Infection Control - March 2021
Overcoming Hurdles to Digital Health Implementation
Managers need to be aware of issues that threaten to keep telehealth from its full potential
3/31/2021
Hospital’s Closure Prompts Community Concerns
Nearly 40 percent of hospital’s patients are Black Americans, and 63 percent are over 60
3/31/2021
Benzene Detected in 44 Hand Sanitizers
Highest level of carcinogen detected at 16.1 parts per million, more than eight times FDA limit
3/30/2021
COVID-Free: Strategies for Success
Achieving goal during pandemic took strict adherence to infection prevention protocols
3/30/2021
New Tool Helps Detect Cyberthreats
Forensic collection tool aims to help network defenders find indicators of compromise with key threat areas
3/30/2021
Cybersecurity Spending by Healthcare Falls Short: Survey
73 percent of respondents say their organization needs to increase funding to be secure, effective and compliant
3/30/2021
Medical Practice Reports Data Breach
Practice admitted patient data inadvertently left on a server that anyone with internet connection could access
3/30/2021
20 COVID-19 Cases at Duke Raleigh Hospital
Cases traced to fifth floor inpatient unit for surgical and cancer patients
3/29/2021
Ransomware Hackers Publish Stolen Healthcare Data
Hackers leaked data they claim to have stolen from at least five healthcare entities
3/29/2021
How to Avoid Generator Failure in Hospitals
Address these common generator problems to avoid power downtime
3/29/2021
Email Systems in Cross-Hairs of Hackers
In 2020, FBI received 19,369 complaints that led to about $1.8 billion in damages
3/26/2021
Hospital Security Officer Helps Woman Deliver Baby
Owen had trained for such situations and, as a mother, knew about childbirth experience
3/26/2021
Nurses Eyed When Microbe Spread Leads to Outbreaks
Study finds nurses more likely to be super spreaders of microbes primarily spread by hand
3/26/2021
Six Tips to Reduce Breaker Trips in Hospitals
FMs in healthcare facilities can’t afford power downtime. Here’s how to avoid problems
3/26/2021
Mandatory Vaccinations Become Issue Among Employees
Senior living provider says mandating employee vaccination is imperative to protecting residents and other staff
3/25/2021
One Dead, Firefighter Missing in Assisted Living Blaze
Flames were so destructive they collapsed second floor of facility
3/25/2021
Move to Telehealth Strains Rural Hospitals
They have seen operating margins narrow but have smaller financial cushions than urban hospitals
3/25/2021
Fears Stall Vaccinations Among Senior Care Community Workers
Safety, efficacy, newness of vaccine and distrust of government among the major factors workers cited
3/24/2021
Facility Changes Can Create New Risks
Temporary physical changes can include installing temporary barriers, creating temporary screening locations and repurposing spaces
3/24/2021
NIST Guidance Targets Mobile Devices
Guide supports managing increasing number of devices owned by employees that work remotely perform
3/24/2021
Staff Is Key in Preventing Healthcare Cyber Attacks
Personnel must have basic understanding of proper cybersecurity protocols
3/23/2021
Can High-Tech Healthcare Be Sustainable?
