Infection Control - January 2018

CDC says deadly flu season has a way to go

Based on the latest data, the flu season may not have peaked yet

1/31/2018



Before Nebraska hospital is demolished, former workers share stories

The Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center building will come down after crews remove asbestos before the final demolition

1/31/2018



CMS to investigate University of Maryland hospital after patient dumping

A video of a woman discharged in her hospital gown went viral on Facebook

1/31/2018



Healthcare facilities need disaster recovery plans for EHR security

Having a current backup plan and contingency plan are federal requirements under the HIPAA Security Rule

1/30/2018



Tips for upgrading, replacing healthcare facility equipment

With multiple systems, a proactive planning process is critical

1/30/2018



Staff: Two assaults by patients at Manitoba hospital within an hour show 'something has to be done'

The assaults happened at the locked forensic psychiatry unit at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg

1/30/2018



Developing a water management program

The impact of Legionnaires' disease is particularly dangerous in healthcare facilities

1/30/2018



California wildfires tested hospitals' disaster plans

There is more pressure for hospitals to be prepared even though many lack the resources and funding to upgrade their disaster plans

1/30/2018



Healthcare facilities slammed by flu treating patients in tents

Hospitals are asking staff to work overtime, setting up triage tents, restricting visitors and canceling elective surgeries

1/29/2018



Milwaukee hospital employees suspended for leaving homeless patient in cold

Staff discharged a mentally ill homeless man clothed in only a hospital gown and scrub pants

1/29/2018



Integrative design plus early commissioning role prevent building performance problems

Lessons from past projects should inform new designs

1/29/2018



New safety concerns rise at Montreal hospital

The Montreal General Hospital reports more violent incidents involving patients and visitors than any other acute-care hospital in Quebec

1/29/2018



Benefits of maintenance planning and scheduling

It can be difficult to justify a full-time MPS position, but you should be able to justify the function

1/29/2018



Super Bowl LII to impact hospital access in Minneapolis

Road closures make it difficult for patients to reach Hennepin County Medical Center

1/26/2018



Securing your healthcare data in 2018

Should your patients trust you with their data?

1/26/2018



Texas hospital evacuated after gas leaks from sewer line

Patients and staff at Baylor Scott & White Emergency Center were cleared from the building

1/26/2018



Chicago hospitals dealing with worst flu season in a decade

Hospitals stocking more hand sanitizer and implementing stricter visitor policies

1/25/2018



Calif. healthcare facility ED has bedbug emergency

Kaweah Delta staff and a pest control company treated the emergency department and surrounding areas

1/25/2018



Can a different approach to printer security benefit facilities management?

Hospitals have seen an 11 percent increase in print post implementation of EHRs

1/25/2018



UPMC Pinnacle changing environmental, food service vendor

Switch will affect more than 450 workers

1/25/2018



Judge orders new superbug trial for Olympus

Court said manufacturer didn't properly disclose safety concerns

1/24/2018



Low water pressure forces closures for New Orleans hospitals

Several healthcare facilities in the New Orleans area closed after losing water service amid freezing temperatures

1/24/2018



NFPA developing minimum requirements for active shooter response

National Fire Protection Association fast-tracking a new standard designed to better prepare facilities for active shooters

1/24/2018



White paper explores how flooring impacts patient care

Noise levels can affect healing, reduce efficiency

1/24/2018



How the government slowed flu response

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention furloughed staff

1/23/2018



Indiana health system pays $47,000 ransom to unlock patient data

Hackers logged into a remote access portal using a third-party vendor’s username and password

1/23/2018



Attention to roof inspections, maintenance can help prevent leaks

Regular inspections and maintenance are critical to keep roofs in good condition

1/23/2018



Sword-handled umbrella sparks lockdown at Seattle-area hospital

Man's umbrella was mistaken for a rifle

1/22/2018



Document storage systems: Embracing the documentation paradigm shift

One of the most important features of any DMS used in the healthcare setting is that it is HIPAA compliant at every interaction point

