Environmental Services - October 2019
D.C.'s St. Elizabeths Hospital gets clean water after 28 days
On September 26, a routine water test showed pseudomonas and legionella bacteria in the water supply
10/31/2019
Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville reports case of Legionnaires' disease
Mayo is conducting water testing and efforts are underway to reduce the potential for exposure
10/31/2019
California’s blackouts reveal healthcare’s fragile power system
How do you provide care without electricity?
10/31/2019
First Leapfrog ratings of outpatient facilities finds issues
Less than 1 percent of ASCs and 6 percent of HOPDs have implemented an electronic compliance monitoring system for hand hygiene
10/30/2019
Research: Washing hands best way to stop E. coli
New research confirms that failing to wash hands is behind much of the spread of the superbug
10/30/2019
Net-metering officials financial benefits for solar
The best way to make solar financially feasible is with new utility net-metering programs
10/30/2019
Va. hospital using UV lights in NICU to prevent infections
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital is using a UV light box to disinfect germ-infested items
10/29/2019
Department of Defense explores AI-enabled infection control
The technology examines vital signs and other biomarkers to predict the likelihood of infection
10/29/2019
Cool walls can help whole-building energy efficiency
When building wall systems also have high reflectivity and emissivity, the result is a much more efficient building overall
10/29/2019
Music's power to improve waiting room experience studied
Naval pilots concept uses music and nature to soothe
10/29/2019
S.C. children's hospital designed to withstand hurricane, earthquake at same time
The new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital may be the safest building on the East Coast
10/28/2019
Sweden Ebola scare shows preparedness is vital
Incident a reminder to healthcare facilities to conduct an internal audit to evaluate training and process mapping
10/28/2019
How Kansas City hospitals prepare to help the injured after a mass shooting
The Mid-American Regional Council has worked on mass casualty incident plans since the 1970s
10/28/2019
California blackouts shine light on healthcare system's vulnerability
Healthcare today is built on the assumption of steady power
10/25/2019
D.C. hospital goes 4 weeks without running water after failed bacteria treatment
The psychiatric hospital shut off its water Sept. 26
10/25/2019
Choosing security systems for assisted living facilities
Understanding the preferences of a technology’s end-users is key to a successful security systems
10/25/2019
Pa. healthcare facility adds calming live music to common areas
New arts department created a variety of art and music therapies at the hospital
10/25/2019
Dry indoor air linked to higher infection rates
When air is dry, droplets and skin flakes carrying viruses and bacteria travel through the air
10/24/2019
Healthcare urged to address climate change issues
Climate change is not an imperceptible environmental process, but a bona fide public health crisis in the making
10/24/2019
Standards and certifications can support sustainable ice melt choices
Third-party certifications for the EPA and Green Seal can help FMs narrow choices down to products that meet specific sustainability criteria
10/24/2019
Legionella found at Las Vegas psychiatric hospital
Water was turned off after bacteria was detected
10/23/2019
Hospitals are taking a more proactive approach to managing critical events
Healthcare facilities are working toward high resilience, safeguarding the continuity of services and ensuring the best patient outcomes
10/23/2019
Mich. healthcare facility still has Legionella in water
The water-use restrictions remain in place and another round of testing is planned
10/23/2019
Before flu season is a good time to review infection control procedures
When it comes to treating contagious and easily transmissible diseases healthcare providers are the first line of defense
10/22/2019
Patient burned in fire at Mich. ER
Fire investigators are looking into the incident and have listed it as suspicious
10/22/2019
New Jersey hospital addresses workplace violence with weapons screening
Virtua Camden emergency department also uses an amnesty box and signage
10/22/2019
Some VA healthcare centers told to improve cleanliness
Inspectors looked at 51 randomly selected VA health facilities across the country
10/22/2019
10 reasons why stainless steel products are the best choice for healthcare design teams and facility managers
Stainless steel products provide many functional and health benefits.
10/22/2019
Delivery drones may be becoming more common for hospitals
Federal regulators may be growing more comfortable with moving medical and commercial drone delivery
10/21/2019
Oregon hospital planning for resiliency
The hospital has considered a variety of methods for resilient alternative power
10/21/2019
Five-step roadmap to get healthcare disruption just right
Disruption in healthcare is something that we need, and to win at it, organizations need to move quickly to initiate changes and embrace new developments
10/21/2019
Swedish hospital reports patient showing signs of Ebola
The hospital has launched an investigation and isolated patient
10/18/2019
Exploring biggest maintenance challenges healthcare facilities
The focus of the maintenance team should be on creating an environment that continuously supports the best delivery of each of these priorities
10/18/2019
New Hawaiian hospital to have almost 500 security cameras
A new building for the state’s only psychiatric hospital is currently under construction
10/18/2019
California hospitals powered by generators during power outages
A total of 248 hospitals were located in areas where power was turned off
10/18/2019
California wildfires force four Kaiser Permanente hospitals to operate on generators
An outbreak of wildfires in the state prompted Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) to shut down power in some areas
10/17/2019
California wildfires can threaten community health
Wildfires increase the risk of respiratory distress, chronic disease and other ailments.
