Sustainable Operations - February 2017
Parkland Hospital combines laundry tech with human touch
Advanced processes back up one skilled seamstress
2/28/2017
Naples healthcare facility dumping chemical spill into creek
Workers dumped industrial dye into a storm drain
2/28/2017
Long-term care facilities told to be disaster-ready
Facilities that participate in Medicare and Medicaid must meet the new requirements by Nov. 15
2/28/2017
Antimicrobial surfaces can support HAI prevention
The antimicrobials used for solid surfaces include copper and silver
2/28/2017
California hospital moves patients ahead of potential flood
Hospital officials feared the facility would be flooded if the Oroville Dam broke
2/27/2017
UV cleaning technology manufacturers discuss key issues
UV disinfection technology can supplement manual surface cleaning by killing persistent pathogens
2/27/2017
Report: Growing healthcare sector will boost demand for industrial cleaning services
The global industrial cleaning market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of close to 5%
2/27/2017
Maintaining hospital air isolation rooms
Room needs to be well sealed to prevent excess air leakage
2/24/2017
Deploying wireless locks and readers in a healthcare facility
New access control technology can improve the security and efficiency of campus
2/24/2017
Free hazard communication webinar planned to help protect cleaners
The webinar will focus on how OSHA can help staffing firms and host employers better understand their responsibilities for ensuring the safety of temporary workers.
2/24/2017
Street light outages cause safety concerns near Nashville hospital
Some streetlights have been out for months, leaving at least two intersections in the dark
2/24/2017
Legionella found in Washington hospital
Harrison Medical Center patient contracted Legionnaires' disease
2/23/2017
Select an HVAC system for a healthcare facility's specific goals
Energy efficiency is also critical in choosing the best system
2/23/2017
Healthcare has more emergency power system options
As the healthcare construction industry grows, advances in technology are creating new emergency power system options, according to an article on the Healthcare Design
2/22/2017
How common are hospital shootings?
A number of studies have examined instances of gun violence
2/21/2017
Telehealth trend coming with many misconceptions
HealthcareITNews website lists and debunks five of the most popular myths
2/21/2017
How to maximize an intrusion detection system
Integrating other technologies with the security control panel can improve outcomes
2/17/2017
Five mistakes healthcare professionals must avoid with their medical waste disposal
About 15 percent of the waste generated by healthcare facilities is infectious, toxic or radioactive
2/17/2017
50 vehicles ransacked near Orlando hospital
Florida Hospital in Orlando hospital workers weren't the only ones hit
2/17/2017
Medical spaces have specific HVAC design requirements
System designers need to know the type of space the system serves, the occupancy type and codes that govern the occupancy
2/17/2017
Medical spaces have specific HVAC design requirements
System designers need to know the type of space the system serves, the occupancy type and codes that govern the occupancy
2/17/2017
Patient safety efforts are paying off
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's tally of healthcare-associated conditions between 2010 and 2015 shows a 21 percent decline, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
2/17/2017
Experts concerned about the potential fire hazard with hyperbaric chambers
In 2009, a chamber erupted in fire — fed by the oxygen — killing two people inside
2/16/2017
Missouri long-term care facility fire injures resident
Fire blamed on loose wire in an electrical outlet
2/16/2017
Healthcare interoperability slowed by financial, cultural challenges
Lack of standardization, fear of new procedures, or data gaps in EHR systems slowing progress
2/16/2017
Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care wins international climate change awards
Organization recognized for leading the transformation to climate smart, resilient healthcare
2/16/2017
Boston hospital saves more than 5,000,000 kWh with energy upgrades
LED lighting and advanced controls retrofits were installed throughout the campus
2/16/2017
ED patient found dead in Illinois hospital restroom
Man found nearly 8 hours after being discharged
2/16/2017
Automated UV-C disinfection: Finding the system that meets your facility’s needs
Despite the fact that the fundamental technology might be the same, no two commercially available automated UV-C systems are identical
