Sustainable Operations - February 2019
Tapping facility data can help improve maintenance
Campus taps into facility data to improve maintenance and support organizational goals
2/28/2019
Jacksonville hospital introduces pharmacy kiosk system
Emergency room patients will have easier access to medications
2/28/2019
Hand washing increases during viral outbreaks, survey finds
Nearly 2 out of 3 Americans believe their hands are less germy after washing with soap and water than after using hand sanitizer
2/28/2019
Advances in tools expand drain cleaning versatility
Changes have meant greater power and versatility for technicians
2/28/2019
San Francisco hospital cuts food waste with on-demand service
Hospitals waste two to three times more than other food service sectors
2/27/2019
Flu activity reaches a new season high
influenza-like illness levels have reached 4.8 percent
2/27/2019
Connectable hospital bed designed for patient safety
Design may also simplify day-to-day nursing tasks
2/27/2019
48 states report widespread flu activity
The CDC reported 6,868 confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations from Oct. 1, 2018, through Feb. 9
2/26/2019
How to tell if restrooms need an upgrade
When MEP systems work well, they're not notices, but when there’s an issue, these systems can be a nuisance
2/26/2019
Arkansas hospital temporarily loses power for nonpayment
Power has been reconnected at the De Queen Hospital
2/26/2019
Texas hospital elevator had safety problems before employee was hurt
The elevator had been out of service at least four times in the year before the accident
2/25/2019
Joint Commission offers guidance on writing infection control policies
The Joint Commission approach is based on requirements and chosen evidence-based guidelines
2/25/2019
Safety at D.C. psychiatric hospital questioned after attack on nurse
The nurse said the attack could have been prevented if the facility had installed security barriers at nursing stations
2/25/2019
Adventist Health won't reopen Camp Fire-damaged Feather River Hospital
More than 1,300 employees given notices
2/25/2019
Google adapts cloud service to work with fax machines
Former Google CEO and chairman said healthcare tech is still in the 'stone age'
2/25/2019
Top 10 cleaning toxins and natural alternatives
Cleaning products often contain toxic chemicals. Chronic exposure to these can cause a variety of issues
2/22/2019
R.I hospital using new interactive hand-washing simulator
The Miriam Hospital in Providence walks users through the steps of proper hand-washing
2/21/2019
Focusing on filters for air quality
Strategies for matching filters to applications to improve indoor health
2/21/2019
Key cybersecurity threats in 2019
Mobile device issues, ransomeware and cloud based-data breaches are a few of the cybersecurity threats healthcare facilities face in 2019
2/21/2019
Matching concrete coatings to facility needs
Expanding product options can create complex decisions
2/21/2019
The role of door hardware in security
Careful planning and follow-through ensure locks, handles, hinges and operators protect occupants and help achieve security goals
2/21/2019
What facilities managers need to know about edge computing
Edge computing, a way to place data closer to its point of use, is moving into all types of commercial buildings
2/20/2019
The value of daylighting, even with LEDs
Even when LEDs mimic sunlight, expert see LEDs as complementary to — but not replacing — daylighting strategies
2/20/2019
Incapacitated woman’s rape spurs push in Ariz. for more cameras
The Arizona House is considering a measure that would let certain facilities install video surveillance in common areas
2/19/2019
Thirteen million sick with flu so far this season
The percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness increased to 4.3 percent for the week ending Feb. 2
2/19/2019
Healthcare facilities benefiting from efficiency program
Hospitals are seeing a major reduction in energy bills as a result of updated equipment and retrofits
2/19/2019
Technology transforming healthcare experience
Someday, sensors might be installed on the windows and HVAC system to allow for operable windows in patient care areas, while still meeting infection control concerns, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
2/19/2019
Part 3: How to mitigate risks associated with connected medical devices
Working with limited resources and building a solid foundation that will enable effective cyber-risk mitigation strategies
2/19/2019
Energy information systems can help save energy
Energy Information Systems (EIS) bring multiple benefits for facilities managers, from identifying efficiency opportunities to validating utility billing
2/19/2019
A crash course in GRC for the healthcare industry
Healthcare facilities must take the time to ensure that all employees are educated on governance, risk and compliance (GRC) when it comes to information security
2/15/2019
Balancing sustainable design and efficiency
Upgrades to green building standards have provided a solid framework
2/15/2019
Health system energy investments support carbon goal
Kaiser Permanente purchases wind, solar and battery energy
2/15/2019
Study says removing sinks from ICU cuts bacterial colonization
'Water-free' patient care can reduce the number of ICU patients colonized with gram-negative bacteria
2/15/2019
LED lighting can save lives, energy in hospital parking garage
Reston Hospital is expecting an 81 percent reduction in annual energy consumption
2/15/2019
No one was monitoring security cameras, intercom system during attack on Milwaukee nurse
It took two hours for help to arrive
2/14/2019
Minnesota families push for cameras in nursing homes
A new bill strives to balance privacy, safety
2/14/2019
Houston healthcare facility adopts proactive maintenance plan
MD Anderson Cancer Center developed a facility renewal program (FRP) that addressed facilities and infrastructure needs
2/14/2019
Responding to active shooters in healthcare facilities
'Run, hide, fight' is not always possible
2/14/2019
Patient at Pennsylvania hospital cleared of Ebola
The situation came after another case in Nebraska last month
2/13/2019
