Information Technology - October 2013

Going green in managing waste can be cost effective

Minimizing what goes into the trash can and save money on supplies, resources and operations

10/31/2013



Tips from ASC administrators to prep for Medicare inspections

Three ambulatory surgery center administrators discuss preparing their centers for surveyors and Medicare inspections

10/31/2013



Canadian hospital trimming food services to patients

Once standard items on hospital food trays such as coffee, tea, salt and pepper will only be made available by request

10/30/2013



Vinyl flooring linked to potentially harmful substances

Flooring contains potentially dangerous phthalates which are also food packaging, medical devices, and even pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and soaps

10/30/2013



EHR vendors facing certification hurdles difficulties under Stage 2 of meaningful use

Fewer software developers had certified electronic health record systems for use by health care providers under Stage 2 meaningful use requirements than under Stage 1 of the program

10/30/2013



Lighting trends in healthcare design illuminated

The growing use of LEDs has changed the way architects, lighting designers and healthcare facility decision-makers approach lighting

10/30/2013



Keeping chiropractic tables clean

Study says only 62 percent of chiropractors had a routine chiropractic table disinfection protocol in place

10/30/2013



Telemedicine kiosks allow virtual after-hours doctor visits

Cleveland hospital systems adopting kiosks to try to bring patients better, cheaper access to medical care after hours

10/30/2013



Leapfrog's new safety grades give more than 800 hospitals an A

Only 3.5% of hospitals significantly improved their grades since the the last report in May

10/29/2013



Report says Walgreens exposing customer health data

'Well Experience' model relocates pharmacists to a work station in front of the counter

10/29/2013



Memorial Hermann Healthcare System engineering a fail-safe health system

Quality departments were centralized, all employees were trained on the principles of high reliability, protocols were created for most medical procedures

10/29/2013



New Jersey medical center takes emergency care mobile

ER Check-In app allows patients to notify hospital of a pending emergency department visit with their smartphone, tablet or computer

10/29/2013



Washington hospital prepares for disaster

Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington participates in a state-wide earthquake drill

10/28/2013



Social network model proposed to fight hospital infections

Study focused on interactions between patients and healthcare workers and the multiple competing factors that can affect transmission

10/28/2013



Ten major infection control stories from the summer and fall

Last five months have been eventful for infection control

10/28/2013



California Attorney General releases report on curbing medical identity theft

Report include recommendations for healthcare providers, insurers, and government agencies on how to prevent, detect and reduce medical identity theft

10/25/2013



Iowa governor says more health care inspectors not needed

Iowa is inspecting hospice-care facilities about once every 20 years, exercises no oversight of privately funded home health agencies; cannot impose fines on hospitals or hospital−owned nursing homes; and doesn't require licensing or state inspection of out-patient surgical centers

10/25/2013



Study says health information technology job growth exceeds projections

Lack of skilled applicants has left industry with open health IT positions

10/25/2013



Hospital team's response during Marathon bombings offers lessons for management under pressure.

Successful medical response in Boston was based on relationships across disciplines

10/25/2013



What's holding us back from handwashing?

A nurse who survived a severe hospital acquired infection and the physician who created "My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene" program discuss handwashing compliance

10/25/2013



Thai healthcare system disaster management looks at Japan model

After tsunami, Japanese hospital has disaster-emergency unit staffed by a team of five permanent medical team

10/24/2013



Implementing and sustaining healthcare facility process improvements

A well-oiled machine will deliver high-quality care to a higher volume of patients

10/24/2013



Hospital wins first green health facility label in Holland

Hospital Amstelland is first healthcare facility to receive Dutch government's Golden Environment Medal for reducing carbon dioxide emissions

10/24/2013



Using healthcare facilities during off-peak periods can increase efficiency

Establishing variable pricing for late-night procedures may reduce the cost of healthcare

10/24/2013



Three of Ireland's major hospitals reported to have serious infection risks

Inspectors say patients are at serious risk of infection or scalding, while some medical equipment was dirty and staff failed to wash their hands

10/24/2013



Kansas hospital revamps food service to offer room service, healthier options

Sales at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital cafeteria are up almost 30 percent in recent weekend many of the fresh products now served are less expensive than the prepared products previously purchased

10/23/2013



Study shows low levels of hand hygiene compliance in pediatric hospitals

Education about the appropriate use of alcohol-based hand rub recommended for these facilities

10/23/2013



Connecticut hospital tests and trains emergency responders

Nearly 100 hospital employees, local emergency responders, volunteers and high school students took part in a mock disaster drill at Milford Hospital

10/23/2013



Thirteen organizational assessment steps to maintain a culture of safety

An assessment strategy to determine whether an organization is maintaining a culture of safety includes evaluation of training, behavior and leadership