Modern hospitals are high energy users because of large plug loads from medical devices, lighting, and HVAC
3/23/2021
Rethinking Security in the COVID-19 Era
MD Anderson improved hospital’s pandemic response with access control, visitor management and video surveillance
3/23/2021
Finding Efficiency in Digital Transformation
Yale New Haven Health System improved built environment by streamlining processes and enhancing software
3/23/2021
Senate Testimony Spotlights COVID-19 and Senior Care Communities
175,000 long-term care residents and staff have died of COVID-19 so far
3/23/2021
Cybersecurity Standards To Target Medical Devices
Guidance to ensure manufacturers build trusted, secure and interoperable products
3/22/2021
Infection Researchers Eye Facility-Community Link
Study will focus on how facilities and the community affects spread of infectious diseases
3/22/2021
Guidance Targets HVAC Controls in Healthcare
Resource fills a knowledge gap in a field with no definitive recommendations for environmental controls
3/22/2021
Food Program Extends Healthy Meals Beyond Hospital Walls
Before discharge, patients choose meals from a menu that supports individual health needs
3/22/2021
31 Million Patients Affected by Cyber Attacks
Healthcare hacking incidents rise for the fifth consecutive year
3/22/2021
COVID-19 Variant Strikes Nursing Home
Variant is not one of the common strains circulating in U.K., South Africa and Brazil
3/19/2021
Group IDs Top Patient Safety Concerns
Eight of 10 concerns tied to or made worse by pandemic
3/19/2021
Microsoft Office Vulnerability Most Common Hacker Target
Malicious attachment launches provides the ability to deploy further malware
3/19/2021
Health System Hack Exposes Data of 200,000
Breached data was retrieved after an undisclosed ransom was paid
3/18/2021
Community Risk Greater for Workers Infected with COVID-19
Strongest risk factor was known exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the community
3/18/2021
Report IDs Top 2021 Cybersecurity Risks
Attack vectors used by cybercriminals to be similar to those from last year
3/18/2021
OSHA Program Targets COVID-19 and Healthcare Facilities
Efforts will focus on companies that put largest number of workers at serious risk of contracting coronavirus
3/17/2021
OSHA Program Targets COVID-19 and Healthcare Facilities
Efforts will focus on companies that put largest number of workers at serious risk of contracting coronavirus
3/17/2021
Teamwork! Cooperative Strategy To Fight Cyber Attacks
Security teams need to know when to contact top administrators
3/17/2021
Arenas Look To Hospitals for Reopening Strategies
Efforts will focus on companies that put largest number of workers at serious risk of contracting coronavirus
3/17/2021
Relief Package Delivers IT Help for Healthcare
CISA will get $650 million for cybersecurity risk mitigation
3/17/2021
Pandemic Spurs Interest in AI for Healthcare
Ninety percent of hospital executives report they have an artificial intelligence strategy
3/16/2021
Blockchain Eyed as Solution in Protecting Patient Data
Technology offers potential to elevate security standards of a connected healthcare facility
3/16/2021
5G Not Linked to Cancer, COVID-19: VA
Other risks studied as 5G comes to fruition inside America’s hospitals
3/16/2021
Email Hack Affects 39,000 Laboratory Patients
Accessed emails contained patient Social Security numbers and financial account information
3/16/2021
Expanding IT Use Create Attack Risks in Healthcare
Key aspect of safeguarding networks involves minimizing healthcare device vulnerability
3/15/2021
Report Warns of Human Toll of Healthcare Cyber Attacks
Paper argues that cyberattacks on healthcare are attacks on society as a whole
3/15/2021
VA Puts Maintenance Backlog at $22 Billion
VA’s buildings are 60 years old on average, and 69 percent are at least 50 years old
3/12/2021
Homeland Security Resource Targets Security Gaps
Guidance aims to help with risk decisions and remediation of compromises of SolarWinds Orion platforms
3/12/2021
Storms Reveal Gaps in Protecting Senior Living Facilities
About 50 percent of Texas nursing homes lost power or had burst pipes or water issues
3/12/2021
Hackers Breach Hospitals’ Security Cameras
Attackers accessed live feeds of 150,000 surveillance cameras inside hospitals, prisons and schools
3/12/2021
Data Breaches Affect More Than 300,000 Patients
