Environmental Services - June 2020

California hospital suspends admission of non-Coronavirus patients after surge of staff cases

The facility has been preparing for this type of surge since the pandemic began

6/30/2020



FEMA paid company $7M for plastic soda bottles

Original order was for test tubes for COVID-19 testing

6/30/2020



Cleanroom requirements and classifications for healthcare facilities

Cleanroom facilities provide an essential barrier against the spread of contaminants and disease in the healthcare sector

6/30/2020



Assisted living facilities running low on PPE equipment

Many facilities said they have less than a two-week supply of specific PPE

6/30/2020



Healthcare facility environmental services managers share top concerns

Role of the environmental services department in patient care often underestimated

6/30/2020



Pandemic has greatly increased the use of telemedicine

Will it be the future of healthcare?

6/30/2020



California long-term care facilities build booths for visits

Families visit loved ones through Plexiglas during pandemic lockdown

6/26/2020



Long Island emergency staff wants more security after bomb scare

Two floors, including the emergency room, were evacuated in the incident

6/26/2020



Infection preventionists are preparing for COVID’s second wave

Part of the process are education and establishing plans

6/26/2020



R.I. hospital using disinfecting units to fight coronavirus

The units use disinfecting solution effective against COVID-19

6/26/2020



Battling COVID with a video camera

With the continued need for social distancing, hospitals are seeking ways to distance healthcare workers form contagious patients

6/26/2020



A sustained response to COVID-19 depends on key capabilities

Kaiser Permanente put together a checklist to manage a pandemic

6/25/2020



How can hospitals prepare for two disasters at once?

Coordination with emergency response agencies is key

6/25/2020



How access control technology is being used in the pandemic

Technology is being used to help eliminate common touch points, isolate infected patients

6/25/2020



Reducing HAIs with touchpoint disinfecting

EVS staff should focus their efforts on one of the most challenging areas to disinfect

6/25/2020



Implementing a healthcare data platform to promote high-value care

The global pandemic amplifies the day-to-day challenges of identifying gaps in care

6/25/2020



Unions say mask decontamination endangers healthcare workers

N95 respirators used by clinical workers are complicated safety devices and are meant to be disposable, according to an expert

6/24/2020



Pittsburgh company repurposing industrial masks to use against Covid-19

Elastomeric masks cost more upfront, but they can be cleaned and reused for years, with the filter replaced monthly

6/24/2020



Outsourcing: Going from 'housekeeping' to 'environmental services'

Professional environmental services make a science of cleaning

6/24/2020



Outsourcing: Going from 'housekeeping' to 'environmental services'

Professional environmental services make a science of cleaning

6/24/2020



Indiana hospital security guard shoots, kills patient and fellow guard during assault

Patient had attacked nurse and was choking guard that was killed

6/23/2020



Senior living facilities applying Covid’s infection-control lessons long term

Procedures have come under scrutiny during the pandemic

6/23/2020



The impact of blue light on patients at night

Light is critical to our health because it helps synchronize the biological clock that maintains our circadian rhythms

6/23/2020



What if hospitals face a hurricane and coronavirus at the same time?

COVID 19 has made storm preparations even more critical

6/22/2020



N.H. nursing home workers petition for COVID-19 stipends

Facility staff in Rockingham County want to be compensated as front-line workers

6/22/2020



How hospitals can prepare for a ‘new normal’

Hospitals are facing new challenges that have lead to technological innovations

6/22/2020



How to curb the spread of airborne and surface contaminants

Building’s mechanical systems can support occupant health

6/19/2020



Lessons learned in pandemic offer opportunities for change

Telehealth became more common with significant advances in the last 10 weeks

6/19/2020



Improving facility door security as crime risk increases

Door can have vulnerabilities that can be exploited

6/19/2020





Cleaning machines may be smart investment for healthcare facilities

It is important that floor-cleaning machines be employed whether or not an imminent threat is already present

6/19/2020



Purdue University startup creates bedside hand-washing system

Project Process created a portable bedside sink

6/18/2020



Pennsylvania orders stricter COVID-19 protections for hospital workers

The measures include staff members in housekeeping services, dietary services and maintenance

6/18/2020



VA not prepared for second virus wave

Agency says it lacks adequate medical gear

6/18/2020



Sanitizing, stockpiling and communication helps keep nursing home stay COVID-free

Some of these steps happened before the U.S. entered its lockdown phase

6/18/2020



Environmental survey shows how HAIs often start

The researchers sampled 179 sites including sink traps, pulse oximeters, and door handles

6/18/2020



FDA updates rules on cleaning N95 masks

Some made In China should not be reused

6/17/2020



What hospitals can learn from the Parkview Medical shutdown

The good news is COVID-19 is not resistant to disinfectants

6/17/2020



Children in care at risk for coronavirus

Many have been locked down since late February facing isolation with strict social-distancing measures

6/17/2020



Regulations, Codes & Standards Q&A: Dead-bolt lock on closet door

Brad Keyes discusses regulations for a dead-bolt lock on closet door

6/17/2020



Environmental services technician certification proves its worth

Certification also helps decrease infection rates in hospitals

6/17/2020



Protecting healthcare facilities from drones

There continues to be a sharp increase in uses for drones - both positive and negative

6/16/2020



Reliable power source key during pandemic

In some countries, 25 percent of health clinics lack electricity

6/16/2020



N.Y. initiative boosts cleaning in longterm care facilities

Daily, discharge cleaning show improvements

6/16/2020



Alabama doctor invents hand-sanitizer-dispensing wristband

The device could be helpful in combating illnesses commonly spread by hand, such as the flu, the common cold and food poisoning

