Sustainable Operations - September 2020
Ten Percent Of N.Y. Nursing Homes Failed At Infection Control
The New York Health Department has fined 23 nursing homes a total of $328,000
9/30/2020
Pa. Health System Adjusts Food Service During Pandemic
Geisinger’s former self-serve stations are all staffed and shielded
9/30/2020
Study: Coronavirus Lingers on Shared Medical Equipment
Research doesn’t say whether this could lead to virus transmission
9/30/2020
Continuously Active Disinfectants Said To Control COVID Spread
Protecting exposure via surfaces in heavily trafficked facilities can be a challenge
9/30/2020
Ransomware Attack Leads To Death Of Patient In Germany
Woman died after being diverted to facility 20 miles away when hackers shut down hospital where she was being admitted
9/29/2020
Selecting the Right CMMS
CMMS selection requires matching specific project and facility goals with the capabilities and functionality of the system
9/29/2020
Study Finds Educating Cleaning Staff Lowers C. diff Infections
Study suggests focusing on knowledge gaps, challenges and barriers
9/29/2020
Hospitals Say They're Now Better Prepared For COVID-19
Healthcare leaders are stockpiling needed supplies
9/28/2020
Healthcare Tech Supporting COVID-19 Fight
Some hospitals are using remote surveillance to monitor COVID-19 patients on ventilators
9/28/2020
With COVID-19 Reopenings, There May Be Legionella in A Building's Water
Stagnant water can be a breeding ground for waterborne pathogens, such as legionella
9/28/2020
Survey: Dirty Carpet Impacts Perception of Care in Long-term Care Facilities
Older Americans (65+) are more likely than their younger counterparts to be influenced by dirty carpet
9/28/2020
Flu Season During Coronavirus Pandemic Raises New Questions
Flu patients can take up resources
9/25/2020
Washington Hospital Fixes Water Issue After Two Weeks
The water issue affected sterilization of surgical instruments
9/25/2020
Doctor Shot During Robbery At Minnesota Hospital
Employees had asked for better protection in parking areas
9/25/2020
Kaiser Permanente First Healthcare System To Reach Carbon Neutrality
One hundred percent of energy the system uses is being either used in a green way or is offset
9/25/2020
Lessons From Ebola
Healthcare professionals have learned a great deal about creating effective care environments that allow for the safe treatment of patients with EVD and other infectious diseases
9/25/2020
56% Of Healthcare Facilities Did Not Meet National Cybersecurity Standards In 2019
Added technologies and an increased focus on existing ones is recommended
9/24/2020
2020 Environmental Services Departments of the Year Named
AHE awards honor top hospital EVS departments
9/24/2020
Case Study: Urology Center in Little Rock
The project provided lighting for a range of medical and cleanroom applications
9/24/2020
What You Need to Know About Elastomeric Coatings
Durable and not easily cracked, elastomeric coatings are also effective at sealing roof leaks and preventing existing damage from worsening
9/24/2020
Pa. Hospital Using ‘Mobile Boiler Rooms’ During Repairs After Fire
The fire has been linked to a chemical reaction during maintenance work
9/24/2020
Florida Assisted-Living Facilities No Longer Required To Test Staff For COVID
Federal guidelines require nursing homes to continue testing
9/23/2020
Pandemic Hastening Closure Of Some Urban Hospitals
COVID has worsened the situation for already weakened hospitals
9/23/2020
Georgia Blocks ‘Granny Cam’ Legislation
Some in the long-term care industry have opposed cameras
9/23/2020
Tackling the Pandemic with Environmental Monitoring
The benefits of temperature and environmental monitoring are twofold
9/23/2020
CDC Reverses Guidelines On Testing People Exposed To Covid-19
People who have had close contact with someone infected with the coronavirus, but who have not exhibited symptoms are now recommended to be tested
9/22/2020
Coronavirus Could Make Touchless Restrooms a Must
No longer a nice-to-have, touchless restroom fixtures may curb infections from commercial restrooms
9/22/2020
Senior Living Dining Program Works to Maintain Community
Nebraska facilities innovate in how they serve residents under restrictions
9/22/2020
Columbus Surge Hospital In Storage For Now
The hospital at the Greater Columbus Convention Center has been disassembled
9/22/2020
Smart Healthcare Facilities Can Come Unique Cybersecurity Threats
All the standard vulnerabilities apply to healthcare facilities as well
9/22/2020