1/22/2018



NHS launches emergency plans after cleaning contractor collapses

Extra staff sent to six major hospitals to ensure cleaning, maintenance and catering services keep operating

1/22/2018



Maintaining a reliable and efficient HVAC system

Understanding long-term goals and specific upgrade components can help

1/22/2018



The benefits of managing healthcare operating expense with a CMMS

This critical healthcare system gives HTM professionals the ability to proactively manage work requests, inventory items, and assets, which in turn can improve patient care and reduce operating costs

1/19/2018



Understanding lighting codes and standards

Guidance from ASHRAE, Title 24 and LEED will affect project planning, as well as longer-term savings and performance

1/19/2018



Deer crashes through window at S.D. healthcare facility

Doe had a broken back right hoof but officials think it will be OK

1/18/2018



Penn. healthcare facility installs tri-generation energy center

Lancaster General Hospital invested $28 million in energy upgrades

1/18/2018



Hospital-based sleep labs moving toward disposables

Shift linked to increased focus on hospital infection control

1/18/2018



OSHA finds no violations after N.H. healthcare facility workers were sickened

Authorities responded to the hospital on the morning of Aug. 11 after several employees in the operating room department began feeling dizzy

1/18/2018



CDC back-burners nuclear war prep to focus on the flu epidemic

Briefing on preparation for nuclear war postponed

1/17/2018



State judge denies link between forced-air warming and infection

Minnesota lawsuits that allege that the Bair Hugger forced-air warmer caused deep joint infections are dismissed

1/17/2018



Joint Commission will now cite individual hand-hygiene failures

Hand hygiene is widely considered to be the most important intervention for preventing hospital-acquired infections

1/17/2018



Baltimore hospital apologizes after security guards leave discharged patient on street in hospital gown

Hospital system is talking to everyone who came into contact with the woman

1/16/2018



Legionnaires’ risk can't be eliminated at Illinois VA home

13 people have died of Legionnaires’ disease at Quincy healthcare facility

1/16/2018



Ham radio operators train to help healthcare facilities, others in disasters

Operators take classes on operating in a hospital

1/16/2018



Healthcare facilities weigh in on weather safety for employees

Some hospitals offer sleeping accommodations, food and other essential items.

1/16/2018



Noisy ORs can put patients at risk

Excessive noise can be distracting to healthcare providers

1/16/2018



Health system moves food service beyond tray line

Diet clerks virtually track nutritionals as the patients place their order, guiding them through their options

1/16/2018



Minneapolis hospital develops emergency plan for Super Bowl

Road closures around the stadium will affect routes ambulances take to Hennepin County Medical Center

1/15/2018



How hospitals safely dispose of infectious fluid waste

Proper waste disposal practices are a crucial part of a safe working environment

1/15/2018



Top application security threats

Although social media apps have revolutionized the healthcare industry and changed the way patients and providers interact, they also have opened new avenues for risk

1/15/2018



Healthcare facilities use various methods to keep dementia patients safe

Studies suggest that the unexplained absence of a nursing home resident is one of the most challenging issues for facilities

1/15/2018



Oregon hospital lauded for infection-control efforts

Portland Business Journal named Samaritan Albany General Hospital the least infected facility among 61 hospitals in the state for 2016

1/12/2018



New hospitals bring new tech challenge

The tech crews at OSF HealthCare face a formidable challenge of simultaneously replacing the entire IT systems at two hospitals

1/12/2018



Fresno VA facility tested for Legionnaires'

Residents, staff and visitors at the Veterans Home are getting bottled water

1/12/2018



Cyberattack takes down New York hospital’s computer systems

Jones information technology experts partnered with IT professionals from the University of Rochester, Noyes, and St. James hospitals

1/12/2018



Select an HVAC system for a healthcare facility

Energy efficiency is also critical in choosing the best system

1/12/2018



Office workers at Scottish health board redeployed to hospital cleaning due to flu outbreak

