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



Nursing home fire spurs evacuation

Three dozen patients moved to an alternative location

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



Avoiding winter equipment problems

Maintenance, inspection and training are key

10/8/2019



Dogs a new tool against C. diff.

Dogs are being used to sniff out the bug

10/7/2019



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





 
 
 


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