10/17/2019
The benefits of patient entertainment systems
Modern patient entertainment systems are a great way of putting patients first
10/17/2019
Flies a problem again in N.H. VA operating rooms
The Manchester (N.H.) VA Medical Center says three operating rooms have been closed out of an abundance of caution
10/16/2019
Thousands of building problems found at unusable Edinburgh hospital
The Sick Kids facility in Edinburgh will not be fully operational until next fall after last-minute safety concerns
10/16/2019
DC hospital goes three week without running water
Contractors flushed the hospital's water system with chlorine
10/15/2019
Virginia VA hospital lost track of $1.8 million of equipment, supplies
They were in an unmarked second-floor storage room and a warehouse basement
10/15/2019
Water efficiency can boost facility resilience
As building owners and facility managers plan and prioritize capital improvements, resilience during extreme weather, power interruptions, and other events has become a priority
10/15/2019
C. auris outbreak spreads in nine Calif. healthcare facilities
A single introduction at a healthcare facility in southern California led to more than 180 colonized patients
10/15/2019
EPA developing a new strategy for testing hospital disinfectants
The APEP will replace the Antimicrobial Testing Program
10/15/2019
Patient at Michigan hospital diagnosed with Legionnaires'
Beaumont Hospital is providing bottled water and continues water testing
10/14/2019
Developing a comprehensive utility-failure plan
The partnership between a facilities/engineering staff and the emergency management staff is critical
10/14/2019
Fire protection program essentials include education
Precautions, education and protection can help keep facilities safe
10/14/2019
3 Alabama hospitals freeze admissions after ransomware attack
The hospitals are working with federal authorities and its IT staff, vendors and consultants to restore its system
10/11/2019
Michigan State University finds Legionella in diagnostic lab
Levels of Legionella bacteria were detected in a cooling tower at the university’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
10/11/2019
3 infants dead after bacterial infection at Pa. hospital
The hospital said all of the babies had been born prematurely
10/10/2019
Pseudomonas and legionella bacteria found in D.C. hospital water
Hospital expected to be without potable water for at least a week
10/10/2019
Man shoots stepdaughter, self in Illinois hospital parking lot
Elmhurst Hospital was placed on lockdown as a precaution
10/10/2019
San Francisco hospital cuts food waste with on-demand service
Hospitals waste two to three times more than other food service sectors
10/10/2019
Nursing home kitchens alleged in 'horrible' condition
An investigation found food safety problems
10/9/2019
Developing career opportunities for EVS can improve department
Environmental services is the first line of defense against infection
10/9/2019
Is solar power a good Investment for your building?
Solar is making more sense on both owned and leased buildings
10/9/2019
Many healthcare facilities are developing command centers
Examining and tracking tens of millions of data points, pieces of equipment and people is a great challenge, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
10/8/2019
VA Medical Center increases security, but won't add metal detectors, after shooting
It's been six months since a veteran and double amputee opened fire inside the West Palm Beach VA Center
10/8/2019
Singapore healthcare facilities work to protect patients from haze
Some ventilation systems are fitted with HEPA filters
10/8/2019
California hospital resumes elective surgeries after mold issues
Mold was discovered in a room used to sterilize surgical equipment
10/7/2019
After active shooter, hospital develops emergency communication network
The hospital is implementing a communications platform that connects staff throughout the facility
10/7/2019
Uberization of healthcare: Data activation to bring the future of healthcare today
Uber shook the industry up with its core value of promoting consumer-centricity
10/7/2019
Managing hospital visitors with video intercoms and visitor management systems
Current security-industry best practices call for a combination of video intercoms and visitor management systems
10/4/2019
Norovirus outbreak highlights infection control challenges
Researchers stress importance of strict infection control measures
10/4/2019
Los Angeles hospital halts surgeries because of mold
Hospital will be unable to perform surgery and many other medical procedures for an estimated two weeks
10/3/2019
California's ingredient transparency law may lead to safer cleaners
New law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2020
10/3/2019
Infographic: Controlling HAIs
CDC's recent report on HAIs emphasizes the need to “develop a new normal” when the rate HAIs is limited and unusual
10/3/2019
Facilities department has a role in lean management
Implementing continuous improvement, standardization can benefit maintenance and engineering
10/3/2019
Proposed Wisconsin bill would increase penalties for assaults on nurses
The current penalty for assaulting a nurse is a fine of up to $10,000, up to nine months in jail, or both.
10/2/2019
More engaged healthcare foodservice workers don't lead to more satisfied patients
Research finds employee engagement doesn’t have a significant impact on patient satisfaction or turnover
10/2/2019
Infection control issues seen at ambulatory surgery centers
After an OIG report, 77 percent of ambulatory surgery centers had at least one violation, and 25 percent of them had serious deficiencies
10/2/2019
Stem cells destroyed after freezer fails at Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Fifty-six patients, some with cancer, lost stem cells
10/1/2019