NHS was swamped by an outbreak of flu and respiratory illness

1/11/2018



Recent and ongoing outbreaks listed

Regions of the United States have experienced outbreaks caused by bacteria and viruses in recent months

1/11/2018



Healthcare IT trends in 2018

Welcome to the age of affordability in healthcare

1/11/2018



Geisinger Health removes sugar-sweetened beverages from campuses

Geisinger food service locations will no longer sell regular soda, sugar-added fruit juices, sugar-sweetened teas, sugar-added energy drinks, bottled sugar-added iced coffee drinks and flavored milks

1/11/2018



N.Z. hospital stops frozen-meal program due to safety concerns

Tokoroa Hospital has stopped selling meals to the community, made from the surplus food cooked for patient meals

1/10/2018



How to respond to a healthcare data breach

The cause is as important as the solution

1/10/2018



Takeaways from online security summit

Event explored active shooter response, weather plans and lockdowns

1/10/2018



CDC to issue guidance to prepare for nuclear war

Hospital disaster planning has shifted to preparing for mass casualties

1/9/2018



Boston area healthcare facilities were prepared for storm

Hospitals opened rooms so staff could stay overnight

1/9/2018



2017's worst healthcare data breaches

Data show hundreds of incidents in the past two years, affecting tens of millions of individuals

1/9/2018



Building energy modeling can help build an HVAC plan

Modeling systems can help facilities reach optimal efficiency

1/9/2018



Most US cooling towers contain Legionella bacteria

Study finds Legionella bacteria is percent in 84 precent of towers

1/9/2018



Amtrak derailment emergency response went well

Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia drills two to three times a year on its disaster response

1/9/2018



Remembering Ebola two years later

Are healthcare facilities prepared for another outbreak?

1/8/2018



Healthcare facilities leading way in climate change prep

Hospitals are recycling, turning off lights and computers, planting trees in the community, and buying Energy Star-certified equipment

1/8/2018



Healthcare facilities looking at new ways to reduce noise

Hospital noise is a growing concern for patients, family and staff

1/8/2018



New Orleans healthcare facility deploys infection-fighting robots

The robots can destroy deadly pathogens and multi-drug resistant organisms

1/8/2018



Infections are common in nursing homes, punishment is not

Repeat citations are common, fines are rare

1/8/2018



Tesla helps Puerto Rico hospital retain power

Company donates photovoltaic system

1/5/2018



Study explores microbial colonies in ORs

The microbial concentration influences surgical site infection rates

1/5/2018



French survey shows patients happy with care but not the food

Hospital food was identified by the study as one of the main areas requiring improvement

1/5/2018



Building energy modeling can help build an HVAC plan

Modeling systems can help facilities reach optimal efficiency

1/5/2018



Key points in mass-casualty disaster planning

Many facilities overlook this type of emergency

1/5/2018



Mayo workers who went on one-day strike back to work in a week

Mayo officials said they had to fulfill a one-week contract signed with replacement workers

1/4/2018



Los Angeles County adds recuperative beds to help homeless

Two-hundred fifty new beds brings the total to 432

1/4/2018



Spanish hospital wins battle with two superbugs

From July to October 2015, the infection control team identified a surge in cases of patients infected or colonized with OXA-48-PE or MRAB.

1/4/2018



Belfast children's hospital cited for water safety problems

A series of failings have been uncovered at Northern Ireland's regional children's hospital

1/4/2018





Cleveland Clinic moving toward carbon-neutrality

Health system planning renewable energy purchases, continued energy efficiency

1/3/2018



Hospital's HVAC upgrades benefit from in-house expertise

Maintenance and engineering managers know they can’t monitor what they don’t measure

1/3/2018



Study says thinking about germs makes people concerned about their appearance

Findings suggest that the possibility of contagion activates the 'behavioral immune system'

1/3/2018



 
 
 


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