Sustainable Operations - March 2016

Why customer service matters in healthcare

How a facility is perceived affects the amount of government funding it receives

3/30/2016



Common lapses in healthcare facility infection prevention

These mistakes are likely to lead to a CMS citation

3/30/2016



Nurse calls for increased hospital safety after attack

University of Minnesota Medical Center nurse urges change after being attacked by patient

3/29/2016



N.J. healthcare facility fighting for safer chemical regulations

Hackensack University Medical Center is working to rid healthcare devices and products of unsafe chemicals

3/29/2016



Oklahoma hospital adjusting to campus expansion

Construction project triples the square footage of the St. Anthony Shawnee Hospital campus

3/29/2016



Paper and printing as a key source of communication for healthcare

There will always be a distinct, tangible need for a hard, physical iterations of documents

3/29/2016



C. diff called deadly plague American hospitals refuse to face

Opinion piece in the New York Post says hospitals and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are bungling their response to spread of infection

3/28/2016



The physical environment can improve healthcare

Patient safety has to be part of every department mission to be effective

3/28/2016



Hospital parking permit plan has staff fearing for safety

657 hospital employees were refused parking permits on site during normal working hours

3/28/2016



Healthcare enters new cybersecurity era

Targeted attacks appear to be significantly more threatening

3/28/2016



Q&A on locks on patient sleeping rooms

In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about locks on patient sleeping rooms

3/28/2016



Are biofilms from hospital shower pipes harmful?

Some new bacteria with characteristics of species known to be harmful were seen

3/24/2016



Study looks at disinfection of mobile devices

Healthcare facilities must clean mobile surfaces properly

3/24/2016



Canadian hospital handles ransomware attack

Ottawa hospital restored its computers after wiping their hard drives

3/23/2016



Atlanta hospital upgrades environmental services

Gwinnett Medical Center maintains its operating budget while servicing more square footage

3/23/2016



Keys to healthcare facility maintenance excellence

Preventive and predictive maintenance, preventive maintenance optimization and corrective maintenance are important factors

3/23/2016



CDC compares hospital cleaning methods

Research aims at narrowing down best practices for reducing HAIs

3/23/2016



Bacterial biofilms in hospital water pipes may be pathogenic

Researchers discover potentially pathogenic bacteria living inside water supply pipes

3/22/2016



Working with law enforcement for better healthcare facility security

Communicating a potential threat to all staff members is key

3/22/2016



Kansas College Hospitals to allow guns on campus

The hospitals will hire additional officers and ban guns in certain buildings

3/21/2016



Hospitality a key component for senior care facilities

The little things are making the difference to residents

3/21/2016



Healthcare facilities are among the most common applications for antimicrobial and antibacterial coatings

Antimicrobial agents are toxic to bacteria, viruses, and fungi, while antibacterial agents are effective against bacteria

3/21/2016



Ohio behavioral facility reviewing security after employees assaulted

Two court-ordered patients at Heartland Behavioral Healthcare escaped the facility by stealing an employee's car

3/21/2016



Ontario healthcare facility to close cafeteria to 'stem losses'

Brantford General Hospital's cafeteria only operated a few hours a day

3/18/2016



Focus on positive patient experiences is the new trend for healthcare equipment

Ergonomically designed workstations support complex and changing care workflows

3/18/2016



Stolen laptop leads to data breach in Kansas healthcare facility

Valley Hope Association announced a data security breach after a work-issued laptop is stolen from an employee’s car

3/17/2016



Healthcare laundry equipment installed ‘cleanly’ at medical research facility

Installers had to strip, shower and change into scrubs, shoes and hair nets provided to do the work

3/17/2016



Infection rates decline at Florida hospital

Infection rates decreased at Orlando Health South Seminole Hospital after the hospital began using germ-zapping robots

3/17/2016



Dealing with workplace violence at ambulatory care facilities

Freestanding site healthcare workers' risk may be elevated because police or security officers are not routinely assigned to these locations

3/16/2016



Massachusetts healthcare facilities commit to antibiotic stewardship through food purchasing

Hospitals are partnering with Massachusetts Hospital Association and Health Care Without Harm

3/16/2016



Vermont healthcare facility honored for food service

University of Vermont Medical Center is recognized by The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association with 2016 Silver Plate Awards

3/16/2016



Q&A on connecting bridges

In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about connecting bridges

3/16/2016



Lean approach can boost OR cleaning efficiency

Operating rooms often feel pressure for quick turnover times

3/16/2016



Hospital held ransom highlights healthcare as a vulnerable cyber target

Facility management can improve their decision-making and potential crisis outcomes by coming up with a plan in advance

3/15/2016



Healthcare facilities evolving as America's obesity rates rise

Sturdier medical equipment and heavier-duty hospital beds have been developed, but lifts are still an issue

3/15/2016



Changes to ICC building and fire codes

Code changes were developed for both the IBC and the IFC, and many passed for the 2015 versions

