Sustainable Operations - May 2020
Creating an N95 mask disinfection facility for less Than $15,000
Health system is offering a free instruction manual
5/29/2020
Healthcare cook stitches masks for customers at Pittsburgh hospital during pandemic
Her design includes pockets!
5/29/2020
Houston hospital installs touchless temperature cameras
The cameras can scan whoever crosses their path, alerting users instantly if an elevated temperature is present
5/29/2020
A million N95 masks is not what it used to be
In normal, pre-Covid-19 times, that would be a large supply. Now, not so much.
5/28/2020
Aspergillus mold discovered again at Seattle Children’s hospital
The hospital has had mold issues for nearly 20 years and has been linked to seven deaths
5/28/2020
Mattresses choices can help with COVID-19 infection control
Many healthcare facilities use porous mattresses that may allow the virus to enter the medium and contaminate them
5/28/2020
Resiliency can assure a safe environment of care
Energy resiliency remains the key factor in maintaining normal operations
5/28/2020
Cleaning for healthy workplaces during pandemic
Focus on cleaning and disinfecting common areas where staff and others providing services might come into contact with ill persons
5/28/2020
Equipment and environment need infection control attention
Coronavirus can remain on surfaces long after a patient infects a certain area or item
5/28/2020
Lessons From South Korea on the role of infection control in flattening the curve
South Korea has incorporated hospital infection control as a core component of its national COVID-19 containment strategy
5/27/2020
What labs can teach us about safely returning to offices
Research has shown that buildings with poor indoor air quality (inadequate ventilation, filtration or humidity control) can promote the spread of airborne bacterial or viral infections
5/27/2020
CDC says COVID-19 does not easily spread from contaminated surfaces
But it appears that the virus can spread from people to animals
5/27/2020
The CDC releases official reopening guidelines
Document came about two weeks after the White House reportedly tabled the guidelines
5/26/2020
N.C.’s pandemic medical shelter to go dormant but won’t be dismantled
The shelter can be made ready to take patients within four or five days
5/26/2020
Infection prevention and control in the hospitals of Wuhan
Shelter hospitals have higher risks of nosocomial infection than general hospitals
5/26/2020
Sustainable hospital design reduces environmental impact while improving performance
By focusing on details such as building orientation, sustainably-sourced materials, better water systems, and increased daylighting, architects can design hospitals that are mindful of the environment
5/26/2020
What Ghana has to teach US healthcare
The level of healthcare in Ghana is currently very low, whereas the level of healthcare in the U.S. is considerably higher, but they are facing the same concerns
5/26/2020
Hospital cutting food waste and cost
Providence Health trimming unnecessary food expenditures
5/26/2020
Hospitals use online matchmakers to exchange supplies
Online platforms have emerged to match hospitals that need masks, gowns and ventilators with those that have extras
5/22/2020
US says it won’t use Russian ventilators after deadly hospital fire
Russia stopped using them following a fire in a St. Petersburg hospital that killed five patients with Covid-19
5/22/2020
Nursing home won't allow granny cam in resident's room
Family asking for camera during Covid lockdown
5/22/2020
Hospital procedural change blamed for 6 nurses testing positive
Syracuse hospital told nurses it was no longer necessary to wear N95 masks and that surgical masks are enough
5/22/2020
Mastering the master planning process
Evolving market requires new master planning approaches
5/22/2020
Areas outside nursing home resident rooms key to infection control
Residents have frequent contact with staff and the environment outside of their rooms
5/22/2020
Documenting pandemic poses safety challenge
Photographer is documenting the coronavirus pandemic through the eyes of patients and staff
5/21/2020
20 years of closing hospitals in N.Y. hampers capacity during pandemic
State and healthcare leaders eliminated 20,000 hospital beds over the past two decades
5/21/2020
Illuminating the importance of emergency and exit lights
Facility managers should understand the role of emergency and exit lighting and the importance of maintaining these units
5/21/2020
Effective surface preparation key to successful painting projects
Managers who understand the importance of ensuring that workers perform effective surface preparation are more likely to produce successful applications
5/21/2020
Technology can boost hand-hygiene compliance by 45%
The study, originally featured in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) stated that hand-hygiene compliance rates provided by the traditional direct observation method did not accurately reflect baseline rates.
5/21/2020
Ventilator examined after fires kill six in Russia
Some of the ventilators have been sent to the United States, though not used
5/20/2020
Florida strengthens COVID-19 testing in longterm care facilities
The orders require nursing homes and assisted-living facilities to allow the Florida Department of Health into their buildings for infection control and conducting COVID-19 testing
5/20/2020
Wisconsin nursing home took aggressive steps to halt coronavirus
Autumn Oaks Assisted Living in Slinger once faced four active cases of coronavirus
5/20/2020
Impact of superbugs on infection control strategies
Currently, superbugs cause twice as many deaths in the U.S. as they did six years ago
5/20/2020
Experts suggest public restrooms and offices should be re-engineered to control infections
Hand washing can be useless if people have to touch unclean surfaces
5/19/2020
CMS draft guidelines for reopening nursing homes
Some industry officials and infection-control experts are worried that moving too fast could increase the risks
5/19/2020
Early planning of fire safety systems can saves time, money
Fire suppression and alarm systems, fire protection water supply and life safety features should be planned for before construction begins
5/19/2020
Hospitals struggle to restart elective care after shutdowns
Reopening will be difficult with the threat of more infection
5/18/2020
Pa. had plan to protect nursing home during pandemic that was never fully implemented
A more limited effort wasn’t activated until mid-April, long after major outbreaks had already taken hold
5/18/2020
Nursing homes, veterans’ homes are Covid-19 hotspots
Long-term care facilities are the overlooked epicenters of the pandemic.
