Information Technology - March 2013
Nashville hospital announces multi-year renovation
Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., has launched a $110 million multi-year modernization project of existing space and construction of a new inpatient tower.
3/26/2013
Loma Linda University Medical Center opens new women's cancer center
Loma Linda (Calif.) University Medical Center opened a new Women's Cancer and Surgical Oncology Center on March 21, bringing gynecology and surgical oncologists together with medical and radiation oncologists under one holistic, tech-savvy roof.
3/26/2013
Mississippi hospital announces HIPAA breach
The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) officials have announced a HIPAA breach at the hospital caused by a missing laptop computer.
3/25/2013
American Hospital Association to move into new space in D.C.
The American Hospital Association (AHA) has signed a lease at the mixed-use CityCenterDC development in downtown Washington, D.C. The AHA will occupy approximately 42,000 square feet when it moves into its new space in September 2014.
3/22/2013
Private equity firms see profit in growing trend of urgent care clinics
Private equity firms are funding the ongoing expansion of medical walk-in clinics across the U.S., and with profits expected to grow with healthcare reform, there is no end in sight.
3/21/2013
Facilities team plays role in ambulatory surgery center joint venture deliberations
The facilities department can provide important strategic information that should be considered prior to a hospital embarking on an ambulatory surgery center joint venture.
3/20/2013
New HIPAA regulations include vendors as responsible parties
New Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, which expand the scope of responsible parties to include vendors who contract with healthcare companies, are set to take effect on March 26.
3/19/2013
Extending deadline for nursing home sprinklers open for comment
A proposed deadline extension for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) requirement that all nursing home facilities have automatic sprinkler systems by August 13 is open for comment.
3/19/2013
BIM aids early completion of children's hospital
Construction has been completed early on the new seven-story patient care tower at Children's Hospital of Orange County due, in part, to the use of BIM technology.
3/18/2013
More than 8,000 hospital safety violations now publicly searchable
A searchable database of federal safety rule violations at about 1,000 hospitals since 2011 is now available.
3/18/2013
Experts debate effectiveness of antibacterial soap on infection prevention
While experts agree hand washing is an important tool to stop the spread of infection, there is some debate over what type of soap is most effective for consumers and healthcare professionals alike.
3/15/2013
ASHE offers course in healthcare facility commissioning
The American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) is offering a two-day course designed to specifically address the commissioning process in healthcare facilities.
3/13/2013
IT is key to managing healthcare costs, says former president
Speaking March 6 at the annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) convention in New Orleans, former President Bill Clinton suggested information technology could be the key to controlling rising healthcare costs.
3/8/2013
Healthcare food service company vows to improve patient nutrition
Morrison Healthcare Food Services today announced further company commitments to better nutrition at the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) 2013 Building a Healthier Future Summit.
3/7/2013
CDC outlines plan to halt spread of CRE in healthcare facilities
The CDC announced an updated plan for healthcare facilities to deal with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can lead to deadly healthcare-acquired infections.
3/6/2013