3/15/2016



Elite are among America's germiest hospitals

One-third of hospitals rated by Consumer Reports got low scores on how well they prevent Clostridium difficile

3/14/2016



UV mobile device sterilizer designed to reduce contamination

Device management system disinfects mobile devices while charging, syncing and managing them

3/14/2016



Ensuring hospital power system reliability

Planning, design, installation, inspection, maintenance all play a part

3/14/2016



Lead found in water at N.J. healthcare facility

The staff has been using bottled water in lieu of tap water for drinking and food preparation at Morristown Medical Center

3/11/2016



Free webcast offered on reducing hospital-acquired infections

The CleanLink webcast's learning objectives include reviewing key infection control hot spots specific to healthcare, and discussing how reduce their risk

3/11/2016



Joint Commission updates sentinel event statistics

Most frequently reported types of events and the most frequently identified root causes are included

3/11/2016



Are hand dryers germ spreaders?

New study says they do more harm than good

3/11/2016



ERs working to improve autistic patients' experience

More healthcare facilities are adding comfort aids, quiet waiting rooms

3/11/2016



Indiana hospital disarms its police officers

IU Health La Porte's security force was disarmed when Community Health Systems officially took ownership of 80 percent of the facility

3/10/2016



Antibacterial properties of graphene-oxide explored

Coating medical instruments and devices in the carbon-based material could help to reduce infections

3/10/2016



Minnesota hospitals best-rated rooms

Five hospitals were recognized by patients for having the cleanest rooms

3/10/2016



Do armed guards make health facility pharmacies safer?

Fifty-two percent of hospital security guards currently carry handguns, according to a 2014 International Healthcare Security and Safety Foundation report

3/9/2016



Creating a good first impression for a senior care facility

A good way to ensure a positive impression is by thinking of all of the five senses

3/8/2016



Keeping elderly patients safe and secure

Video interview discusses the issues associated with providing a safe environment for patients with memory and other issues

3/7/2016



Today's smoke evacuators clear surgical smoke at the source

Latest devices can be affordable, quiet and effective

3/7/2016



Lean initiatives can help healthcare facilities' environmental services' bottom line

A recent survey reported that most healthcare environmental services leaders have felt pressure to keep costs down

3/7/2016



Study finds increase in use when hand sanitizer is located in hospital lobby

Placing alcohol-based hand sanitizers in front of the visitor entrance increases visitor usage by 528 percent

3/7/2016



Height-adjustable bathroom fixtures can make life easier for people with mobility challenges

Fixtures have been designed to allow quick and easy height and position adjustability

3/6/2016



Ways healthcare facilities can reduce their environmental footprint

Industry urged to lead the way on climate change

3/4/2016



Hospitals to cut purchases of furniture with antimicrobials

The Safer Chemicals Challenge is created to reduce the use of five chemicals in healthcare facilities

3/4/2016



Cardiovascular care facility removes fabrics to boost infection control

Allegheny General Hospital's new $26 million cardiovascular care facility has minimal linen and no curtains

3/4/2016



Selecting a healthcare facility's uninterruptible power supply

UPS units regulate voltage when imaging equipment is in use, ensuring scans are successful and the facility does not lose power

3/4/2016



Designing a biocontainment unit

Early involvement of the frontline staff is crucial to creating a unit that meets the complex safety, operational, and psychological needs of clinicians, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website

3/4/2016



Preparing for the emergencies in a healthcare facility

The challenge is to strike a balance between creating a secure facility and maintaining an open, welcoming environment

3/3/2016



Lighting company testing fixtures that can kill bacteria

Researchers determined a wavelength of light — 405 nanometers — can kill bacteria by creating a reaction that’s identical to pouring common household bleach on it

3/3/2016



Q&A on interior finish

In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about interior finish

3/3/2016



ES staff forms choir to boost patient engagement

The University of North Carolina Hospitals Environmental Services Gospel Choir has changed the perception of what the housekeeping team is capable of doing

3/3/2016



Throwback photo of disaster planning

St. Louis hospitals revise disaster planning after tornado

3/2/2016



Low-voltage infrastructure important for healthcare facilities

A seamless activation of information communication technology systems is possible, but requires planning, collaboration and expertise

3/2/2016



Hospitals need dependable and cost-efficient power

Most hospitals operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and must deal with a unique set of regulations and technical requirements

3/1/2016



Benchmarks for hospital room cleaning times

Hospital room cleaning-time benchmarks should be specific with regard to room type, cleaning procedure and whether isolation precautions were present

3/1/2016



Study says copper surfaces destroy MRSA

Contamination often occurs via fingertips, drying rapidly unlike visible droplets

3/1/2016



N.Y. hospital security manager puts safety first

Retired police senior investigator now at Putnam Hospital Center in Carmel

3/1/2016



N.C. gets $9 million mobile disaster hospital

Federal Surplus Property has donated the FEMA-authorized mobile hospital unit to the state’s Office of Emergency Medical Services

3/1/2016



 
 
 


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