Environmental Services - April 2021
Campaign Seeks to Bolster Cyber Attack Defenses
FBI, CISA have issued several warnings about malicious actors exploiting software vulnerabilities
4/30/2021
Cyber Attack Disrupts Cancer Treatments
About 42 U.S. healthcare sites saw service disrupted as result of breach
4/30/2021
4 Tips for Better Healthcare Security
In 2020, hospitals saw PPE and COVID-19 vaccines walk out the back door. A security assessment and a comprehensive security system can prevent a recurrence.
4/29/2021
City’s Hospitals Improve Parking Lot Lighting, Worker Safety
Investigation revealed hospitals nationwide fail to protect employees and visitors from violence
4/29/2021
City’s Hospitals Improve Parking Lot Lighting, Worker Safety
Investigation revealed hospitals nationwide fail to protect employees and visitors from violence
4/29/2021
South’s Winter Blizzards Yield Lessons for Improvement
One hospital’s preparation paid off, as no backup generators failed during storm
4/29/2021
Study Questions Rigid Use of Social Distancing
Variables among facilities suggest social distances might be pliable
4/28/2021
COVID-19 Presents Healthcare IT with Challenges
Pandemic reshaping healthcare IT in ways that affect leadership, employees and patients
4/28/2021
Hospital Data Breach Affects 135,000
Former employee saved private data to personal folders and uploaded files to a public website
4/28/2021
CyberSecurity Incident Response: Developing a Plan
Departments having trouble keeping pace with advances cybercriminals are making
4/27/2021
Is Dry Hydrogen Peroxide Effective in Hospitals?
New study looks at bacteria levels after cleaning with DHP
4/27/2021
Facilities Receive Healthgrades Recognition
Online resource connects patients to information about physicians and hospitals
4/26/2021
Building a Wall Against Cyber Attacks
Organizations should first address low-hanging fruit to protect this information
4/26/2021
Hospital Security and Design: An Updated Resource
Publication emphasizes combating violence in healthcare using the built environment
4/23/2021
Tornado Preparations: Looking for Weak Spots
Plans should include contingencies for risks outside facility due to construction or outdoor work
4/23/2021
In-House Mishap Exposes Data of 4,000 Patients
Protected health information had been accidentally uploaded and exposed
4/23/2021
Robotics and Cleaning: What Lies Ahead?
Robots could gradually replace human personnel in dangerous hot zone of infectious hospital
4/23/2021
Tornado Season: Developing an All-Hazards Plan
Scientists predict 2021 could rival 2011 super outbreak
4/22/2021
Has Facial Recognition Come To Healthcare Facilities?
One Los Angeles hospital is among previously unreported users
4/22/2021
Case Study: SaaS Brings Savings, Resilience to Hospital
Application helps Ontario facility meet building savings and sustainability goals
4/22/2021
Case Study: SaaS Brings Savings, Resilience to Hospital
Application helps Ontario facility meet building savings and sustainability goals
4/22/2021
Hospital Says ‘Not So Fast’ to This Fast Food
Campaign persuades hospital to close Burger King
4/22/2021
Taking on Tornado Season: Is Your Healthcare Facility Prepared?
Scientists predict 2021 could rival 2011 super outbreak
4/21/2021
Is UV Germicidal Light Effective in Operating Rooms?
New study shows whether environmental services teams can use UV to disinfect between surgeries
4/21/2021
Food Service Supply Chain Issues Prompt Changes
Management team decided to create secondary menus to ensure they had backup plan
4/21/2021
UVC Light: A New Tool for EVS Teams?
