Sustainable Operations - August 2016
Cell phone germs a concern at healthcare facilities
A study found traces of the flu, respiratory infections, and the norovirus on 38.5% of 114 healthcare workers' phones that were tested
8/31/2016
Key considerations when choosing hand-hygiene products
With little guidance, finding the right product can be daunting
8/31/2016
Looking at healthcare self-regulation program
Every time an outbreak is linked to linen services, healthcare laundry industry standards go under the microscope
8/31/2016
Healthcare cybersecurity improving
Survey shows that more organizations are prioritizing information security
8/31/2016
Fungal spores found in N.C. healthcare facility nursery during construction
The spores are common and generally not harmful
8/30/2016
Tips on building a healthcare facility telecommunications network
Building in redundancy, IoT capabilities essential to network design
8/30/2016
Tennessee hospital now StormReady
Cookeville Regional Medical Center gets StormReady certification from the National Weather Service
8/30/2016
Survey shows hospitals differ in levels of cybersecurity
Eighty percent of providers acknowledge a recent 'significant security incident'
8/30/2016
Disaster drills key to mass-shooter response
Orlando hospital participated in drill three months before nightclub shooting
8/29/2016
New Hampshire hospitals invest in wiser energy, cleaner air
Hospitals working to prevent illness by reducing pollution from energy use
8/26/2016
Hospitals can help nurses prevent violence
Massachusetts hospital nurses have developed violence-prevention protocols
8/26/2016
Healthcare's cybersecurity problem
Research firm expects hospital spending on cybersecurity in the U.S. to grow by 13.6 percent annually for the next five years
8/25/2016
Controlling C. diff in post-acute care facilities
Video outlines ways healthcare providers can improve the prevention and management of C. difficile
8/24/2016
Real-time tracking can improve healthcare facility cleaning
Technology can transform environmental services
8/24/2016
UV and HP technologies aid infection control
Manufacturers upgrade their systems to meet specialized needs
8/24/2016
Medical center uses a management system to simplify testing and reporting capability
Bryan Medical Center's monitoring and control requirements for its power distribution system had outgrown its current capabilities
8/24/2016
Learning from banking industry to deal with data breaches
Healthcare data-breach prevention should adopt techniques from the banking industry
8/24/2016
UV lamps can help sterilize computer keyboards
Study says ultraviolet lights over computer mice and keyboards reduces bacteria 99 percent
8/23/2016
Rail project could disrupt healthcare facilities operation
Hospitals fear an upgrade to Melbourne's metro rail system will compromise patient safety
8/23/2016
Water business helps healthcare facility reduce carbon
The firm worked with Addenbrooke’s Hospital to replace the facility’s fluorescent lamps with 650 LED tubes and panels
8/23/2016
Colorado Springs cited for not properly cleaning ultrasound probes
Workers at Memorial Hospital failed to properly disinfect vaginal ultrasound probes for years
8/23/2016
Banner Health cyberattack sparks class-action suit
Suit alleges that the Banner Health system was negligent
8/23/2016
Discolored water stalls operations
Dozens of operations at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, Scotland, postponed due to a problem with the water supply
8/22/2016
Patient falls from healthcare facility window after removing safety grill
An investigation has been launched surrounding the incident at the Weston General Hospital in the U.K.
8/22/2016
Nursing home chooses touchless cleaning for wheelchairs
Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill, Wis., sought ways to better clean its wheelchair fleet
8/22/2016
Bat found in Illinois healthcare facility tests positive for rabies
Two bats were found earlier this month in the OB
8/19/2016
Healthcare facilities urged to create leaner working environments
Healthcare leaders need to identify financing mechanisms that will limit their initial capital investment and enable them to cost-effectively use facilities over the next five to 10 years
8/19/2016
Chicago hospital's strategies keep gang-banging patients safe
Injured gang members can pose problems for hospitals
8/19/2016
Disinfection deficiencies found at Colorado healthcare facility
Report says Memorial Hospital employees improperly cleaned devices, surgical instruments and procedure rooms
8/19/2016
Banner cyberattack has healthcare facilities re-examining their defenses
Incident highlights need for layered security
8/18/2016
Curbing linen loss at healthcare facilities
Disappearing healthcare textiles could lead to shortages and result in higher costs
8/18/2016
Military approach boosts hand-hygiene compliance
Researchers borrowed an approach known as a stand-down from the military
8/17/2016
Nurses seeking regular security guard patrols of nearby parking lots at night
A mental health patient wearing a business shirt, jeans and a hoodie followed a nurse from hospital parking lot and signed himself in as a doctor
8/17/2016
NIH closes pharmacy due to sterility issues
Facility was located at hospital that largely treats patients entered in clinical studies
8/17/2016
Boosting the financial performance of healthcare properties
Accurate data are vital to optimizing a healthcare portfolio
8/17/2016
Experts say longterm care dining areas should be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis
Housekeeping and laundry operations are crucial aspects of nursing home care
8/16/2016
2016 could bring an increase in healthcare data-breach fines
Sloppy cybersecurity can be expensive
8/16/2016
Ontario plans $175 million in hospital repairs and upgrades
