Maintenance and Operations - October 2015
Popularity of telehealth continues to grow
Telehealth will provide increased healthcare services usually provided at the facility
10/30/2015
Technology can help with life safety compliance
Maintaining compliance with The Joint Commission’s process can be challenging
10/30/2015
Surprisingly common crimes committed in hospitals
Slide show highlights the types of incidents that hospitals might not be as well prepared for as they should
10/29/2015
Top Calif. hospitals struggling with infection control
Federal inspections cited five Orange County hospitals nearly 100 times for infection control violations over the past five years
10/29/2015
N.Y. hospital gets $5.4 million FEMA grant for energy upgrade
Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco operated on generators for a week after hurricane Sandy
10/29/2015
Flexibility key to healthcare's new sustainability
A green facility's infrastructure must meet today’s and tomorrow’s compliance and operational requirements
10/29/2015
Q&A on comingling oxygen cylinders
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about comingling oxygen cylinders
10/29/2015
Staff can help manage healthcare noise and speech privacy
Staff and visitors can play a role by reducing the amount of noise produced in the first place
10/28/2015
Things to consider with a clean energy plan
With an energy transformation there is not always a clear path for achieving desired results
10/27/2015
FEMA grants N.Y. hospital $5.4 million
Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco will upgrade the hospital's electrical power system
10/27/2015
Healthcare disaster prep should focus on kids
Disasters' effects on children may be more significant because environmental hazards may affect them more quickly
10/26/2015
Solid surfaces choices can effect maintenance
Durability and consistent color are important factors
10/26/2015
Healthcare can learn from Disney technology
Wearable devices can transform the customer experience
10/23/2015
Healthcare construction waste diversion proves to be cost-effective
For a 250,000-square-foot medical facility, roughly 1.1 million pounds of materials must be removed, recycled or reused
10/23/2015
Felician Village retirement residence improves food service programs and financial practices
The assisted living resident dining program was upgraded from a non-selective menu to selective table service and restaurant-style menus with no additional staffing or additional costs
10/23/2015
Environmental services worker recognized for patient safety efforts
A long-time employee of Mercy Health – Fairfield Hospital has been awarded for infection control work
10/23/2015
Q&A on storage in a separation of different occupancies
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about separation of different occupancies
10/23/2015
Reviewing Ebola waste disposal protocols
Reassessment of the efficiency of methods determined in last year's outbreak urged
10/22/2015
'Most Connected' Hospital list released
U.S. News & World Report recognizes hospitals for their use of health IT to improve patient care
10/22/2015
Decluttering hospital corridors
Hospitals must maintain free and unobstructed access to all exits and minimize fire risk
10/22/2015
Hand-hygiene behaviors, attitudes affect patient experience
Ninety-three percent of healthcare facility patients and visitors agree that hand hygiene is more important in healthcare settings
10/21/2015
California hospital adopts new trends in hospital food
Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton offering fresh and healthy choices and cooked-to-order meals
10/21/2015
UVC light disinfection shines in the fight against HAIs in ambulatory healthcare
The new 18,000-square-foot emergency department will have 23 beds, including 14 beds for acute care
10/21/2015
Assessing risk in behavioral healthcare facilities
The occurrence of inpatients harming themselves or others is increasing
10/21/2015
N.J. hospital runs gunman protocol drill
Hospital employees also are trained in the health system's disaster response through computer modules
10/20/2015
When to repair or replace medical equipment
One way to help decide whether to replace an item is the carrying cost of older equipment
10/20/2015
Hospital's fire safety fixes to cost millions
A recent report says fire safety failures stretching back years have the potential to put staff and patients at 'intolerable risk'
10/19/2015
UV cuts C. diff transmissions on cancer floors
Study shows that ultraviolet robots helped reduce the transmission rates by 25%
10/19/2015
Study says chemicals, UV rays cut superbug transmissions
Using a combination of chemicals and UV light to clean patient rooms cut transmission of four major superbugs by a cumulative 30 percent
10/16/2015
Optimizing an operating room
Small efficiencies can add up to substantial time and cost savings
10/15/2015
Healthcare facilities avoid tripping hazards, bacteria seams in restrooms
Combination toilet/shower rooms are sometimes called universal design
10/14/2015
Q&A on storage in a corridor
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about storage in a corridor
10/14/2015
Telehealth expected to curb healthcare construction
CEO sees the number of hospital stays and surgeries trending down
10/13/2015
Princeton Healthcare System invests in cost-effective energy
Facility explored non-traditional energy-efficiency solutions to increase cost savings
10/13/2015
Ohio county considering portable hospital
Location and volunteers sought for emergency facility
10/13/2015
Technology can improve the patient experience
Patients expect the same tech conveniences in their healthcare facility as they do in their daily lives
10/12/2015
Adopting tech tools can advance facility professionals
Report says facility management's adoption of technology is lagging
10/12/2015
NFPA 99 for existing facilities addresses power strips
Overlooking these requirements can be costly
10/9/2015
Patch invented to repair hospital beds, prevent spread of infection
CleanPatch works like a Band-Aid to save healthcare facilities from prematurely replacing equipment
10/8/2015
Salt Lake City outpatient facility installs upscale bistro
In its first year, Mountainside Cafe registered 440 daily weekday and brought in nearly $500,000
10/7/2015
14 salmonella isangi infections reported at Detroit hospital
State health officials and Henry Ford Hospital staff are working to figure out the cause of the outbreak
10/6/2015
Joint Commission issues alert on fall prevention
Sentinel Event Alert 55 addresses preventing falls and fall-related injuries in healthcare facilities
10/2/2015
Infection control goes beyond hand washing
Purchasing equipment, protection during construction and preparing for disasters are part of infectious disease specialist's role
10/2/2015
Hospital central power plant expected to save $500,000 a year
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre expects to reduce the hospital's electricity consumption by more than two-thirds
10/2/2015
First all-digital hospital opens in Toronto
Humber River Regional Hospital described as green, lean and all digital
10/1/2015