Nursing Home Workers Who Work At Multiple Facilities May Be Behind Some Of COVID Spread
Florida facilities continue to see cases despite lockdown
9/21/2020
Containing Healthcare Costs in the New COVID Normal
Navigating pandemic-induced financial strain to reduce expenses
9/21/2020
Mayo Clinic Opens A Dedicated Gluten-Free Kitchen
Clinic now a validated gluten-free 'safe spot'
9/21/2020
Mass. Hospital Keeping COVID Transmissions at Nearly Zero
The Boston hospital has dedicated COVID-19 units with airborne infection isolation rooms
9/21/2020
UVC Disinfectant Not Easy to Use
UVC radiation disinfect requires many protocols to use safely
9/21/2020
Spray-On PPE Is Being Developed
The product would be used once a day and administered by a shelf-stable inhaler or nasal spray
9/18/2020
Material Shortages Hinders Mask Manufacturing
Meltblown textile is needed to make N95 masks
9/18/2020
Penn. Hospital Fire Sparks Shelter-in-Place Order For Area
Smoke from putting out a fire at UPMC Lock Haven could have been hazardous
9/18/2020
Cybersecurity Not Just A Technology Problem
Continual education and reinforcement of staff is key
9/18/2020
How Hospitals Can Achieve Net-Zero Energy
Historically high energy users, hospitals do have a pathway to net-zero energy. These tips and real-world case studies illustrate how.
9/18/2020
Laundry Practices A Key Part Of Infection Control
It’s an area that’s underappreciated in eldercare
9/17/2020
Access Control Strategies Can Help Curb Coronavirus Spread
Facility managers can turn to a number of solutions, ranging from no-tech to low-tech to high-tech
9/17/2020
Nursing Facilities Can Be Hotbeds For Bacteria
Infection control protocols are key to preventing spread
9/17/2020
Regulations, Codes & Standards Q&A: Power Strips
Brad Keyes discusses regulations related to power strips
9/16/2020
Water Chemistry Issues Suspend Surgeries At Washington Hospital
The water issue is affecting sterilization
9/16/2020
Pa. Hospital Patient Suffering Third-Degree Burns In Operating Room Fire
Patient files suit against the UPMC Susquehanna’s Williamsport Regional Medical Center
9/16/2020
Green Cleaning During The COVID-19 Pandemic
Facilities should pay attention about to what’s in their cleaning products
9/16/2020
Survey: Healthcare Facilities Not Keeping Up With Hackers
96 percent of IT professionals say data attackers are outpacing healthcare facilities in effectiveness
9/16/2020
Decontamination May Solve Mask Shortage
With cold and flu season around the corner, new PPE shortages are feared
9/15/2020
Legionella At D.C. VA Hospital Cuts Off Water
The water was flushed and the water heated to eradicate any possible legionella bacteria
9/15/2020
Mass Hospital Still Closed By Summer Flood Waters
Video on Campus Safety website shows water flooding Norwood Hospital
9/15/2020
Pandemic Has Healthcare Facilities Increasing Focus On Patient Experience Efforts
Facilities are working on increasing access to care and deliver a better-than-expected service
9/15/2020
Most Abu Dhabi hospitals Now Digitally Connected
More than 60 percent connected one year from the launch of HIE platform
9/15/2020
Five Reasons Validated Water-Management Programs Are More Critical Than Ever
Many healthcare facilities may have experienced changes in their occupancy and water usage
9/15/2020
N95 Masks Still Being Rationed At Minnesota Hospitals
State has more than 1 million masks in storage
9/14/2020
HAIs May Be Rising Amid Pandemic
COVID-19 has stretched the workforce of infection experts, possibly increasing hospital-acquired infections
9/14/2020
Dozens Of Maryland Nursing Homes Cited For Infection Control Lapses
Ten have faced significant fines based on the inspection surveys, from $70,000 to $380,000
9/14/2020
Idaho Nursing Homes Visited By State Inspectors With COVID-19
Inspectors didn't know they were infected
9/11/2020
Whitepaper: How to Select Electrostatic Technology
Whitepaper identifies four critical elements to evaluate
9/11/2020
Two Initiatives to Enhance Your Infection Prevention Programs
There are steps that you can take in two key areas — instrument processing and contact tracing — that can help enhance your infection prevention program
9/11/2020
Pandemic Increases Importance of Infection Control Efforts
COVID-19 has increased the chance of infection for in-center dialysis patients
9/11/2020
Tips For Medical Device Cybersecurity
Device cybersecurity called the biggest challenge hospitals face today
9/11/2020
Healthcare Employees With COVID Say They’ve Been Asked To Work
