Sustainable Operations - September 2014
Hospital pillows can harbor pathogens
Thirty-eight percent of pillows retained infection-causing pathogens after disinfection
9/30/2014
Experts say US hospitals unprepared for Ebola waste
Waste management companies are refusing to haul away the soiled sheets and Ebola virus-spattered protective gear
9/30/2014
N.J. utility honored for hospital efficiency
PSE&G recognized for its $3.7 million energy-energy efficiency effort at Trinitas Regional Medical Center
9/30/2014
Edmonton hospital fighting influx of flies
Misericordia Hospital says flies don't pose any health risk
9/29/2014
Five operating room cleaning checklists
Routine disinfection is associated with significant reductions in surgical site and other patient infections
9/29/2014
Ontario health system introduces guest meal program
Family members and visitors on all inpatient units at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital can order meals
9/29/2014
Critical power management systems vital for health facilities
A CPMS monitors and controls emergency generator sets, circuit breakers, transfer switches and other emergency power system equipment
9/29/2014
Minneapolis hospital reportedly used unsterilized equipment
Abbott Northwestern hospital use potentially dangerous instruments in four surgeries
9/26/2014
Broken bed alarm blamed in patient's death
Man died after he became disoriented and left his hospital room at UCSD Medical Center
9/26/2014
Derry renal facility honored for environmental services
Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry, Ireland, was honored in a Best Kept Healthcare Facility competition
9/26/2014
Boomers reinventing senior food service
Care organizations are recognizing that seniors want flexibility and variety in dining, according to an article on the Environments for Aging website
9/26/2014
Best hand-hygiene practices for a healthcare facility
Proper hand washing can help healthcare workers fight germs, bacteria and disease
9/26/2014
Earthquake-retrofit costs lead to closing of L.A. hospital
Temple Community Hospital closed its doors, citing low revenue and increasing costs of maintaining its aging building
9/25/2014
UAE hospitals don't spend enough on infection control
Experts say that healthcare managers are reluctant to spend spend money on infection control because they don't receive direct revenue from the investment
9/25/2014
Control valve tamper switches Q&A
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about control valve tamper switches
9/25/2014
Hospitals trimming energy costs with demand response programs
The demand response strategy typically pays users for reducing their demand
9/25/2014
Healthcare center blamed for man's mushroom poisoning
Family says Cordilleras Mental Health Facility neglected to maintain a safe environment
9/24/2014
Seniors' food preferences and attitudes spark chef's creativity
Long-term living care is moving from institutional meals to fresh, local and organic food offerings, according to an interview on the Long-Term Living website
9/24/2014
Rural hospitals closing without ACA money
Four rural Tennessee hospitals have closed and dozens are at risk because of the state's decision not to join the Affordable Care Act
9/24/2014
Retail urgent care retailers increase access
Facilities part of shift in the way healthcare is delivered
9/24/2014
Palm Springs hospital unveils emergency phone system
Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Calif., unveiled a new satellite system that will back up existing hospital phones
9/24/2014
Preventing Clostridium difficile infections
Updated cleaning guidelines offer tips for fighting infection
9/24/2014
Connecticut health facility honored for energy efficiency
Day Kimball Healthcare recognized for renovating its infrastructure
9/23/2014
Nurses demand more ER security personnel
Nurses at Tri-City Medical Center call for a range of reforms
9/23/2014
Color-coded sheets to aid to infection control efforts
New Delhi hospitals to end use of white linens
9/23/2014
Irish hospital removes religious statues for infection control
The removal of two religious statues from wards at Gorey District Hospital tied to health and safety concerns
9/23/2014
California apartment complex adds health clinic
Complex joins healthcare system to run a 'wellness corner'
9/22/2014
Faulty CCTV system prevents hospital assault probe
Internal security system at Galway University Hospital problematic despite large investment
9/22/2014
Preparedness key to containing outbreaks
The evolution of prevention and protocols in Canadian healthcare industry are keeping pace
9/22/2014
Computerized maintenance management system a facility safety tool
A CMMS can help ensure that all environmental services staff members are trained to the same standards of cleaning
9/22/2014
California nursing home settles suit over asbestos violations
Wallboard from patient rooms at Salinas facility contained asbestos
9/19/2014
California hospital gets energy efficient outdoor lighting system
NorthBay VacaValley Hospital's system includes dimmable LEDs and motion sensors, including a new type of long-range microwave sensor
9/19/2014
FEMA offers resources for digital disaster prep
Agency app includes access to disaster safety tips, an emergency kit list, emergency meeting location information and a map with open shelters
9/19/2014
Healthcare systems move away from flame retardants in furniture
Advocate Health Care, Beaumont Health System, Hackensack University Medical Center and University Hospitals will stop purchasing furniture treated with flame retardant chemicals
9/18/2014
Ambulance staff says hospital ramping could have fatal consequences
Ambulance Employees Association complains of persistent ramping at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia
9/18/2014
Videos push hand hygiene
Videos from CDC, others encourage hand-washing at healthcare facilities
9/18/2014
Sustaining quality improvement in environmental services
Study showed that immediate performance feedback in addition to monthly face-to-face data reports was the most effective
9/18/2014
Maintaining, improving a plastics recycling program
After a recycling program has been running awhile, it's a good idea to revisit the numbers and replace initial assumptions with actual data to determine the program's financial impact
9/18/2014
Tennessee clinic rolls out 'Healthcare on Wheels'
Chattanooga Primary Care's mobile medical facility designed to serve industries and businesses
9/17/2014
Managing waterborne infection risks
Hospitalized patients at high risk for infection should avoid exposure to hospital water and use sterile water instead
9/17/2014
Ebola, HAIs boost sales of infection-control software
