Sustainable Operations - May 2020

Creating an N95 mask disinfection facility for less Than $15,000

Health system is offering a free instruction manual

5/29/2020





Houston hospital installs touchless temperature cameras

The cameras can scan whoever crosses their path, alerting users instantly if an elevated temperature is present

5/29/2020



A million N95 masks is not what it used to be

In normal, pre-Covid-19 times, that would be a large supply. Now, not so much.

5/28/2020



Aspergillus mold discovered again at Seattle Children’s hospital

The hospital has had mold issues for nearly 20 years and has been linked to seven deaths

5/28/2020



Mattresses choices can help with COVID-19 infection control

Many healthcare facilities use porous mattresses that may allow the virus to enter the medium and contaminate them

5/28/2020



Resiliency can assure a safe environment of care

Energy resiliency remains the key factor in maintaining normal operations

5/28/2020



Cleaning for healthy workplaces during pandemic

Focus on cleaning and disinfecting common areas where staff and others providing services might come into contact with ill persons

5/28/2020



Equipment and environment need infection control attention

Coronavirus can remain on surfaces long after a patient infects a certain area or item

5/28/2020



Lessons From South Korea on the role of infection control in flattening the curve

South Korea has incorporated hospital infection control as a core component of its national COVID-19 containment strategy

5/27/2020



What labs can teach us about safely returning to offices

Research has shown that buildings with poor indoor air quality (inadequate ventilation, filtration or humidity control) can promote the spread of airborne bacterial or viral infections

5/27/2020



CDC says COVID-19 does not easily spread from contaminated surfaces

But it appears that the virus can spread from people to animals

5/27/2020



The CDC releases official reopening guidelines

Document came about two weeks after the White House reportedly tabled the guidelines

5/26/2020



N.C.’s pandemic medical shelter to go dormant but won’t be dismantled

The shelter can be made ready to take patients within four or five days

5/26/2020



Infection prevention and control in the hospitals of Wuhan

Shelter hospitals have higher risks of nosocomial infection than general hospitals

5/26/2020



Sustainable hospital design reduces environmental impact while improving performance

By focusing on details such as building orientation, sustainably-sourced materials, better water systems, and increased daylighting, architects can design hospitals that are mindful of the environment

5/26/2020



What Ghana has to teach US healthcare

The level of healthcare in Ghana is currently very low, whereas the level of healthcare in the U.S. is considerably higher, but they are facing the same concerns

5/26/2020



Hospital cutting food waste and cost

Providence Health trimming unnecessary food expenditures

5/26/2020



Hospitals use online matchmakers to exchange supplies

Online platforms have emerged to match hospitals that need masks, gowns and ventilators with those that have extras

5/22/2020



US says it won’t use Russian ventilators after deadly hospital fire

Russia stopped using them following a fire in a St. Petersburg hospital that killed five patients with Covid-19

5/22/2020



Nursing home won't allow granny cam in resident's room

Family asking for camera during Covid lockdown

5/22/2020



Hospital procedural change blamed for 6 nurses testing positive

Syracuse hospital told nurses it was no longer necessary to wear N95 masks and that surgical masks are enough

5/22/2020



Mastering the master planning process

Evolving market requires new master planning approaches

5/22/2020



Areas outside nursing home resident rooms key to infection control

Residents have frequent contact with staff and the environment outside of their rooms

5/22/2020



Documenting pandemic poses safety challenge

Photographer is documenting the coronavirus pandemic through the eyes of patients and staff

5/21/2020



20 years of closing hospitals in N.Y. hampers capacity during pandemic

State and healthcare leaders eliminated 20,000 hospital beds over the past two decades

5/21/2020



Illuminating the importance of emergency and exit lights

Facility managers should understand the role of emergency and exit lighting and the importance of maintaining these units

5/21/2020



Effective surface preparation key to successful painting projects

Managers who understand the importance of ensuring that workers perform effective surface preparation are more likely to produce successful applications

5/21/2020



Technology can boost hand-hygiene compliance by 45%

The study, originally featured in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) stated that hand-hygiene compliance rates provided by the traditional direct observation method did not accurately reflect baseline rates.

5/21/2020



Ventilator examined after fires kill six in Russia

Some of the ventilators have been sent to the United States, though not used

5/20/2020



Florida strengthens COVID-19 testing in longterm care facilities

The orders require nursing homes and assisted-living facilities to allow the Florida Department of Health into their buildings for infection control and conducting COVID-19 testing

5/20/2020



Wisconsin nursing home took aggressive steps to halt coronavirus

Autumn Oaks Assisted Living in Slinger once faced four active cases of coronavirus

5/20/2020



Impact of superbugs on infection control strategies

Currently, superbugs cause twice as many deaths in the U.S. as they did six years ago

5/20/2020



Experts suggest public restrooms and offices should be re-engineered to control infections

Hand washing can be useless if people have to touch unclean surfaces

5/19/2020



CMS draft guidelines for reopening nursing homes

Some industry officials and infection-control experts are worried that moving too fast could increase the risks

5/19/2020



Early planning of fire safety systems can saves time, money

Fire suppression and alarm systems, fire protection water supply and life safety features should be planned for before construction begins

5/19/2020





Hospitals struggle to restart elective care after shutdowns

Reopening will be difficult with the threat of more infection

5/18/2020



Pa. had plan to protect nursing home during pandemic that was never fully implemented

A more limited effort wasn’t activated until mid-April, long after major outbreaks had already taken hold

5/18/2020



Nursing homes, veterans’ homes are Covid-19 hotspots

Long-term care facilities are the overlooked epicenters of the pandemic.

