Sustainable Operations - January 2021
Healthcare Real Estate Sector Remains Strong
Telehealth will supplement patient care, changing the needs of the facility
1/29/2021
COVID-19 Focus Opened Door to Other Illnesses
Drug-resistant bacteria and fungi have grown opportunistically in health care settings
1/29/2021
Cyber Attacks Require Healthcare Organizations To Take Action
Extraordinary increase in connected medical devices makes hospitals more vulnerable
1/29/2021
OSHA-Approved State Standards Help Curtail COVID-19 Cases
In lieu of federal OSHA standards, 28 states have implemented their own emergency standards
1/29/2021
Vaccines and Security in the COVID-19 Era
Security departments play an integral role in ensuring the rollout runs as smoothly as possible with minimal threats
1/28/2021
Florida Healthcare System Buys into Solar
300-ton steel canopy will power 84 percent of executive office building
1/28/2021
Changes to Food Programs Could Outlast COVID-19
Atlanta hospital has eliminated self-serve stations, room service-style patient menus, and cash
1/28/2021
Healthcare Facilities at Risk for COVID-Related Fines, Litigation
Failure to protect employees from COVID-19 could cost facilities thousands of dollars
1/27/2021
Vaccine Storage Problems Arise in Hospitals
Nearly 2,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were spoiled after a contractor accidentally unplugged a freezer
1/27/2021
Michigan: HVAC Certification for Restaurant Openings
Program allows food service establishments to become certified by having their HVAC systems inspected
1/27/2021
Microgrid Projects Show Tech’s Potential for Healthcare
Projects will include how to incorporate renewable energy and move away from diesel generators
1/27/2021
Cyber Criminals Exploit COVID-19 in Attacks
Increasing attacks spur need to adopt cybersecurity best practices to keep pace with evolving threats
1/27/2021
Biden Asks OSHA To Review Healthcare Worker Safety
Agency to issue revised guidance on safety during pandemic within next two weeks
1/26/2021
Flu Watch: Social Distancing in Facilities Paying Off
Flu numbers are well below normal across all ages
1/26/2021
Looking for Trouble: Proactive Tactics for IT Security
Strengthening employee security education and training should be a key focus for all healthcare entities
1/26/2021
Automated Technology Reinforces Proper Handwashing
Technology uses near-field magnetic induction technology to verify clinicians sanitize hands properly
1/25/2021
Judge Tosses Penalty Against Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
$4.3 million penalty stemmed from two instances of lost, unencrypted USB drives containing patient data
1/25/2021
Hospital-Acquired COVID-19: A Closer Look
Healthcare decision makers need metrics to provide accurate estimates of cases to effectively allocate resources
1/25/2021
Campaign Seeks To Increase Installation of EV Charging Stations
Group is teaming up with 29 other EV cooperatives to create a regional charging network
1/25/2021
4 Factors in COVID-19 Spread in Long-Term Care
Staff member infections, facility size among the factors associated with cases and deaths
1/22/2021
The Case for Training Facilities Staff
Why don’t hospitals train workers? Training is viewed as an expense, not an investment
1/22/2021
Healthcare Technology: The Impact on Data and IT
Even before COVID-19, managers faced myriad challenges to their data infrastructures
1/22/2021
A New Approach to Operations and Management
Care coordination command centers can improve outcomes and efficiency
1/21/2021
Visitor Management Takes Center Stage in COVID-19 Era
More than ever, facilities need control over patients, families, visitors, and outside contractors
1/20/2021
COVID-19: Challenges Continue for Environmental Services, Maintenance
Praise for healthcare workers is well deserved, but it left out nursing aides, housekeepers, medical assistants and food service workers
1/20/2021
Strategies and Resources for Technician Training
Providing training also is a proven strategy for engaging and motivating technical staff
1/20/2021
HVAC Systems and COVID-19: What’s the Link?
