Sustainable Operations - July 2015
'Bedbugs' at Texas hospital turn out to be fleas
Midland Memorial Hospital officials call pest discovery an isolated incident
7/31/2015
Establishing a facility hygiene plan
Having a plan helps organizations can address critical elements that can contribute to environmental hygiene issues
7/31/2015
Hospital IT problems prevent elderly patients from ordering meals
Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth was the first in western Australia to implement a digital medical record system and bedside computers to order food
7/31/2015
Florida hospital sewage leak threatened patient safety
Venice Regional Bayfront Health's response to a large sewage leak at the hospital called inadequate
7/30/2015
Qatar women's healthcare facility restricts patient room decorations
Hospital cautions the public against decorations and other unsafe practices to ensure a clean and safe environment
7/30/2015
Savannah hospital has system to prep for hurricanes
St. Joseph's/Candler tracks hurricanes while coordinating efforts with other groups
7/29/2015
Women impersonating staff rob N.C. nursing home residents
Two women who wore hospital scrubs allegedly stole jewelry from residents at two Cary retirement communities earlier this month
7/29/2015
Healthcare facility cleaners protesting Vancouver Coastal Health practices
Ex-Aramark employees were expecting to be rehired to cleaning positions within Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) but didn't make the cut
7/29/2015
Washington hospital installs 'hyper-efficient' HVAC system
Whidbey General Hospital's variable refrigerant flow systems save energy and use less ductwork than traditional systems
7/29/2015
Hospital lowers C. diff rates by switching cleaners
St. Luke's Boise (Idaho) Medical Center moves away from beach and start using a bundled approach with a different cleaner
7/28/2015
Determine long-term energy efficiency by analyzing systems
Healthcare facilities have health and safety requirements that make energy reduction difficult
7/28/2015
Q&A on security cameras in stairwells
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question on security cameras in stairwells
7/27/2015
Layered security and internal access controls for healthcare facilities
Each security layer is designed to delay an intruder or attacker as long as possible
7/24/2015
The certified energy manager's role becoming more important in healthcare
The new designation has been created in response to the growing need to manage complex energy projects
7/24/2015
Command centers are a planning necessity
A hospital command center should be set up for internal or external emergencies that would impact the facility's ability to provide patient care
7/23/2015
N.Y. healthcare facility to save $14.5 million with retrofit
Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira makes infrastructure improvements and equipment upgrades
7/23/2015
Partnering for infection prevention
Collaborative working relationships between infection prevention and control and environmental services can reduce rates of infection transmission
7/23/2015
Energy management platform concerns
Energy management platforms have undergone significant advancement and add a new level of intelligence to healthcare facilities
7/23/2015
Company bringing on-demand healthcare facilities to offices, homes
Service launched in Dallas-Fort Worth is providing on-site healthcare that can be delivered within a day's time at the tap of a button
7/22/2015
What defines indoor air quality in healthcare facilities?
Hospitals and healthcare facilities must comply with ASHRAE and other regulatory standards
7/22/2015
Maintaining a barrier management protocol in place
With a protocol in place, a healthcare facility is less vulnerable to vender mistakes
7/22/2015
Beyond disasters: Benefits of resilient design for healthcare
Resilient design can reduce operating costs and improve health and well being of employees and patients
7/21/2015
Health industry not adopting worker safety protocols
Report says that hospital executives have no plan of action for lowering injuries to nurses
7/21/2015
Q&A on blood draws in behavioral health corridors
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question on blood draws in behavioral health corridors
7/21/2015
Telehealth could be cost-saver in patient care
Studies expect growth in telehealth for home health care
7/20/2015
Digital signage uses in healthcare
When a visitor enters a healthcare facility, digital signage can engage and inform
7/20/2015
Fall prevention technology issues to consider
New products should be balanced with a complete fall prevention strategy
7/17/2015
Uzbekistan hospitals focus on safety and resilience
WHO/Europe is helping train national experts in applying the Hospital Safety Index
7/17/2015
Healthcare facilities need more cybersecurity personnel
New advances in the industry are creating a need for employees
7/17/2015
Safety issues raised soon after Australia hospital opening