5/18/2020



Legionnaires' plan: Prevent, detect, treat

Legionnaires’ disease remains a top priority in effective plumbing and restroom maintenance

5/18/2020



Location technology: The next investment for healthcare

Location-based security technology is a win for both staff and patients

5/18/2020



Environmental monitoring tracks temperature and humidity to maintain safety

Humidity levels play a role in the safe storage of vaccines, medications, blood and lab samples

5/15/2020



Long-term care facilities opening dedicated COVID-19 units

The COVID-only wings will be cordoned off from the rest of the facilities and have their own entrances and dedicated staff

5/15/2020



Pa. health official says state won’t supply protective equipment to hospitals that resume elective surgeries

The priority has shifted to nursing homes, where most of the state’s COVID-19 deaths have occurred

5/15/2020



Feds consider relaxing infection control in U.S. nursing homes

The longterm care industry's residents and workers are currently overwhelmed by the coronavirus

5/14/2020



Many hospitals now sanitize and reuse masks

One agency of the federal government is allowing for 20 cycles of cleaning for a single mask. Another suggests three.

5/14/2020



National Guard disinfects George hospitals

30 National Guardsmen recently sanitize the Phoebe Putney Hospital cancer center

5/14/2020



Wealthy hospitals have a cushion to weather coronavirus crisis that safety-net facilities don’t

Cancellations of nonessential surgeries come with the coronavirus patients

5/14/2020



Study: Hand-washing better at killing flu than sanitizer

Hand-washing is better even without soap

5/14/2020



‘Scandal’ cast donates meals to South Side Chicago hospital

Roseland Community Hospital’s food service department has been shut down since March

5/13/2020



‘Tele-Triage’ models designed to keep patients and clinicians safe

Virtual care in emergency departments also can support security and workflow

5/13/2020



Tech can help healthcare facilities guard against disaster

Keeping health IT systems up and running is critical

5/13/2020



Field hospitals occupy flood zones despite warnings

E&E News identified 16 facilities in flood zones using FEMA online flood maps

5/12/2020



Face masks and hand sanitizer stolen from Indiana hospital

Theft shows they’re now as sought-after as drugs

5/12/2020



COVID-19 – Creating a rare convergence of market need and technology

A new technology can now be incorporated in a traditional LED panel fixture using nanometer materials for antiseptic and anti-virus air-cleaning

5/12/2020



Project offers a look behind the curtain at WELL, Fitwel, and LEED

A recent project shows how sustainability and health and wellness complement each other

5/12/2020



Antibiotic resistant co-infections: A silent killer in COVID-19 patients

Hospitals are trying to keep pace with COVID-19 and the resulting drug-resistant secondary bacterial infections

5/12/2020



Finding the right technology for your facility

How FMs choose and implement technology has a profound impact on the long-term operations of a building

5/12/2020



Study says coronavirus may linger in the air in patient bathrooms, staff areas

Researchers also found the concentration of the virus' genetic material in isolation wards and ventilated patient rooms was very low

5/11/2020



Study finds healthcare construction training is lacking

Only 52 percent of those surveyed said that owners of healthcare projects always or often required construction teams to receive training

5/11/2020



Designing and operating secure emergency facilities

The first step is to conduct a realistic threat assessment

5/11/2020



Maintaining a sustainable future for your healthcare facility

It's not a 'step-one-and-done' process; the ROI can have everyone seeing green

5/11/2020



Prioritize indoor environmental quality

Optimize the indoor environment while minimizing impact on the outdoor environment and global resources

5/11/2020



Texas hospital turns cafe into pop-up market for employees

Medical Health Center Health System facility’s café saw uptick in business

5/8/2020



Advanced medical tents replace triage tents at Md. hospitals

The medical tents can be connected to the hospital’s electric power but also include a generator

5/8/2020



New decontamination center in Los Angeles allows N95 masks to be reused 20 times

The cleaning chamber began operating in early May

5/8/2020



Infection control efforts start with EMS personnel

A study found that EMS practiced hand hygiene before patient contact in just 7 percent of assessments

5/8/2020



Can rice cookers decontaminate face masks?

Investigators found that the appliance can decontaminate cloth masks

5/7/2020



Successful technology selection and implementation

Separating shiny new gadgets from systems that deliver when selecting new technology

5/7/2020





N.Y.C. hospitals overflowing with bodies

FEMA is sending 85 refrigerated trucks

5/6/2020



Infection control measures failing in Colorado elder homes

Banning visitors, new rules for infection control and increased testing haven’t stopped spread of COVID-19

5/6/2020



Oklahoma hospital's eight nurses are also the janitors

The nurses, along with an office manager and a part-time maintenance worker, are the only remaining employees

5/4/2020



Coronavirus’s impact on healthcare IT: Part Two: Supporting real-time needs of hospitals in crisis

Network segmentation, or social distancing for your medical devices

5/4/2020



Ultrasonics can power infection control in nonwovens

Nonwoven fabrics are key in the battle to prevent the spread of infection

5/4/2020



Chicago-area hospitals using tracking technology to monitor hand hygiene

Healthcare providers only wash or sanitize their hands about half as much as they should

5/4/2020



Hospital system using technology to reduce staff’s' coronavirus exposure

Video tools can also cut down on the use of vital personal protective equipment

5/1/2020



Philly officials condemn improper transfer of bodies in pickup truck

The incident involved the movement of five or six cadavers to the Medical Examiner's Office in University City

5/1/2020



Sink design can affect infection control efforts

Relatively shallow bowls and aerators can spread microbes

5/1/2020



Hawaii using fogging equipment to disinfect equipment for healthcare facilities

Fog can reach hard-to-reach areas that are not practical to reach with a wiper

5/1/2020



During crisis, critical power plan is a must for the smaller medical facility

COVID-19 could affect supply chain long after the pandemic subsides

5/1/2020



 
 
 


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