagicBand could replace patients' ID bracelets and allow patients to hold up their wrist to open doors or check into new areas
2/9/2015
Sealed TV remotes in patient rooms cut infections
Traditional remote controls are difficult to clean and sanitize
2/9/2015
Website offers resources to reduce healthcare facilities risk
Safety Central includes flyers, videos, articles and resources
2/9/2015
2015 AIA Institute honors Texas urgent care center
Legacy ER & Urgent Care recognized in the healthcare category
2/9/2015
California considers allowing cameras in senior care facilities
State may allow some form of videotaping in assisted living facilities
2/9/2015
A human hospital infrastructure can save lives
Safeguards within a healthcare facility infrastructure can bring better outcomes, better patient safety and cost reductions
2/9/2015
N.J. hospital adds health tech support space
Morristown Medical Center offers resource for patients and staff to get help with health-related technology, apps, and fitness devices, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
2/9/2015
Hospital security measures effect flower deliveries
New safety and security guidelines from the CDC and Homeland Security are changing the way flowers can be delivered to hospitals
2/6/2015
New technologies measure hand-washing compliance
More accurate readings often lead to discouraging numbers - or a 'new baseline'
2/6/2015
Hospital reviews ligature hazards after patient's hanging
Inspectors found ligature risks months before incident at Bootham Park Hospital
2/6/2015
N.Y. hospital fined for exposing workers to bloody, soiled laundry
New York Presbyterian-Columbia University Medical Center hit with more than $201K in violations
2/6/2015
What hospitals do to keep facility secure
Facilities say procedures and protocols are in place to help protect both the public and staff members
2/5/2015
Proper hand hygiene depends on the right tools, methods
Not all hand-washing methods and soaps are the same
2/5/2015
Whole Foods may expand into healthcare
The popularity of standalone walk-in retail clinics continues to grow, with organizations often leasing space formerly occupied by stores
2/5/2015
New fabric to prevent cross-contamination
Anti-microbial textile provides protection against the transmission of infection in healthcare facilities
2/5/2015
UCSF Medical Center offers robot-aided healthcare
Robots will haul blood samples, food, medication, biohazardous waste and other materials and supplies
2/4/2015
Louisiana health center to get solar-heated pools, self-powering elevators
$73 million Thibodaux Regional Medical Center to include a range of 'green' innovations
2/4/2015
Smart devices track hand-washing in hospitals
MIT Media Lab alumni are using smart devices to monitor hand hygiene among hospital staff and ensure compliance with WHO guidelines
2/4/2015
Security increased after nurse is wounded in shooting at Los Angeles clinic
Facility on MLK Jr. Community Hospital campus will install metal detectors
2/4/2015
Portable fire extinguishers Q&A
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about portable fire extinguishers
2/4/2015
Lurie Children's Hospital gives kids virtual Chicago tours
Virtual trips take patients to Millennium Park, the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry
2/3/2015
University students build a device to monitor hand washing in hospitals
Northern Arizona University students develop tech to curb hospital infections
2/3/2015
Key issues for healthcare facility condition assessments
There are many things to consider before launching the FCA
2/3/2015
Technology helps hospital visitors navigate indoors
Recent advances in location aware technology has opened up new possibilities for patient wayfaring
2/3/2015
Joint Commission offers Ebola resources for laboratories, healthcare facilities
Lab Focus issue available for download on website
2/3/2015
Can there be too much hospital security?
Facilities question whether their security plans are enough - or too much
2/2/2015
Gas leak kills two in Mexico City maternity hospital
A woman and child are killed and dozens are injured following fuel truck explosion
2/2/2015
Key differences between accreditation programs
Each accreditation organization conducts surveys differently
2/2/2015