Situation is approved by the CDC
9/10/2020
The High Standards Faced By Hospital Facility Managers
Healthcare facility managers are held to high and sometimes impossible standards
9/10/2020
La. Hospital Cares For Babies During Hurricane
The babies were moved to the main hospital in the system which has its own generator and was built to withstand hurricane force winds
9/10/2020
How to Keep Healthcare Construction Sites – and Patients – Safe and Healthy During a Pandemic
During the pandemic, we’re focusing on strengthening these longstanding procedures
9/10/2020
Nurse Reports Cooling Issues At Texas Nursing Home For COVID Patients
Nurse sues - saying she was fired after report
9/10/2020
Canadian Healthcare Facilities Seeing Resistance To In-Hospital Masking
Altercations witnessed when visitors are asked to wear mask in Alberta facility
9/9/2020
Disinfectant Overuse May Have Caused Nurses' Illnesses At Vermont Hospital
Investigators were unable to pinpoint an exact reason why 21 nurses fell ill
9/9/2020
Regulations, Codes & Standards Q&A: Evacuation Route Maps
Brad Keyes discusses regulations related to evacuation route maps
9/9/2020
IPs and EVS Work Best Together With Give-And-Take
The COVID pandemic is bringing them teams together to discuss maintaining supplies of cleaning and disinfecting
9/9/2020
COVID-19 Could Change Enhanced Assisted Living
Some assisted living providers are reevaluating their healthcare offerings
9/9/2020
Healthcare Facilities Have Complex Cybersecurity Risks
Nonprofit hospitals face greater risks from cyberattacks than any other sector
9/9/2020
Return-to-School Issues Can Offer Lessons For Healthcare Facilities
Community living environments, such as universities and skilled nursing facilities, are challenging
9/8/2020
More Scrutiny Sought For Florida Coronavirus Isolation Centers
Some of the nursing homes have been cited for infection control issues
9/8/2020
Minnesota Hospital Adds Halal Options To Patient Menu
Change at St. Cloud Hospital launched to better serve Muslim patients
9/8/2020
Pandemic Increasing Demand For Telemedicine
Health systems are struggling and adjusting to the changes
9/8/2020
Balancing Infection Control With Green-Cleaning Efforts
There are good sustainable alternatives out there if healthcare professionals are 'willing to open their eyes and take a look'
9/8/2020
How Healthcare Facilities Managers Have Become Unsung Heroes for Reducing the Spread of COVID-19
Healthcare facilities managers are making sure infrastructure doesn’t fail
9/4/2020
One In Eight UK Patients Caught COVID In Hospital
Researchers said that was a relatively low rate
9/4/2020
Survey: COVID Hasn’t Changed Large Employers Support Of On-Site Clinics
More than half of employers surveyed said they already have an on-site clinics
9/4/2020
Pa. Hospital System Dealing With Food Service Problem
Patients skipping meals and resorting to snacks
9/4/2020
Designing Healthcare Facilities with Mass Notification in Mind
These systems also offer flexible options for healthcare facilities to reach people via on-premises and mobile devices, as well as create groups and zones to target messages
9/4/2020
Hospital Airflow Crucial For Infection Prevention
There is a lot that can be done in indoor air management to decrease transmission of infections
9/3/2020
Healthcare Foodservice Operations Had To Pivot During the Pandemic
Many hospitals received donations from local businesses
9/3/2020
Two Twin Cities Hospitals Hit With OSHA Penalties Over COVID-19
United, North Memorial fined for PPE, staff-safety violations
9/3/2020
Preparing For A Hurricane In The Middle Of A Pandemic
Facilities must routinely research and update plans in order to reduce damage, remain open and recover quickly
9/3/2020
California Hospital Workers Say They're Not Being Protected
Ad hoc COVID-19 medical centers are often remote and security is often a lower priority
9/2/2020
Temporary Hospitals Have Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities
Ad hoc COVID-19 medical centers are often remote and security is often a lower priority
9/2/2020
Some Healthcare Workers Need Convincing To Wear Masks
Some healthcare workers still believe COVID is a farce or it doesn't really exist
9/1/2020
Healthcare Parking Lots Can Be Hazardous To Workers
Investigation shows security measures lacking
9/1/2020
Baltimore-Area Hospitals Easing Visitor Restrictions
Some visitors are being encouraged to stay in the hospital rather than come and go
9/1/2020