Study finds devices used after standard cleaning procedures in hospitals can dramatically reduce pathogens
4/20/2021
Patient Attacks 6 in Hospital Parking Structure
Discharged patient arrested after allegedly assaulting five women and male security guard
4/20/2021
Lessons for Long-Term Care from COVID-19 Preparations
Survey of pre-pandemic plans offer lessons managers can use to prepare for next pandemic
4/20/2021
COVID-19 Surge Strains Michigan Hospitals
Among biggest drivers of infections are outbreaks among youth athletes associated with K-12 schools
4/19/2021
Far-UVC: Battling COVID-19 With a New Light
Specific UVC wavelength can reduce risk of spread in enclosed environments, particularly those with poor ventilation
4/19/2021
U.S. Senators Seek Financial Help for Senior Living Facilities
Funds could target personal protective equipment, staffing, and infection prevention and control
4/19/2021
Hospital Eyes Lighting Upgrades To Boost Energy Efficiency
System was spending $2 million annually on lighting for hospital, but also acute care facilities, clinics, medical office building and parking structure
4/16/2021
Feds Act To Get More N95 Masks To Healthcare Workers
Hospitals saying limits on which workers should get N95s must stay in place
4/16/2021
Surgery During a Pandemic: Why Sterilization Is Important
Sterile processing department designers should consider how to organize storage space, reduce touchpoints and minimize inspection time
4/16/2021
Suspect Killed in Hospital Shooting
Police had escorted medics to emergency department, where suspect was to be checked for medical issue
4/15/2021
Robots Enlisted To Enhance Cleaning To Prevent Infections
Two robots will be developed that make it possible to disinfect potentially contaminated surfaces in buildings
4/15/2021
Food Program Reaches Beyond Hospital To Community
Objective is to provide nutritious food and education to help diabetic patients make healthy decisions
4/15/2021
FDA Asks Hospitals To Stop PPE Crisis Measures
FDA and CDC believe there are now adequate domestic supplies of masks
4/15/2021
1 in 3 State Nursing Homes Violated Coronavirus Protocols
Common violations include asking COVID-positive staff to keep working, not screening visitors for symptoms and not isolating infected residents
4/14/2021
Hospital’s COVID-19 Outbreak Total 31 Cases
Cases were traced to inpatient unit for surgical and cancer patients
4/14/2021
Food Service Options for Outside Dining Demands
Patients and families concerned with health are venturing outside more thanks to vaccine rollouts
4/14/2021
WHO Guidance Targets Healthcare Resilience
Document and checklists intended to help managers in terms of existing vulnerabilities and possible impacts
4/13/2021
University's Hospitals Ramp Up Security
Moves come in response to increasing reports of violence nationwide in healthcare settings
4/13/2021
Sustainability, Waste Management and COVID-19
Materials protecting people from illness could cause long-term harm to public health and planet
4/13/2021
What’s the Password? Too Often, Answer Is Easy
Despite recommendations to use strong, unique passwords, people continue using weak codes
4/13/2021
Microgrids Help Ensure System’s Sustainability
Two issues spurred growth of microgrids: broader higher-acuity care and increased threat of natural disasters
4/12/2021
Email Attack Affects 221,000 Patients and Physicians
Sensitive information in accounts includes Social Security numbers, birthdates, and addresses
4/12/2021
Hospitals Renew Efforts To Cut Waste
Clinics and hospitals are among nation's top consumers of single-use plastics
4/9/2021
City’s Hospitals Improve Parking Lot Lighting, Worker Safety
Investigation revealed hospitals nationwide fail to protect employees and visitors from violence
4/9/2021
Health Insurer’s Data Breach Affects 1.2 Million
Breached information might include birthdates, insurance numbers and addresses
4/9/2021
Managing Ventilation To Prevent Airborne Illnesses
Management plan can help managers maintain compliance with applicable accreditation, licensure and regulatory standards
4/8/2021
Hospital Data Breach Affects 3,000 People
Employee with access to hospital data servers improperly viewed private health information
4/8/2021
COVID-19 Spreads Via Airborne Droplets, Not Surfaces: CDC
Risk of contracting illness from contaminated surface is less than 1 in 10,000
4/8/2021
Food Programs Adapt to COVID-19 Era
Instead of delivering meals to COVID-19 patients themselves, kitchen coordinates with nursing staff
4/8/2021
Infrastructure Plan Would Give VA $18 Billion
Funds would target backlog of high-efficiency projects to help increase health security of veterans
4/7/2021
Window Problems Plague New Children’s Hospital
Officials want to spend $10-15 million to replace two floors of troubled windows
4/7/2021
ASHRAE Clarifies Buildings’ Role in COVID-19
Statement offers updated, unequivocal statement on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in buildings
4/7/2021
Hospitals Seek Share of $2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill
Funds would aid physical plants, IT systems and emergency preparedness
4/7/2021
Patient Dies Falling from Fifth-Floor Window
Chair slammed against window multiple times shattered glass, worker says
4/6/2021
Floors Eyed Over Role in Infection Control
Traditional high-touch surfaces among most closely inspected facility components
4/6/2021
Hospital Ventilation in the COVID-19 Era
ASHRAE Standard 170 survived pandemic and is ready for next edition
4/6/2021
Vaccines Highly Effective for Healthcare Workers: Study
Infection risk after one dose reduced by 80 percent about two or more weeks after shot
4/5/2021
Parking Lot Attack Prompts Hospital To Upgrade Security
Security guard will replace parking attendant and two additional cameras will be installed
4/5/2021
Suspect Arrested for Bringing Guns, Bombs to Hospital
Situation closed several roads and hospital's emergency wing for several hours
4/5/2021
Health Systems Leaving Valuable Data Exposed: Report
Nearly 20 percent of files are open to every employee in organizations
4/5/2021
No-Touch Parking Access Targets COVID-19
Technology allows patients, visitors and staff access without reaching outside cars or touching equipment
4/5/2021
Case Study: Using Germicidal UV-C to Mitigate COVID-19
Chicago’s Loyola University Medical Center installed UV-C lamps in HVAC systems
4/1/2021
Look Out for These UPS Failures
When utility power fails in hospitals, FMs can’t afford for the uninterruptible power supply system to fail, too
4/1/2021
Key Tactics To Defend Against Cyber Attacks
Smaller medical facilities might be at greater risk because they did not have a decade to formalize cybersecurity
4/1/2021