5/18/2020
Legionnaires' plan: Prevent, detect, treat
Legionnaires’ disease remains a top priority in effective plumbing and restroom maintenance
5/18/2020
Location technology: The next investment for healthcare
Location-based security technology is a win for both staff and patients
5/18/2020
Environmental monitoring tracks temperature and humidity to maintain safety
Humidity levels play a role in the safe storage of vaccines, medications, blood and lab samples
5/15/2020
Long-term care facilities opening dedicated COVID-19 units
The COVID-only wings will be cordoned off from the rest of the facilities and have their own entrances and dedicated staff
5/15/2020
Pa. health official says state won’t supply protective equipment to hospitals that resume elective surgeries
The priority has shifted to nursing homes, where most of the state’s COVID-19 deaths have occurred
5/15/2020
Feds consider relaxing infection control in U.S. nursing homes
The longterm care industry's residents and workers are currently overwhelmed by the coronavirus
5/14/2020
Many hospitals now sanitize and reuse masks
One agency of the federal government is allowing for 20 cycles of cleaning for a single mask. Another suggests three.
5/14/2020
National Guard disinfects George hospitals
30 National Guardsmen recently sanitize the Phoebe Putney Hospital cancer center
5/14/2020
Wealthy hospitals have a cushion to weather coronavirus crisis that safety-net facilities don’t
Cancellations of nonessential surgeries come with the coronavirus patients
5/14/2020
Study: Hand-washing better at killing flu than sanitizer
Hand-washing is better even without soap
5/14/2020
‘Scandal’ cast donates meals to South Side Chicago hospital
Roseland Community Hospital’s food service department has been shut down since March
5/13/2020
‘Tele-Triage’ models designed to keep patients and clinicians safe
Virtual care in emergency departments also can support security and workflow
5/13/2020
Tech can help healthcare facilities guard against disaster
Keeping health IT systems up and running is critical
5/13/2020
Field hospitals occupy flood zones despite warnings
E&E News identified 16 facilities in flood zones using FEMA online flood maps
5/12/2020
Face masks and hand sanitizer stolen from Indiana hospital
Theft shows they’re now as sought-after as drugs
5/12/2020
COVID-19 – Creating a rare convergence of market need and technology
A new technology can now be incorporated in a traditional LED panel fixture using nanometer materials for antiseptic and anti-virus air-cleaning
5/12/2020
Project offers a look behind the curtain at WELL, Fitwel, and LEED
A recent project shows how sustainability and health and wellness complement each other
5/12/2020
Antibiotic resistant co-infections: A silent killer in COVID-19 patients
Hospitals are trying to keep pace with COVID-19 and the resulting drug-resistant secondary bacterial infections
5/12/2020
Finding the right technology for your facility
How FMs choose and implement technology has a profound impact on the long-term operations of a building
5/12/2020
Study says coronavirus may linger in the air in patient bathrooms, staff areas
Researchers also found the concentration of the virus' genetic material in isolation wards and ventilated patient rooms was very low
5/11/2020
Study finds healthcare construction training is lacking
Only 52 percent of those surveyed said that owners of healthcare projects always or often required construction teams to receive training
5/11/2020
Designing and operating secure emergency facilities
The first step is to conduct a realistic threat assessment
5/11/2020
Maintaining a sustainable future for your healthcare facility
It's not a 'step-one-and-done' process; the ROI can have everyone seeing green
5/11/2020
Prioritize indoor environmental quality
Optimize the indoor environment while minimizing impact on the outdoor environment and global resources
5/11/2020
Texas hospital turns cafe into pop-up market for employees
Medical Health Center Health System facility’s café saw uptick in business
5/8/2020
Advanced medical tents replace triage tents at Md. hospitals
The medical tents can be connected to the hospital’s electric power but also include a generator
5/8/2020
New decontamination center in Los Angeles allows N95 masks to be reused 20 times
The cleaning chamber began operating in early May
5/8/2020
Infection control efforts start with EMS personnel
A study found that EMS practiced hand hygiene before patient contact in just 7 percent of assessments
5/8/2020
Can rice cookers decontaminate face masks?
Investigators found that the appliance can decontaminate cloth masks
5/7/2020
Successful technology selection and implementation
Separating shiny new gadgets from systems that deliver when selecting new technology
5/7/2020
Infection control measures failing in Colorado elder homes
Banning visitors, new rules for infection control and increased testing haven’t stopped spread of COVID-19
5/6/2020
Oklahoma hospital's eight nurses are also the janitors
The nurses, along with an office manager and a part-time maintenance worker, are the only remaining employees
5/4/2020
Coronavirus’s impact on healthcare IT: Part Two: Supporting real-time needs of hospitals in crisis
Network segmentation, or social distancing for your medical devices
5/4/2020
Ultrasonics can power infection control in nonwovens
Nonwoven fabrics are key in the battle to prevent the spread of infection
5/4/2020
Chicago-area hospitals using tracking technology to monitor hand hygiene
Healthcare providers only wash or sanitize their hands about half as much as they should
5/4/2020
Hospital system using technology to reduce staff’s' coronavirus exposure
Video tools can also cut down on the use of vital personal protective equipment
5/1/2020
Philly officials condemn improper transfer of bodies in pickup truck
The incident involved the movement of five or six cadavers to the Medical Examiner's Office in University City
5/1/2020
Sink design can affect infection control efforts
Relatively shallow bowls and aerators can spread microbes
5/1/2020
Hawaii using fogging equipment to disinfect equipment for healthcare facilities
Fog can reach hard-to-reach areas that are not practical to reach with a wiper
5/1/2020
During crisis, critical power plan is a must for the smaller medical facility
COVID-19 could affect supply chain long after the pandemic subsides
5/1/2020