Experts say scientific evidence does not indicate that transmission of COVID-19 occurs via HVAC systems
1/19/2021
Managers Search for Staffing Strategies Amid Pandemic
Hospital facilities and engineering departments are in constant competition with other fields for qualified technicians
1/19/2021
IT Security in the COVID-19 Era
Senior care facilities can be particularly vulnerable to security risks
1/19/2021
Amid Vaccine Rollout, PPE Shortage Continues
Requests to one collection group increased by 200 percent between November and December
1/19/2021
Cyberattack Increase Tied to Vaccine Distribution
Attacks on web applications jump 51 percent since December
1/18/2021
Decade-Long Legionnaires' Outbreak Tied to Michigan Hospital: CDC
state reported 90 cases of Legionnaires' disease during 2014 and 2015
1/18/2021
Senior Care Facilities Go to the Dogs To Detect COVID-19
Dogs identify coronavirus via sweat samples from individuals
1/18/2021
COVID-19 Leads to Television as Diagnostic Tool
Converting existing televisions in nearly 1,200 patient rooms into virtual care endpoints
1/18/2021
Environmental Services Workers Feeling Underappreciated
Workers say they are not trained enough and see themselves as having a low social status
1/18/2021
Hospitals Fined $184K Over Worker Infections
Two hospitals fined for failing to report when employees were infected with COVID-19
1/15/2021
New COVID-19 Challenge: Minimizing PPE Waste
Managers seek to reduce the quantity of isolation gowns, gloves and masks discarded after use
1/15/2021
Healthcare Facilities Addressing Workplace Violence
Workplace violence is about four times more prevalent in healthcare than in other industries
1/15/2021
Telehealth Grows Amid Pandemic and Is Likely To Stay
Virtual visits must focus on patient experience to be a viable option
1/15/2021
Food Programs Adapt in the COVID-19 Era
Service had to continue where many traditional models no longer were feasible
1/15/2021
Rethinking Facility Airflow To Control COVID-19
Facilities can use altered airflows to increase air exchanges and optimize fresh outdoor air
1/14/2021
Flexible Food Program Responds to Pandemic
Programs had to rethink and revamp operations while still ensuring the health of patients
1/14/2021
CMS Emergency Preparedness Final Rule Improves Hospital Response
Rule mandates emergency planning and support with an emphasis on communication
1/14/2021
Four Most Frequent COVID-related OSHA Citations
By knowing the common citations, employers can better ensure they are protecting their workers
1/13/2021
Ransomware Attacks on Healthcare Skyrocket
Attacks against healthcare organizations have jumped about 45 percent since early November
1/13/2021
OSHA Offers Tips on Safety with Dry Ice
Super-cold blocks of carbon dioxide keep temperamental vaccines at the right temperature
1/13/2021
Report Faults Security Efforts for Patient Information
Only 6 percent of audited organizations adequately fulfilled requirements for reducing risks and vulnerabilities
1/12/2021
Freezer Malfunction Forces Emergency Use of Vaccine
Sensor that monitors freezer didn’t work and didn’t notify hospital personnel of problem
1/12/2021
Ransomware Attacks Continue to Plague Healthcare
Facilities are implementing measures designed to keep critical data safe and secure
1/12/2021
Cyberattack Tactics Included Guessing Passwords
Perpetrators of the attack used common hacker techniques to get passwords
1/12/2021
Healthcare Facilities Eye Blockchain To Address Challenges
Blockchain can do many things, from providing secure encryption of patient information to handling epidemics
1/11/2021
Scrutiny Grows on Air Filtration’s Role in Controlling COVID-19
An enhanced HVAC system design will minimize the recirculation of contaminated air in air distribution systems
1/8/2021
Hospital Must Release Records on Mold Outbreaks
The hospital has seen a host of mold outbreaks since 2005, when it discovered Aspergillus mold in an operating room
1/7/2021
COVID-19 Spotlight Falls on HVAC Systems
One mitigation strategy involves ensuring adequate ventilation in indoor spaces
1/7/2021
VA’s Struggle with PPE One of Many Issues
VA had no reliable tracking system for what hospitals have, what they need or what was expired
1/6/2021
COVID-19 Highlights Issue of Superbugs in Hospitals
Every year, hundreds of millions of people admitted to hospitals end up with dangerous infections
1/6/2021
Hospital Targets Healthier Foods for Staff, Patients
Meal prep service helps people enjoy a stress-free, healthy meal at their convenience
1/6/2021
Hospitals Receive Ransomware Alert
The advisory finds that malicious cyber actors are increasingly targeting the healthcare sector
1/5/2021
Revisiting IT Issues as Vaccine Rollout Expands
The IT infrastructure in many hospitals and healthcare facilities might not be up to the task of a successful vaccination program
1/5/2021
Healthcare IT Responds to Battle Pandemic
Adoption skyrocketed as hospitals, health systems and facility managers increasingly relied on digital health technologies
1/5/2021
COVID-19 Reemphasizes Role of Housekeeping
Hospitals seeking to control the coronavirus and other infections need to remain vigilant in their sanitizing efforts
1/5/2021
Asset Tracking: What Can RTLS Do for You?
Primarily used to track equipment and people, these systems are expanding into additional applications
1/5/2021
Nashville Explosion Hampers Hospital Operations
Blast affected connection points for regional internet services and local wireless, internet and video
1/4/2021
California Opening Field Hospitals
The situation was particularly grim in Riverside County, which recently was at zero available ICU capacity
1/4/2021
Food Service Workers To Receive Early Vaccines
CDC recommendations for vaccination priorities acknowledge risks facing key employees in healthcare facilities
1/4/2021
Clearing the Air: COVID-19 Strategy Must Address IAQ
Researchers stress that risk of infection is particularly high in hospitals and nursing homes
1/4/2021
