Sustainable Operations - August 2013
WHO hand hygiene strategy feasible and sustainable
Two-year study showed marked improvement at multiple sites around the world
8/30/2013
Federal News Radio interview focuses on healthcare quality improvement through IT
Discussion offers practical ways to improve outcomes and reduce costs
8/29/2013
Focus on patient's role in hospital safety
Encouraging assertiveness can diminish risk in an effective safety culture
8/29/2013
Rockford hospitals lauded for storm readiness
Three hospitals and 48 public schools recognized by The National Weather Service
8/29/2013
Pennsylvania health system's plant upgrade saves millions in energy costs
Installation of combined heat and power (CHP) system can benefit environment as well as help bring down healthcare costs
8/28/2013
Free decontamination self-assessment offered
Hospitals can download free tool to evaluate their own procedures
8/28/2013
Sweeping changes: Hospitals focus on cleaning services
Janitors are on the front lines of crucial infection control
8/28/2013
Doctors in Dubai will soon prescribe (Android) tablets
Hospital patients will have technology at their fingertips
8/28/2013
High-tech hospital room monitors more than entertainment
Patients can order meals, talk to nurses nurses and view X-rays
8/27/2013
AAMI releases free wireless information resource
Compilation of articles can help avoid mistakes when introducing wireless technologies into healthcare facilities
8/27/2013
Hospital disaster preparation evolves
Emergency preparedness grants fuel activity after Hurricane Sandy and Boston bombings
8/27/2013
Floor-care primer: Starting at the bottom
Tips for care and repair of four major commercial flooring categories
8/27/2013
High-tech equipment used to reduce infant abductions
Ankle-band transmitters help Virginia hospital staff keep babies safe
8/26/2013
Infection prevention techniques that work
Planning, vigilance, isolation, thorough cleaning help hospital keep HAI in check
8/26/2013
New Jersey utility helping area hospitals save energy
Upfront funding makes upgrades possible for cash-strapped facilities
8/26/2013
Hospital dining room rehab tastes immediate success
Brooklyn Hospital Center's emphasis on fresh and healthy food stations boosts traffic 14 percent
8/26/2013
Foundation awards grant to study hospital patient falls
Researchers will try to identify design elements that may contribute to mishaps.
8/23/2013
Survey says: Cleaning industry is cautiously optimistic
P&G Professional poll includes more than 400 cleaning professionals from healthcare, food service, commercial and hospitality sectors.
8/23/2013
Survey says: Cleaning industry is cautiously optimistic
P&G Professional poll includes more than 400 cleaning professionals from healthcare, food service, commercial and hospitality sectors.
8/23/2013
Real-time location services can save time and improve care
Cost-effective technologies can help in emergencies situations as well as efficient equipment scheduling.
8/23/2013
More signs are not always right direction in wayfinding
Color, texture and simple language can ease patient journey through medical facility.
8/23/2013
Whose responsibility is hospital safety?
When it comes to hospital safety, experts say patients should question cleanliness to prevent infections.
8/22/2013
Wireless body area networks open up health care and consumer possibilities
BANs have transformed patient monitoring and offer opportunities for athletics and person fitness.
8/22/2013
Registries helped track infections in health care facilities
Regional patient registries may be useful in tracking the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections between health care facilities.
8/22/2013
Grant helped Alabama hospital realize five-figure annual energy savings
Providence Hospital reduced annual energy consumption by 15% with energy efficient LED fixtures
8/21/2013
Infections may be getting two surprise foes
Research suggests that copper surfaces and cold plasma could be weapons against bacteria
8/21/2013
Report helps facilities departments speak finance
Report provides healthcare facilities departments with benchmarking tools to help them communicate effectively with finance-focused senior management.
8/21/2013
Location may trump numbers for hand rub dispenser effectiveness
According to a study in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, at a certain point increasing the number of hand rub dispensers is less important than their location in encouraging use.
8/20/2013
HHS says photocopiers should be part of data security review
As part of the announcement that Affinity will pay a more than $1.2 settlement for a breach of security, The Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights says that healthcare organizations need to consider photocopy machines when examining their data security.
8/20/2013
Hospitals building coalitions to ensure business continuity
Hospitals are forming coalitions to respond collaboratively to disasters, partly because federal funding is linked to joint efforts to deliver effective health care during an emergency.
8/20/2013
Paris hospital deploys outdoor wayfinding kiosks
A Paris hospital has installed 20 full- and semi-outdoor wayfinding kiosks to enhance visitors' experience and reduce the need for staff to direct wandering visitors.
8/19/2013
New Jersey legislator pushes medical waste legislation
A New Jersey legislator pushes medical waste legislation after syringes washed up on Island Beach State Park earlier this month.
8/19/2013
Case study: The role of environmental hygiene in lowering hospital infections
A new case study examines the role of improved environmental hygiene in lowering infections and raising HCAHPS Scores at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, Ill., near Chicago. Communication with patients also plays a role.
8/19/2013
NFPA drops new emergency power requirement
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has dropped a requirement for adding an indicator light on each receptacle on emergency power.
8/16/2013
Testing fire alarms is critical part of installation
Testing to ensure newly installed fire alarm systems are working correctly is a critical part of the installation process.
8/13/2013
Boston bombing tests area hospital's disaster response plans
The Boston Marathon bombings tested the disaster response plans of the Boston Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as other local hospitals.
8/11/2013
Ultrasound accepted for fire system pipe testing
There is more than one method to comply with NFPA 25, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems' internal pipe testing requirements.
8/9/2013
Mass notification systems can aid overall hospital communications
Healthcare organizations are increasingly using mass notification systems, originally intended for emergency situations, for other critical communications.
8/6/2013
Healthcare facilities employ varied tactics for better acoustics, noise control
Healthcare facilities have begun to focus more on privacy, noise control and acoustics not only to meet HIPPA mandates for patient confidentiality, but also to increase patient satisfaction.
8/5/2013
Free webcast offers cleaning best practices for infection control
"Infection Control: Breaking the Chain of Infection," will provide an in-depth understanding of universal practices and methods in combating the spread of infection in a variety of settings.
8/2/2013