2/15/2017
Boston hospitals review security after fake doctor roams facilities
Woman observed surgeries and attended patient rounds
2/14/2017
Cleaners can harm plastic surfaces over time
Use of some cleaning products could harm medical devices
2/14/2017
Designing healthcare facilities with security in mind
Consult with security personnel during design of new projects
2/14/2017
San Diego hospital accused of reinstalling secret cameras in ORs
Former staff physician at Sharp Grossmont Hospital is suing the healthcare facility
2/13/2017
Cleaning strategies to reduce hospital-acquired infections
Enhanced disinfection techniques can decrease the spread of pathogens
2/13/2017
Experts say current cleaning techniques for flexible endoscopes insufficient
Careful visual inspection and cleaning verification tests are recommended
2/13/2017
New maintenance infection control standards released
The new standard incorporates improvements based on industry advances since the previous edition release in 2012
2/13/2017
IoT security is critical to healthcare
Traditional cybersecurity sometimes lapses comes to the IoT
2/13/2017
Steps for effective outpatient facility cleaning
New facilities give environmental services new challenges
2/10/2017
Surgeon falls off rolling stool, successfully sues for $7 million
The stool was allegedly only suitable for use on a soft, carpeted flooring surface
2/10/2017
VA Pittsburgh system issues water restrictions after Legionella detected
Legionella bacteria found in sinks at facility
2/10/2017
Scabies outbreak reported at Ohio hospital
The disease was spread at Kettering partly by objects that were infested with itch mites
2/9/2017
Some surgical facilities are seeking alternatives to forced air warming
Forced air warming linked to surgical site infections
2/9/2017
Probe of dirty surgical tools at Detroit healthcare system reopened
Federal health authorities are again investigating dirty tools at the Detroit Medical Center
2/9/2017
Iowa hospital to add K-9s to security team
UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center is getting two four-legged security officers
2/9/2017
Study explores environmental cleaning for containing MRSA
Research examines the efficacy of different approaches for cleaning environmental surfaces
2/8/2017
UPMC mold report won't start new investigation
Health agencies have no plans to do any more investigating of the fatal mold outbreak at UPMC
2/8/2017
Tips to reduce the spread of norovirus
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests five steps
2/8/2017
Thieves impersonate Ark. hospital employees, steal credit cards
People dressed in scrubs stole the credit cards of hospital employees
2/7/2017
Junk food is out at Intermountain Healthcare facilities
System doing away with sugary drinks and snacks in clinics, hospitals
2/7/2017
Report links UPMC bed linens filled with mold blamed to crisis
Hundreds of other healthcare facilities may be affected
2/6/2017
Following the new scope reprocessing guidelines
Any gaps in procedures could lead to infections
2/6/2017
Environmental services' morale sometimes suffers on the job
Lifting staff morale goes a long way toward improving productivity
2/6/2017
Hospital enhances patient safety with germ-zapping robots
The Christ Hospital Health Network is the first healthcare system in the Cincinnati region to use the technology
2/3/2017
Study links superbug to antibiotic overuse rather than dirty hospitals
Scientists have found overuse of the drugs was the main cause of a serious stomach bug outbreak that spread through NHS hospitals
2/3/2017
Ontario hospital workers warn about hospital-acquired infections
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is urging the government to reduce hospital-acquired infections by increasing funding for hospital housekeeping
2/2/2017
Choosing the right medical carts
Fully functional and well-equipped carts are the best way to deliver precise medical care
2/2/2017
Poor healthcare facility air quality can harm patients and employees
Hospitals that do not maintain an effective air filtration strategy may find that airborne contaminants become a health issue
2/2/2017
Urban Health Plan’s ‘solar wall’ maximizes vertical space in the Bronx
Unlike most rooftop systems, the 37kW array has been installed on the side of the building
2/2/2017
California hospitals with high infection rates not inspected
California law requires hospitals to be inspected every three years
2/1/2017
Applying the basics of network security
Many strategies that can protect a healthcare facility's electronic security from cyberattacks are simple to implement
2/1/2017