Sustainable Operations - July 2016
Facility staffs express concern over security following Kanagawa stabbing
Lone intruder at a care facility for disabled people kills 19,
7/29/2016
India hospital deaths blamed on power cut
21 patients at Gandhi Hospital died after power outages
7/29/2016
Delivering internal customer service in healthcare facility security
There is a host of stakeholders inside a facility who public safety and security departments must serve
7/29/2016
Focusing on interiors and exteriors in healthcare environments
Designers talk about the mutually supportive role interior and exterior spaces play
7/29/2016
Legionella risks in building water systems
There are potentially significant liability risks related to water quality in the healthcare sector.
7/29/2016
Decision to leave suspect at hospital broke with state guidelines
Police decision to leave suspect before teen's killing under scrutiny
7/29/2016
Outdated security devices can get left behind
Security personnel unknowingly disconnect them during security upgrades
7/28/2016
What you need to know about the new HIPAA guidance on ransomware
There has been a 300% increase in ransomware attacks in 2016
7/28/2016
N.J. hospital earns top honors at culinary competition
Valley Hospital won the national 2016 Association for Healthcare Foodservice (AHF) Culinary Competition
7/28/2016
New E. coli strain reinforces need for effective ES
Rigorous cleaning can help to prevent spread of new antibiotic-resistant bacteria
7/28/2016
NHS could save £26.4 million annually with CHP
A report says that combined heat and power (CHP) provides the biggest energy saving opportunity
7/27/2016
Philly hospitals ready for potential convention issues
Mass casualty drills, last September's papal visit and the fatal crash of Amtrak 188 have already tested the city's health systems
7/27/2016
Mass General, others ban staff from playing Pokemon Go
Providers concerned about safety are asking people not to wander around campuses using mobile app
7/26/2016
Data overload could swamp healthcare Internet of Things
Many are unsure how to take advantage of IoT big data analytics
7/26/2016
Minimizing traffic during surgery lowers infection rate
New study finds a connection between surgical site infections and how often the OR door is opened during a procedure
7/26/2016
Patient food blamed for cases of lethal listeria infection in UK
Report says pre-packed sandwiches could be contaminated with a lethal bug
7/26/2016
Technology can streamline visitor management at healthcare facilities
Lack of visitor control can impact security
7/26/2016
N.C. healthcare facility fined for wastewater violations
Company is facing the possible loss of its state license to provide non-skilled assisted living care at a residential facility
7/26/2016
White paper offered on emergency power system basics
Paper discusses maintaining consistent power for reliable healthcare
7/25/2016
Strategies to increase hand-hygiene compliance
A recent study found compliance rate higher with monitoring by infection prevention nurses
7/25/2016
Bug zapper plays role in Augusta Health infection control
Robotic disinfection system significantly controls bacteria, spores and viruses
7/25/2016
CDC investigates Zika case not transmitted by mosquito, sexual contact
A family member of the first Zika-related death in the U.S. has contracted the virus
7/22/2016
Missouri healthcare facilities ban Pokemon Go on campuses
One hospital specifically requested employees cease trying to 'catch 'em all' while at work
7/22/2016
Two dead after shooting in Florida healthcare facility patient room
The gunman was restrained by two unarmed security officers at Parrish Medical Center
7/22/2016
Tucson hospital diverts trauma patients after electrical problem
Banner-University Medical Center Tucson was not accepting Level 1 trauma patients after a malfunction involving a hospital transformer/panel
7/22/2016
Taser use in mental healthcare criticized
For more than 10 years, Tasers have been used against patients in locked psychiatric settings
7/22/2016
Healthcare administrators can do more good with a public health background
Earning a public health background opens even more doors to interesting and constructive careers within the administration field
7/22/2016
Operating room 'a sauna' after air conditioning malfunction at Pennsylvania healthcare facility
Lancaster General Hospital assessing losses after incident
7/21/2016
Texas hospitals work to reduce security code confusion