10/23/2013



Consistent condensate drainage key to healthy hospital

When condensate is not removed it stands in the drain pan, overflows the drain pan and/or is blown onto internal components where it causes damage and encourages growth of pathogens

10/23/2013



Project solutions: Preparing the clinical team for move to a replacement facility

To maintain patient care standards, an organization must commit to staff orientation, education and training, proper operating sequences, appropriate staff alignment, technology education and implementation and equipment education and implementation

10/22/2013



New safety measures put focus on best practices

Leadership from the executive ranks called antidote to poor compliance

10/22/2013



Answers to hospital fall prevention issues vary

Lack of safety equipment usage, understaffing among hospital concerns

10/22/2013



Hospital fights infections with ultraviolet light 'robot'

Texas Health Resources Southwest Fort Wort uses machine to kill bacteria in operating rooms

10/22/2013



University of Utah hospitals rethink waste practices after protests

Air-quality concerns have the university weighing whether to continue with Stericycle

10/22/2013



Hospitals adopt networked information systems to meet demands of new delivery model

As more organizations recognize the building as an instrument of care, they are using innovative strategies to integrate disparate building, business and clinical systems to reduce cost while providing better care

10/21/2013



Biometric tools finding a new place in health care

Using fingerprints and iris patterns to validate identity is just beginning to play a role

10/21/2013



Challenges for big data in healthcare more social than technical

Questions of social interoperability must be solved before anything else, expert says. Until then, the risks of big data will outweigh the benefits

10/21/2013



Free downloadable patient safety handwashing tools

Hand washing suffers from perennially bad compliance rates, sometimes as low as 40 percent in healthcare settings, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control

10/21/2013



Technology is a key to managing vendor and visitor access to health care facilities

Survey reports majority of facilities use a vendor management system to screen, badge and track every vendor. And 38 percent of respondents said they use a visitor management system to screen, badge and track every visitor

10/21/2013



Contaminated bed linen key area of microbial and allergen accumulation

As modern day hospital infection control measures improve, there is an increased focus on bed linen and associated materials as possible sources of infection

10/18/2013



Major challenges looming for health IT leaders

Nationwide shift to the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision of diagnostic and procedural codes less than a year away

10/18/2013



Norovirus a chronic problem in nursing homes, long-term care facilities in Oregon

Since 2002, norovirus has sickened more than 23,000 people in 714 outbreaks in Oregon's residential-care facilities

10/18/2013



Lack of single rooms called key element in infection control

Survey ranked single room's impact above that of more infection control nurses

10/18/2013



Preventing nursing home elopement

Facilities use monitoring, equipment and response planning to keep its patients safe

10/18/2013



Look for lighting that exceeds emergency standard for healthcare facilities

New high-performance emergency lighting options maintain constant light output for longer periods of time

10/18/2013



NY health care workers get fire safety training

Fatal fire at Illinois nursing facility puts spotlight on program

10/17/2013



Illinois oncology center looking to go greener with solar panels

Making the center solar powered reportedly will save 100 percent of its electric bill

10/17/2013



Strategizing building maintenance should be an executive role, experts say

Decisions about senior care facility maintenance should align with overall company goals

10/17/2013



Maximize impact of mats at your facility

Care is required to make sure they are working properly, promoting safety, and protecting the indoor environment

10/17/2013



Infection prevention guide for outpatient settings available for download

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers free resource

10/16/2013



Visual inspection compared to other methods of assessing cleaning

Study showed that visual inspection performed at least as well as commercial methods

10/16/2013



Environmental services associate lauded for act of kindness

Florida hospital employee befriended young paient undergoing chemotherapy treatments

10/15/2013



Poor EHR use can become a liability issue

One of the key risks occurs when practices fail to adjust work flows to accommodate the new technology

10/15/2013



California medical center takes a fresh approach to meals

Chef Craig Thomas brings healthier food, attitudes to Enloe Medical Center

10/15/2013



Medical groups say new maintenance standards would lead to higher risk

Letter to CMS claims allowing hospitals to set their own standards would erode safety precautions for the devices that perform MRIs and other procedures

10/15/2013



Illinois hospital unveils new patient safety initiative

Ottawa facility is only in region to launch eICU remote monitoring technology

10/14/2013



Fletcher Allen named one of America's greenest hospitals

Vermont facility was one of the first organizations in the country to sign Health Care Without Harm's 'Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge'

10/14/2013



New report estimates societal cost of HAIs at a high of nearly $150 billion annually

Earlier report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated the direct medical costs of HAIs to U.S. hospitals as $28.4 billion to $33.8 billion per year

10/14/2013



Technology-enabled furnishings can enhance the patience experience

In the digital era, 'smart' furniture can also help improve patient care

10/14/2013



Park Nicollet Clinic adds digital signage for wayfinding, social media access

Minnesota facility's network includes on-demand video content provides interactive wayfinding, and highlights social media updates in real time