Serious problems, including food safety issues, were reported at the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital
7/17/2015
Sterilization unit lapses cause Texas hospital to cancel surgeries
UMC of El Paso cancels elective and non-emergency surgeries after receiving a preliminary denial of accreditation
7/17/2015
Environmental services staff called essential to care team
Article discusses vital environmental services at healthcare facilities
7/16/2015
Alarm system fails in U.K. hospital fire
Patients and staff were evacuated from Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary following a fire as an alarm system failed
7/16/2015
Cameras in nursing homes popular with families
Nursing homes worried that cameras could compromise what little privacy and dignity residents have left
7/15/2015
33 staff at Oregon hospital hit by norovirus
Outbreak sickened more than 30 people working in the pediatric intensive-care unit of Doernbecher Children's Hospital
7/14/2015
Texas hospital increases security after two employees robbed
Two employees were robbed at gunpoint while sitting outside Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital in Humble
7/14/2015
Hospitals named to 2015's Most Wired list
The survey examines how organizations are leveraging IT to improve performance for value-based healthcare
7/14/2015
Tennessee reviews certificate of need process
Reform efforts aims to increase competition and spending among health care organizations
7/14/2015
White paper on germ-zapping robot available
Paper on Becker's Hospital Review website offers an evidence-based case for ultraviolet light disinfection
7/13/2015
Study explores cost of Ebola readiness
Researchers are examining the resources hospitals have used and the challenges and benefits of their efforts
7/13/2015
Q&A on sprinkler testing certification
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question on sprinkler testing certification
7/13/2015
Hospital ordered to tighten infection control after blood found on mops, footwear
Inspectors says standards need to improve at Scottish hospital in order to reduce the risk of infection
7/10/2015
Guaranteeing healthcare facility backup power
On-site backup power equipment can ensure reliability, safety and productivity
7/10/2015
Illinois hospitals prepare for tornadoes
Staffs monitor local weather and revisit and practice their emergency plans
7/10/2015
Thief dressed as hospital employee robs patient in hospital room
Elderly patient in Bridgeton, Mo., robbed of jewelry, purse
7/9/2015
Medical equipment maintenance demands more resources
New Joint Commission regulations and standards for maintenance were recently announced
7/9/2015
Illinois considers in-room security cameras for nursing homes
Illinois would become the fourth state in the U.S. to allow video and audio monitoring devices in nursing homes
7/9/2015
Surveillance/intervention boosts hand hygiene
Cameras positioned at hand-hygiene stations and immediate one-on-one intervention improves compliance
7/9/2015
High school students invent metal detector for hospital laundry
An alarm alerts employees to potential danger and the system automatically records the incident
7/8/2015
Fire service orders UK hospital to improve safety
Serious concerns relate to fire proofing materials in the hospital which do not meet the required 60-minute protection standard
7/8/2015
GPS devices can improve security for dementia patients
New study in Norway says patients experienced increased levels of physical activity using GPS devices
7/8/2015
OSHA healthcare inspections to target common injury causes
The agency is expanding its use of enforcement resources in hospitals and nursing homes
7/7/2015
Hospitals RFID chips focus on patient safety
University of Vermont Medical Center tracks medications, kits using radio frequency identification technology
7/7/2015
BlackBerry may go bacteria-free for hospitals
Company considering a bacteria-free smartphone to become the secure mobile choice for the healthcare industry
7/6/2015
Uniforms raise concerns at Perth hospital
A mandatory uniform for staff at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Australia has comfort and safety issues
7/6/2015
Report says hospital food can be a hazard
Hospital patients with special dietary needs could have allergic reactions or swallowing problems
7/6/2015
Pennsylvania hospitals boost patient security
Monongahela Valley, Uniontown hospitals implement new technology and increase visitor security policies
7/2/2015
Hospitals considering patient lifts face challenges
Retrofitting rooms with ceiling-mounted lifts would increase staff use of assist equipment
7/2/2015
Robots may improve healthcare efficiency
Robotics can provide additional capacity and capability to unmet needs
7/2/2015
Healthcare facilities find new funding sources for infrastructure upgrades
Federal tax programs and many state and local incentives are available
7/2/2015
Q&A on UL labels vs. an ETL labels
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question on UL labels vs. an ETL labels
7/1/2015