Some feel there might be too many color options
7/21/2016
Advanced condensing boilers remedy aging heating system at Chicago healthcare facility
Presence Health had an old 1 million BTU atmospheric steel tube boiler that was only functioning at maybe 700,000 BTUs
7/20/2016
Hospitals prepare for political conventions
Cleveland and Philadelphia are preparing for an increase in minor problems and the possibility of major incidents
7/19/2016
Healthcare security systems more than five years old may be vulnerable
Conducting an independent assessment can help ensure the most cost-effective equipment combined under a single platform
7/19/2016
Commissioning an emergency power supply system
The challenge is to leverage the power of technology while mastering best practices to protect, preserve and control these vital records
7/19/2016
VA hospital saves energy with solar panels
Amarillo VA hospital installs solar panels covering 720 parking spots
7/19/2016
A healthcare facilities manager's role in infection control
There are key areas that should be monitored
7/19/2016
Hospital uses video surveillance to help staff
Footage is evaluated to improve staff performance
7/18/2016
Water conservation efforts spreading
Hospital water use is gradually declining, averaging 49 gallons per square foot per year compared with nearly 70 gallons a decade ago, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
7/18/2016
Cleaning healthcare facilities' 'grey zone' cuts infection risk
'Grey zones' are areas commonly glossed over in the cleaning process
7/18/2016
Trends shaping cybersecurity
The news around security attacks and prevention is currently overwhelming
7/15/2016
Strengthening an infection control protocol
Many factors are involved in effectively combating hospital-acquired infections
7/15/2016
Hospitals adjust schedules to give patients more rest
Hospitals reschedule floor-washing or designate tasks to be finished by 11 p.m.
7/15/2016
Free webinar: Preparing your facility for analytics
July 21 webinar will explore the potential for "big data" and "analytics" in a healthcare setting, and cover some of the common challenges and how to prepare for them
7/15/2016
Security cameras get high marks from professionals
Experiences demonstrate value of video surveillance systems
7/14/2016
Mobile visitor management systems can improve efficiency
Mobile functionality allows security managers to register new visitors and connect with a central location from anywhere
7/14/2016
Designing privacy and safety into healthcare facilities
Privacy controls must be balanced with the ability for discreet or full observation by healthcare professionals
7/14/2016
Energy to Care program gaining popularity
ASHE is focusing on C-suite buy-in to improve healthcare energy efficiency
7/14/2016
Most wired hospitals focusing on cybersecurity
2016 Health Care’s Most Wired survey says telehealth is also at the top of the to-do list
7/13/2016
Mississippi healthcare facility focusing on employee health
Ingalls Family Health Center Health Center includes wellness coaching and a fitness area
7/13/2016
Electronic hand-hygiene monitoring reduces MRSA HAIs by 42 percent
Health system studied saved $434,000 by avoiding additional care costs
7/13/2016
Health systems tailor programs to reach individual energy-efficiency goals
Kaiser Permanente and Gundersen Health System made commitments to renewable energy
7/13/2016
Telemedicine still waiting for 'Uber moment'
Hospitals far from realizing the full promise of telemedicine
7/12/2016
Prime vs. standby generators, final Tier 4 and what it means for facilities managers
Many facilities managers are confused about whether or not the new rules apply to them
7/12/2016
Telemedicine is transforming healthcare
More than 15 million Americans received some kind of medical care remotely last year
7/12/2016
Benchmarking helps boost energy efficiency in hospitals
Free tool allows facilities to track and compare their energy usage
7/12/2016
Analog-to-IP video system transition in healthcare facilities
There may still be a ways to go before the full potential of IP-based security systems is realized
7/12/2016
C-Difficile dog sniffs out infection
Vancouver Coastal Health introduces a furry new aid in the battle against C-Difficile
7/11/2016
Hospital cited for dirty equipment in maternity unit
Inspectors found blood on a birthing mat in a delivery room ready for the next patient at the Vale of Leven hospital in Dunbartonshire
7/11/2016
Is duodenoscope cross-contamination an outpatient facility risk?