6/16/2020



Pop-up grocery stores popping into healthcare facilities

Foodservice company is converting existing retail space at healthcare facilities into 'pop-up' grocery stores to serve frontline healthcare workers

6/15/2020



Considerations for hospital and healthcare facility evacuations

Facilities should incorporate elements of an evacuation plan, with logistics and alternatives

6/15/2020



Healthcare design can help prevent infection spread in restrooms

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need for better design in restrooms

6/15/2020







Coronavirus complicates hurricane planning

Storm shelters have to be designed for social distancing

6/12/2020



WHO says there’s a second outbreak of Ebola in Congo

Country already battling COVID-19 and measles

6/12/2020



Avoiding the hidden costs of environmental services staff injuries

Environmental services work-related injuries usually involve either exposure to harmful contaminants or musculoskeletal disorders

6/12/2020



COVID-19 would complicate hospital evacuations

The University of Texas Medical Branch has been training to deal with a complex disaster during a COVID-19 flare up

6/11/2020



CDC updates COVID guidance for assisted living communities

The update provides recommendations on infection reporting, visitor restrictions and group activities

6/11/2020



Tackling difficult carpet stains

When an accident occurs, it is vital to clean bodily fluids from floors immediately and with caution

6/11/2020



Chatbots are reshaping the way COVID-19 ERA healthcare facilities and hospitals connect with patients

Tools that allow self-service customer response techniques are more important than ever

6/11/2020



Survey finds almost 75 percent of campuses use multiple emergency notification systems

But this total represents a drop since the last survey

6/11/2020



Minneapolis hospital cancels surgeries over safety concerns

Emergency procedures continued but other surgeries were postponed

6/10/2020



North Carolina using drones in Covid-19 response

Novant Health received a temporary waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly the drones

6/10/2020



Healthcare facilities urged to redefine their culture

Establishing a career path and offering continued development is important

6/10/2020



HEPA containment systems for isolation rooms

Because the ductwork is protected by the filter, there is a reduced risk of a potential contagion spreading in the ceiling service spaces

6/10/2020



Resilient design for healthcare facilities about more than disasters

Resilience can be about how the design holds up in the long-term

6/10/2020



Georgia student creating COVID-19 protective equipment

The equipment is made using a water-jet machining process

6/9/2020



Nursing home workers face risks during coronavirus

A third of Covid deaths in the U.S. have been in longterm care facilities

6/9/2020



Kaiser Permanente releases guidance on bringing back employees to the workplace

The playbook was made in response to requests from the health plan's customers

6/9/2020



COVID-19 increases importance of hand hygiene

Proper hand hygiene training called the number one way to reduce the spread of illnesses and viruses

6/9/2020



Environmental services' role goes beyond cleanliness

EVS professionals can impact patient satisfaction

6/9/2020



Elastomeric masks may be an alternative N-95s

Elastomeric masks used with a P100 filter provides 99.97 percent respiratory protection

6/8/2020



Strategies for effective healthcare facility management in the time of COVID-19

To support healthcare workers and limit the spread of the virus in care facilities, the impact of identifying critical areas that need support such as HVAC, fire systems, security, and building automation systems is underestimated

6/8/2020



Many common cleaning products reported effective against COVID-19 virus

The researchers said the microbicidals ethyl alcohol, para-chloro-meta-xylenol (PCMX), salicylic acid; and quaternary ammonium compounds kill 99.9 percent of coronaviruses

6/8/2020



Drones are delivering medical supplies and PPE in North Carolina

It may be the longest-range drone delivery service that’s been approved in the U.S.

6/8/2020



CDC reports pandemic has killed close to 300 U.S. healthcare workers

More than 60,000 workers have been infected

6/5/2020



Maine healthcare facility switches to in-house security

The decision was made after an assessment of the physical environment

6/5/2020



Iowa manufacturer turns ceiling panels into intubation shields

The acrylic and polycarbonate sheets used were turned into medical equipment

6/5/2020



Products to fight COVID-19

The good news is COVID-19 is not resistant to disinfectants

6/4/2020



The key to an effective emergency plan

The program should address a range of emergencies

6/4/2020



How nursing homes can bolster infection control

Infection control in skilled nursing facilities has come under scrutiny

6/3/2020



Manufacturers and providers – Superheroes in fighting healthcare cybercrime

More and more medical devices are wirelessly connected to the Internet and also to healthcare facility networks and their respective sensitive devices

6/3/2020



How cloud-integrated robotics can make your budget and staff more efficient – choose to make a difference today

The U.S. healthcare system must look for opportunities to automate tedious tasks

6/3/2020



Cleaning strategies during coronavirus pandemic

Focus on cleaning and disinfecting common areas where staff and others providing services

6/3/2020



Banner Health launching virtual waiting room

COVID-19 is expected to bring changes to maintain social distancing guidelines

6/2/2020



Facilities could be liable if healthcare personnel test positive for coronavirus

If an employee tests positive for coronavirus they contracted while working, or they unknowingly brought the disease to work and infected others, employers can be held liable for a workers’ compensation claim

6/2/2020



HVAC considerations for healthy offices

HVAC and cleaning strategies can create emotional safety for workers

6/2/2020



Pandemic will change how environmental service teams operate

Before the pandemic, infection prevention in healthcare facilities focused on hospital-acquired infections

6/1/2020



How Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is working to keeping facility safe

The hospital is encouraging families not to delay needed care for their children

6/1/2020



Longterm care facilities face challenges battling Covid 19

One of these challenges is the continued struggle to keep PPE in stock

6/1/2020



Optimizing physical spaces for telehealth

In 2020 alone, experts predict virtual visits will soar to more than one billion, with more than 900 million visits related to COVID-19

6/1/2020



 
 
 


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