Milwaukee hospital implements more safety precautions following killing in parking garage
Hospital staff members say there are now patrols 24 hours a day in each parking lot and parking garage
2/13/2019
Sinks next to toilets in patient rooms could spread germs
Sinks located next to patient toilets in hospital rooms may be reservoirs for Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase
2/13/2019
Psychiatric hospital fined $650K for failure to protect workers
The hospital does not have proper risk assessments, policies or training on preventing violence
2/13/2019
Sinks next to toilets in patient rooms could spread germs
Sinks located next to patient toilets in hospital rooms may be reservoirs for Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase
2/13/2019
N.Y. hospital installs cooling towers to help prevent Legionnaires’
The towers also are expected to reduce energy consumption by about 40 percent
2/12/2019
New York hospital's recognized for water quality program
NewYork-Presbyterian has earned the ASHE Excellence in Health Care Facility Management Award
2/12/2019
Gloveless hospital staffers dispose of dangerous waste at Glasgow facility currently under investigation
A probe is under way into the deaths of the two newborn children at the hospital’s Princess Royal Maternity unit
2/12/2019
Calif. hospital's hand-hygiene rate doubles with RTLS technology
The facility's hand-hygiene compliance has increased, on average, from 45 percent to 77 percent
2/12/2019
Securing the Internet of medical things
Study suggested that there are an average of 164 cyberthreats detected per 1,000 connected host devices
2/12/2019
FBI data confirms risk in hospital parking garage after attack
A Wisconsin nurse was killed in a parking garage attached to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee
2/11/2019
On the edge: How hybrid IT is advancing healthcare
Hybrid IT models allow healthcare organizations to shift critical infrastructure to a mix of on-premise, cloud and edge environments
2/11/2019
Part 2: How to mitigate risks associated with connected medical devices
Properly identifying, assessing and scoring the cyber-risks of medical devices on your network
2/11/2019
Infection control issues may cost two Detroit hospitals Medicare contracts
CMS warned DMC Harper University Hospital and DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital
2/11/2019
Glasgow hospital patient ill with new fungal infection
NHS Greater Glasgow said the likely source is a water leak in a single patient room in the hospital, which has been repaired.
2/8/2019
Study says hospital patients' poor food intake can be unhealthy
Research shows malnutrition is an unaddressed and widespread problem in hospitals
2/8/2019
Anesthesia areas have infection control challenges
Several elements of anesthesia practice were identified as problematic
2/8/2019
Milwaukee nurses pushing for more security after fatal attack in parking garage
Hospital representatives said the facility has made security enhancements and will continue to make improvements
2/7/2019
Security Guard in S.C. arrested for sexually assaulting sleeping patient
The guard at Springs Memorial Hospital in Lancaster, was charged with criminal sexual conduct in the third degree
2/7/2019
Are biofilms from hospital shower pipes harmful?
Some new bacteria with characteristics of species known to be harmful were seen
2/7/2019
Former valet driver charged in death of nurse practitioner at Milwaukee hospital
Froedtert policies require that contracted employees from third-party vendors follow the same background checks required for direct employees
2/6/2019
Staff at second Glasgow hospital complained about pigeon droppings
Two patients at another Glasgow hospital died after receiving treatment for a fungal infection linked to pigeon droppings
2/6/2019
Nurse-call technologies improving care
Greater integration helps healthcare facility workflow
2/6/2019
These may be the droids healthcare facilities are looking for
Star Wars-esque robot can help deliver medicines and materials
2/5/2019
Cleaning staff at Glasgow hospital with pigeon issues ‘not briefed’ on infection control
The death of a pediatric patient has been linked to pigeon droppings in the facility
2/5/2019
Highly regulated environment poses challenges to healthcare device innovation
Creating and manufacturing medical devices requires adherence to extensive regulatory standards, research and testing as well as accurate performance analytics to improve the process
2/5/2019
Hypothermia death outside Montreal seniors' home sparks calls for better security
Woman, 93, was locked outside after an early-morning alarm
2/5/2019
Fencing installed to improve patient safety at N.Z. mental hospital
Fencing installed to keep patients from getting to a bridge that was a site of suicide attempts
2/5/2019
Seven elevators at Fort Worth hospital out of service in week after checks by contractor
John Peter Smith Hospital employee was injured in one of the elevators
2/4/2019
How to mitigate risks associated with connected medical devices
Unprotected medical devices lead to more occurrences of data breaches and increase the risk to patient safety
2/4/2019
Study tracks which healthcare facility workers wash their hands most
Nurses and environmental and food services staffers came out on top
2/4/2019
Ebola outbreak expected to continue at least 6 more months
WHO expert links large number of children affected to informal health facilities that are not regulated
2/1/2019
Mobile acute services hospitals created as an independent pod-based system of drones
MASH system drones can hover above disaster zones. The “facility” would be assembled from a series of modular clinical and support pods that can be linked together to create an elevated station, according to an article on the Healthcare Design magazine website
2/1/2019
Increasing energy efficiency and patient comfort with LED automation
Advancements in LED lighting and controls are enabling the modernization of these facilities for a better patient experience while also positively impacting long-term operational and maintenance costs.
2/1/2019
LEDs can light the way to significant savings
LED upgrades benefit occupants and the bottom line
2/1/2019