Standard brushes used in scope reprocessing can't completely clean the crevices in scopes' elevator mechanisms
7/11/2016
Boston healthcare facility uses 'green steam' to reduce carbon footprint
Initiative will help the Boston Medical Center to meet sustainability goals
7/11/2016
Connected technology: The healthcare professional’s new best friend
With the Internet of Things, the best is yet to come for the healthcare sector and its workers
7/11/2016
Hospital security pros discuss video surveillance
Comments and advice come from Campus Safety magazine’s video surveillance survey
7/11/2016
Milwaukee-area hospital uses bottled water due to minerals in water
Froedtert Hospital's testing confirmed an "unusual" amount of minerals in the water supply
7/8/2016
Tech solutions can soothe kids before surgery
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital uses an easily disinfected video unit that can be mounted on any hospital bed
7/8/2016
FDA seeks data on hand sanitizer
Data is intended to help the agency ensure that regular use of these products does not present safety and efficacy concerns
7/8/2016
Phoenix Children's Hospital certified as 'StormReady'
Anything from a heavy thunderstorm to localized flooding could trigger StormReady procedures
7/8/2016
Connecticut VA Medical Center benefits from energy efficiency upgrades
VA Medical Center upgraded to high-efficiency interior lighting through the Energy Conscious Blueprint program
7/8/2016
The best IT certifications for a healthcare professional
The need for qualified individuals to manage sensitive data and the networks it is stored on is greater than ever
7/8/2016
Do hospital data security standards put patient safety at risk?
Is the need to secure patient data keeping healthcare facilities from focusing on patient safety?
7/7/2016
White paper explores value of interactive patient education systems
Interactive patient education systems increasing retention up to 50 percent
7/7/2016
Elizabethkingia update: Original infection source remains unknown
Mystery surrounding the nature of the infection and the outbreak persist
7/7/2016
Study says healthcare workers choose efficiency over password security
Hospital employees often write passwords on sticky notes and keypad-protected doors
7/7/2016
Mayo Clinic's new food vendor angers union
Morrison Healthcare will be assuming control of food and nutrition services at Mayo campuses
7/6/2016
Study urges hospitals to step up cellphone cleaning
Study shows mobile devices used by hospital workers harbor viral RNA
7/6/2016
UPMC, AHN fined for illegal disposal of medical waste
Medical waste from 12 UPMC hospitals was mixed with municipal waste and dumped illegally
7/6/2016
Healing hospital budgets through sustainability
A focus on making buildings and services cleaner and greener can generate significant savings
7/6/2016
Lenbrook Retirement Community increases quality improvement scores and efficiency targets with the same outsourcing solution
Expansion presented an opportunity to transition from in-house hospitality, environmental, laundry and linen services to a support service management company
7/6/2016
Second untreatable superbug infection found in US
Patient in New York infected with a strain of E. coli highly resistant to last-resort antibiotic treatments
7/6/2016
When active shooters invade healthcare facilities, having a plan matters
According to a study in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, there were 154 hospital-related shootings from 2000-2011
7/5/2016
Johns Hopkins students improve Ebola protection suit
Mechanical engineering students develop prototypes for more comfortable hood and face mask and battery-powered system that lowers humidity
7/5/2016
Hospitals combat violence in the ER
Two N.J. doctors are working to raise awareness about violence in emergency departments and ways to increase security
7/5/2016
The case for proactive outbound notifications in healthcare contact centers
Notifications are largely automated, so they don’t add to the workload
7/5/2016
Hospital emergency preparedness initiative goes national
Powered for Patients working to improve deployment of resources at hospitals during disasters
7/5/2016
Cincinnati hospital accused of skirting safety procedures
Former nurse at University of Cincinnati Medical Center has sued the hospital
7/1/2016
Ransomware attacks increasingly common in healthcare facilities
Research reports more than 50 percent of healthcare facilities say that they have been hit by ransomware
7/1/2016
New certifications and manual available for healthcare security officers
New versions incorporate latest research and trends
7/1/2016
Experts say real data needed to affect hand-hygiene compliance
Technological solution urged for accuracy
7/1/2016
Do antibacterial building materials pose a health risk?
Scientists say more microbes are healthier than fewer microbes in a space
7/1/2016