Systems compromised by a security incident, which led to unauthorized access
3/11/2021
Resident Security Technology Offers Array of Benefits
Video surveillance systems can monitor resident safety and protect facilities from vandalism
3/11/2021
VA Hospital on Cutting Edge of 5G Connectivity
VA is testing 5G for healthcare applications designed to improve patient care
3/11/2021
More Patients Join Lawsuit Over Mold in Hospital
Since 2001, at least 14 young patients claim to have been infected by Aspergillus mold
3/10/2021
FBI Probes Cyber Attacks on Healthcare Systems
Leaked data included scanned patient IDs, driver’s licenses, bills of sale, and other sensitive information
3/10/2021
PPE Use in Healthcare Should Continue: Survey
Most providers say PPE use should remain at same frequency in all healthcare settings
3/10/2021
COVID-19 Expanded Potential Cyber Attack Targets
Pandemic led to massive increase in use of CT scanners and patient telemetry systems
3/9/2021
VA Seeks To Balance Mission and Maintenance
Department operates many buildings more than 50 years old
3/9/2021
Program Targets Discharged Patients with Healthy Meals
Hospital also sent information to its 5,600 employees and 110 physician’s offices
3/9/2021
Cyber Attacks Take Toll on Public Image of Providers
20 percent of Americans have a healthcare provider that has been affected by cyberattacks in last year
3/9/2021
Healthcare Among Top Targets of Cyber Attacks
Nearly 28 percent of attacks on healthcare last year were ransomware
3/8/2021
Facility Expands Access for Vaccinated Visitors
Visitors must provide a vaccination record card from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
3/8/2021
Security Systems To Improve Workplace Wellbeing
Managers might not see security systems as go-to solution to create healthier building environments
3/8/2021
Tool Aims To Help Healthcare Battle Cyber Attacks
Managers can review resource library page to search for materials to fit specific needs
3/8/2021
UVC Disinfection and COVID-19: Understanding Safety Concerns
UVC lights are stronger than sunlight and can cause adverse reactions in various skin types
3/5/2021
Healthcare Apps Play Role in Cyber Attacks: Report
Many healthcare apps have a range of bugs hackers could exploit
3/5/2021
Rethinking EVS Leadership in the COVID-19 Era
Managers can glean important leadership principles from orchestra conductors
3/5/2021
$67 Million: Bottom-Line Impact of a Cyber Attack
Ransomware attack resulted in EHR outages at all 400 care sites for about three weeks
3/4/2021
Rethinking Reopening: Group Advises Careful Approach
Vaccines, continued visitor screenings, and required masking and social distancing still advised
3/4/2021
Nursing Home Staffing Linked to COVID-19 Rates
High turnover among staffs likely contributed to number of deaths during pandemic
3/4/2021
Scrutiny Mounts on HVAC-COVID-19 Connection
Former OSHA head says employers not taking adequate measures to address real COVID-19 risks in workplaces
3/3/2021
Big Data Collaborative Raises Patient Privacy Concerns
U.S. healthcare providers plan to share de-identified data on tens of millions of patients
3/3/2021
Active Shooters: Strategies and Tactics for Safety
Managers must incorporate all satellite offices and related facilities in risk assessments
3/3/2021
Cyber Attacks: A Closer Look at Tactics and Strategies
Attackers are obtaining stolen credentials and leaked database files from specialized sources in cybercrime underground
3/3/2021
New Cases of COVID-19 Decline in Nursing Homes
From late December to early February, deaths have decreased by more than 65 percent
3/2/2021
How Can Hospitals Improve Crisis Management and Recovery?
Emergency medicine physicians identify opportunities to improve crisis planning
3/2/2021
Data Security in the COVID-19 Era
New study aims to provide IT managers with cloud security practices
3/2/2021
Assessing Risk When Updating Facilities for COVID-19
Changes often create situations that do not strictly comply with NFPA 101, Life Safety Code
3/2/2021
Email Hack Exposes Data of 45,000 Patients
Hackers combined vulnerable user IDs with different passwords until a combination worked
3/1/2021
774 Hospitals Penalized Over Patient Infections
Hospitals will lose 1 percent of their Medicare payments over 12 months
3/1/2021
Hospital’s Respirator Use Draws OSHA Penalty
Citation relates to federal guidelines for respirator use with workers treating COVID-19 patients
3/1/2021