Infection-control technology moving off the back burner, according to a survey from Black Book
9/17/2014
Flammable liquid storage Q&A
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about the storage of flammable liquids
9/17/2014
Military offers lessons for dealing with mass casualties
Iraq and Afghanistan show five ways hospitals can prepare for attacks, disasters
9/17/2014
Ohio hospital postpones surgeries for cleaning issues
Adena Regional Medical Center postponed surgeries until further notice after the operating room team found staining on surgical towels
9/17/2014
Linen loss is an $840 million problem
Nearly 90 percent of all linen used in U.S. hospitals does not reach its useful life
9/16/2014
$18.5 million rehab center set in Wisconsin
Campus to include a rehab center, long-term living facility and community center
9/16/2014
How to stop viruses from contaminating buildings
Contamination of just a single doorknob or tabletop can result in the spread of viruses throughout healthcare facilities
9/15/2014
UV robots battle HAIs
UV-C light, a part of the UV spectrum, can kill pathogens like C. diff and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus that cause HAIs
9/15/2014
Kaiser Permanente taps more solar power
System to increase solar capacity with installations in Hawaii and at the Oakland Medical Center in California and Hidden Lake Medical Offices in Colorado
9/15/2014
Complying with proposed fire safety regulation changes
CMS's proposed adoption of the 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code to simplify fire safety compliance
9/15/2014
Survey names 10 cleanest Chicago hospitals
Facilities chosen from Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey data
9/12/2014
Gloucestershire hospitals to save 500,000 pounds a year with green efforts
Carbon emissions will also be cut by 1,789 tons a year, a reduction of 30 percent
9/12/2014
Maryland hospital builds combined heat and power plant
Energy efficiency project is expected to save Upper Chesapeake Health $9 million over 20 years
9/12/2014
Tampa General improves facility with LED lighting and digital controls
LED lighting was chosen for nurses stations, corridors, exam rooms, conference rooms, the lounge and the waiting room
9/12/2014
Benchmarking called critical to energy management
ASHE offers resources for sustainable operations
9/12/2014
Photo tour of hospital food around the world
Images on Imgur site illustrates the range of typical hospital meals from 17 cities
9/11/2014
Mobile healthcare facility created in van
Families First Health and Support Center in Portsmouth, N. H. to use the van to bring services to the homeless, low-income individuals and seniors
9/11/2014
Texas hospital gets $500,000 rebate for energy efficiency
University Hospital Sky Tower designed to use 20 percent less energy
9/11/2014
Info offered on scabies management in healthcare facilities
An isolated case of scabies must be managed correctly to prevent the infestation spreading
9/11/2014
Rediscovering integrated building systems
Buildings need the flexibility to change and adapt to new needs and conditions
9/11/2014
Ebola survivor says supply shortage puts hospital staff at risk
Lack of hazard suits and other supplies called a danger to doctors and nurses safe
9/10/2014
Ontario hospital honored for going greener
Lakeridge Health in Port Perry an Energy Conservation Champion
9/10/2014
New Jersey hospital investing in urgent care
Lourdes is the latest N.J. hospital to invest in an urgent care center
9/9/2014
More hospitals focusing on sustainability, report shows
Hospitals are trying reduce their environmental footprint, lower costs and improve the health of patients and staff, according to a recent report
9/9/2014
Preventing common health facility accidents
Keeping workers from becoming complacent about safety rules key
9/9/2014
Magazine names two ES Departments of the Year
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital honored
9/9/2014
Hospital parking changes raise safety concerns
Parking to be banned on streets around facility
9/8/2014
Linen chute door Q&A
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about linen chute doors
9/8/2014
Determining sustainability's value
Going green becoming central to many health system's mission
9/8/2014
Bedside tech part of the healing process
Touchscreen technology, on-demand content and user guides are being widely used to support patient care
9/5/2014
California hospitals prepare for Ebola while stressing low risk
Recommendations for hospitals include private rooms for patients and protective coverings for staff
9/5/2014
Is your hospital earthquake ready?
California law's goal is not just that hospitals remain structurally sound after an earthquake - they must remain operational
9/4/2014
For a healthcare data center, redundancy is key
Data center downtime can mean lost revenue and the inability to access life-saving information, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
9/4/2014
HAIs finding new routes of transmission
Hospital computers, cell phones and other new technologies carrying infections
9/4/2014
Key hand-hygiene strategies include easy access to sanitizer
When hand hygiene products are easy to access, compliance with requirements improves
9/4/2014
Window film can balance comfort, energy savings
Film improves building system performance, patient and staff comfort and energy use
9/4/2014
Healthcare workers go on strike over Ebola safety fears
Healthcare workers at a large state-run hospital in Sierra Leone have gone on strike over pay and hazardous working conditions
9/3/2014
Long Island High school opens health center
Longwood High School facility offers free access to healthcare
9/3/2014
Planning can limit the impact of severe weather on food costs
The impact of California's drought has been low for most hospitals, where strategies have been implemented to minimize the damage
9/3/2014
Ebola guidance for environmental infection control released
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released an interim guidance
9/2/2014
Hospitals cut costs with energy efficiency efforts
Energy efficiency called a largely untapped area for cutting costs
9/2/2014
N.Y. hospital focuses on worker safety
Rome Memorial Hospital initiatives have resulted in a 29 percent reduction in workplace injuries
9/2/2014
Hospital focus shifting to outpatient strategies
Efficiencies and market demand are driving the change
9/2/2014
Violence in hospitals called rare but difficult to stop
South Jersey hospitals have had three incidents of fatal gunfire this year
9/2/2014
Quiet Kit helps raise patient satisfaction scores
Dignity Health hospital distributes kit to all patients throughout its system to give them more control over their environment
9/2/2014