Provincial government says it wants to ensure Ontario’s hospitals remain in good working order
8/16/2016
Avoiding common healthcare data security challenges
Nearly 90 percent of all healthcare organizations have suffered at least one data breach in the last two years
8/15/2016
Maryland NICU closed due to potentially fatal bacteria in water pipes
The neonatal intensive care unit at Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly was temporarily shut down after the discovery of potentially deadly bacteria
8/12/2016
Asset tracking can transform healthcare
An ongoing concern for healthcare facilities is the over- and under-utilization of its medical equipment
8/12/2016
City water crisis tests hospital’s emergency plan
Oconee Regional Medical Center was 'shut down' by water issues
8/12/2016
Five key benefits of addressable speaker technology in healthcare institutions
Addressable technology's value is starting to take hold on the notification side of fire alarm systems
8/12/2016
Group opposes fast food franchises in healthcare facilities
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine campaign launches ad blitz
8/12/2016
Facility improvements can boost patient experiences and HCAHPS scores
Staff, patient-centered operations and well-designed facilities work together
8/12/2016
Banner Health data breach linked to food service payments
Cyberattackers gained access to computer servers, including those that process payment card information where food and beverages are sold
8/11/2016
LED lighting delivers better light and healthy savings to Reston Hospital Center
Virginia healthcare facility replaces the outdated metal halide light fixtures in its parking garage
8/11/2016
Alternative technologies can help to ease anxiety
Immersive theater and virtual reality can ease kids' fear
8/11/2016
Ohio hospital boosts security after staffer abducted from parking lot
Woman was taken to a location off the hospital's campus and sexually assaulted
8/10/2016
Food service union files complaint against Mayo Clinic
Complaint alleges conflict of interest in Mayo Clinic’s plan to switch to a new food service vendor
8/10/2016
Mississippi hospital stresses cleaning for infection control
Oktibbeha County Hospital take several precautions to make sure all surfaces are clean as part of the facility's infection control efforts
8/9/2016
HIPAA compliance can help against ransomware attacks
Department of Health and Human Services releases fact sheet: Ransomware and HIPAA to address the risks of victimization
8/9/2016
The path from social work to healthcare administration
The Affordable Care Act has created an increase in healthcare utilization and a new emphasis on quality
8/9/2016
Healthcare facility installs 'genius bar' to help patients with technology
New Orleans health center makes using mobile and wearable technology easier
8/8/2016
Sutter Health tackles three-year data center consolidation project
The case study details data center service management solutions
8/8/2016
Heating exterior of luggage may hamper bed bugs' spread
When soft-sided suitcases were exposed to an air temperature of 70 to 75 degrees C, it took only six minutes to kill bugs
8/8/2016
Japan creating security guidelines for healthcare facilities following Sagamihara killings
The move comes after a 26-year-old man allegedly killed 19 people and injured 26 others at the care home
8/5/2016
Hospital security urged to embrace CMS guidelines
IAHSS spokesperson explains how security staffs can embrace guidelines while improving security
8/4/2016
ES staff can play key role in customer service
Patient satisfaction is becoming a goal for every department
8/4/2016
Mayo Clinic decision to outsource food service strikes nerve
Workers and community members have signed petitions objecting to the move
8/4/2016
After eating hospital food for a week, CEO pledges to overhaul menu
After hearing complaints from patients for years, Ottawa Hospital is now revamping its patient menus
8/3/2016
Mississippi healthcare facility fined $2.75M for HIPAA violation
Investigation found inadequate computer security measures at the University of Mississippi Medical Center
8/3/2016
Chicago hospitals prepared for Lollapalooza rush
Last year, emergency rooms treated 88 intoxicated teens during Lollapalooza — nearly nine times the average Chicago weekend
8/2/2016
Olympus reportedly told U.S. managers not to issue a warning about contaminated scopes
Internal e-mails suggest that Olympus officials based in Japan attempted to hide news of a potential outbreak from U.S.
8/2/2016
North Carolina Health Care exec recognized by Campus Safety
Lisa Terry, University of North Carolina Health Care’s director of hospital police and transportation, named Director of the Year
8/2/2016
Kentucky healthcare facility balances energy efficiency, infection control
UV-C system removes organic growth on the outer and inner surfaces of the heating coil, restoring heat transfer efficiency
8/2/2016
Information security pros needed in healthcare
Cyber attacks are expected to expand the information security professional workforce by nearly 20 percent
8/2/2016
Free valet service at healthcare facility makes positive first impression
Service at the Adele Hall Campus of Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo, has received good reviews in first year
8/1/2016
Hospital upgrades ventilation with exterior system
St. Thomas West Hospital retrofits exhaust system with hidden risers and energy-recovery ventilators
8/1/2016
Florida hospitals upgrade security following fatal shootings at healthcare facility
Parrish Medical Center is considering 'security enhancements' at its Titusville hospital
8/1/2016
HHS cybersecurity task force has second in-person meeting
The cross-industry task force was formed with a directive to prepare recommendations for improving healthcare cybersecurity
8/1/2016