Sustainable Operations - April 2013
Boston Marathon bombings shine spotlight on hospital emergency preparedness
While public health officials agree U.S. hospitals are more prepared to handle disasters than they were prior to the 9/11 attacks, concerns have risen in recent weeks about how funding cuts could potentially impede hospital emergency preparedness.
4/30/2013
Kaiser Permanente wins national awards for environmental practices
Kaiser Permanente has received 29 Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards for 2013.
4/29/2013
Bedbug encounters are on the rise in hospitals, nursing homes
More pest-management companies are being called to exterminate bedbugs in hospitals and nursing homes, according to a survey by the National Pest Management Association.
4/29/2013
ASHE offers course on fundamentals of healthcare facility management
The American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) offers a seminar for new or aspiring healthcare facility managers.
4/26/2013
ASHE recognizes hospitals nationwide for cutting energy consumption
The American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) is recognizing hospitals for their efforts to reduce energy consumption as part of ASHE's Energy Efficiency Commitment (E2C) program.
4/25/2013
Survey: Patient safety and financial stability top concerns for hospital executives
Patient safety and financial stability are cited as two of the most important issues facing hospitals today in a recent survey of hospital executives and risk managers.
4/23/2013
Feds form new advisory Health IT workgroup to safeguard patient safety
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have organized a new workgroup tasked with promoting innovation in health information technology (Health IT) while safeguarding patient safety.
4/19/2013
Mobile medical devices may pose infection threat in healthcare facilities
Improperly disinfected mobile medical equipment may be inadvertently increasing the spread of healthcare-associated infections.
4/17/2013
Redundant data facilities important for hospitals, regardless of size, budget
Tighter budgets may lead smaller hospitals to rely on a single data center, but strategies have to be worked out for backing up data in a practical fashion.
4/16/2013
Hospital plans to profit from recycling packaging used for surgical equipment
Massachusetts General Hospital is starting a pilot program to recycle and sell blue wrap used in operating rooms to package surgical equipment.
4/15/2013
Medical center takes big energy efficiency step with lighting retrofit
When the Georgia Regents Medical Center in Augusta, Ga., began pursuing Energy Star certification in 2004, it became apparent that a lighting retrofit involving almost 12,000 lamps and ballasts on the 1.6-million-square-foot campus was a necessary step.
4/12/2013
Medical center takes big energy efficiency step with lighting retrofit
When the Georgia Regents Medical Center in Augusta, Ga., began pursuing Energy Star certification in 2004, it became apparent that a lighting retrofit involving almost 12,000 lamps and ballasts on the 1.6-million-square-foot campus was a necessary step.
4/12/2013
NICU bedside cameras keep parents connected, improve communication
As part of a telehealth redesign to give parents constant access to their babies, the NICU at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah is being fitted with 195 video cameras.
4/11/2013
Effects of climate change may pose business risk for healthcare facilities
Healthcare facilities need resiliency in design and operations to be prepared for extreme weather.
4/9/2013
Surveillance system hybrids can stretch healthcare facility security dollars
Hybrid video surveillance systems capture the benefit of IP while mitigating the cost.
4/9/2013
ASHRAE publishes second edition to HVAC manual for healthcare facilities
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has published a second edition of its "HVAC Design Manual for Hospitals and Clinics."
4/9/2013
EPA announces changes to Design for Environment program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced several changes to its Design for the Environment Program (DfE) for labeling cleaning products.
4/8/2013
Hospitals could slash energy use through careful equipment purchasing
Advances in the energy efficiency of medical equipment can significantly cut plug loads in hospitals, and should be factored into purchasing decisions.
4/8/2013
Hospitals could slash energy use through careful equipment purchasing
Advances in the energy efficiency of medical equipment can significantly cut plug loads in hospitals, and should be factored into purchasing decisions.
4/8/2013
Complying with CoPs has implications for hospital security staff
Several of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Conditions of Participation come to bear on security department actions and policies.
4/4/2013
Practice Greenhealth offers webinar on risks of flame retardants
Practice Greenhealth will host a webinar on flame retardants on April 3 at 2 p.m. Eastern.
4/1/2013