10/11/2013



Affordable Care Act may give hospital value analysis efforts a boost

Supply chain at the center of a healthcare organization's plans to justify the selection and use of products and services

10/11/2013



Joint Commission hospital accreditation survey mistakes to avoid

Hospitals' ability to identify weaknesses in their organization and implement strategies crucial

10/11/2013



Connecticut Hospital to undergo $30 million energy makeover

Potential projects include installing more efficient lighting; lighting control, heating and cooling upgrades; energy-efficient windows

10/11/2013



Web-based training program lauded for improving worker safety

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center addressed the need for a consistent and standardized work-safety training program to meet regulatory requirements for its maintenance employees

10/10/2013



Safety of bed rails questioned after patient deaths

Federal committee currently working on voluntary standards for adult portable bed rails

10/10/2013



Kimberly-Clark offers hand hygiene education program

Initiative designed to engage healthcare professionals and empower patients to create a safer healthcare environment

10/10/2013



Bellwether League honors nine for healthcare supply chain leadership

Winners lauded for their contributions to the delivery of quality care through efficient and innovative supply chain operations

10/10/2013



AHE launches a environmental sustainability certificate program

The program will acknowledge the environment and ecological sustainability efforts of healthcare environmental service departments

10/10/2013



Strike looms for hospitals' dietery, housekeeping staff in British Columbia

About 75 Cowichan health-care workers are in a strike position as negotiations drag with employee Compass Group

10/9/2013



Manufacturers developing materials for cleanability and germ resistance

Safer surfaces help facilities look great while maintaining clean and safe environments of care

10/9/2013



Integrated Healthcare hospitals adopt new IT system to enhance patient safety.

System can help preemptively identify gaps in patient safety practices

10/9/2013



It knows if you've washed your hands

Wearable device designed to improve hospitals' hand hygiene

10/9/2013



Protecting patients in an era of BYOD security

Health care facilities concerned should update their security infrastructure accordingly and to create policies and procedures for the access of facility data on personal devices.

10/9/2013



Ozone laundry system expected to mean energy savings Wisconsin hospital

Columbia Health Care Center unveils system that uses oxygen to kill germs

10/8/2013



Billings Clinic practices for power outage

Staff at Montana healthcare center conducts patient evacuation exercises

10/8/2013



New guidelines may help infection control at residential facilities

Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and the Ronald McDonald House partner to release the guidelines

10/8/2013



St. Thomas hospital cited for medical waste violations

DPNR orders immediate action at Schneider Regional Hospital

10/8/2013



Disruption should be avoided in healthcare analytics

Hospitals and physicians must consider carefully how healthcare analytics can become part of their workflows

10/8/2013



Case study: El Centro Regional Medical Center solves printer management headache

UniPrint Infinity universal print driver chosen for ease of management and deployment and immediate ROI

10/8/2013





Patient portal business booming

About 50 percent of U.S. hospitals and 40 percent of ambulatory practicehave some type of portal technology

10/7/2013



How will healthcare organizations manage the data explosion?

Large and small organizations explore ways to meet their growing data storage needs

10/7/2013



Hospital studies ways to improving relaxation

Acute care orthopedic patients given meditation CDs or sound machines

10/7/2013



Cintas issues 10 tips to help comply with the HIPAA Omnibus Rule

Compliance deadline for new rule occurred on Sept. 23

10/4/2013



Will healthcare turn into a Walmart-like experience?

IT revolution may replace some personal touches with large scale efficiencies

10/4/2013



The way to better healthcare may be by plane, train or automobile

Fierce Healthcare blog looks at lessons airline industry can offer healthcare

10/3/2013



15 things to know about the HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule

If you're still not 100 percent sure your HIPAA ducks are in a row, here are 15 things you must know

10/3/2013



Changes in Australian healthcare expands market for facilities management

Service providers that cater to community, aged care, and residential care facilities expected to see growth, but lower demand for facilities such as linen or food services seen

10/3/2013



Health information exchange organizations still paper dependent

64 percent of the HIOs reported that sharing data with hospitals not participating in an HIO was conducted via fax

10/2/2013



Johns Hopkins backs effort to fast-track health IT ideas

DreamIt Health Baltimore boot camp seeks applicants for Jan. start date

10/1/2013



Doctors spending more money on IT, report says

Federal incentives - and potential penalties - are driving the increased investments

10/1/2013



Health care leaders address senate committee on HAI reduction

Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee looks at efforts to reduce healthcare-associated infections

10/1/2013



A collection of insights into the HIPAA Omnibus final rule

MedCity News puts together reference guide to the impact of rules changes that have recently gone into effect

10/1/2013



Lurie Children's Hospital giving parking passes to families of NCIU patients

Foundation honoring tiny former patient raised more than $200,000 to subsidize parking and public transportation

10/1/2013



 
 
 


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