- October 2014

Florida nursing home cited for rats

Citrus Gardens, in Fort Myers, Fla., was cited by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for a rat infestation, according to an article on the Long-term Living website

10/31/2014



Laundry council backs CDC Ebola guidelines

The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) is advising healthcare laundries to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on processing Ebola-related linens

10/31/2014



Fire-rated door frame Q&A

In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about fire-rated door frames

10/31/2014



Legionella: An 'everyone' issue

Long-term solutions for treating Legionella in your building water systems

10/31/2014



Identifying Legionella issues starts with setting a baseline through culturing

Culturing is the process of collecting water samples and testing them for the genus species Legionella pneumophila

10/31/2014



Take a photo tour of Canadian mental health facility

Southdown Institute was designed as a healing retreat that takes advantage of the tranquility of the surrounding landscape. The building is situated around a central courtyard featuring a stand of mature white pines, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website.

10/31/2014



Chris O'Brien Lifehouse is Australia's first comprehensive cancer care facility

In addition to its advanced treatment program, Lifehouse has a modern and open design, which sets a new benchmark for patient comfort

10/31/2014













Hospitals review infection control practices amid Ebola fears

Experts say renewed education and training efforts may lead to more hospitals revamping their protocols and being more prepared in the future

10/30/2014



Temporary staffing in healthcare security

Careful planning can help ensure that regardless of the situation, it's business as usual

10/30/2014



Ebola risk management tips for healthcare facilities

Internal risk management strategy should include the establishment of policies, training and demonstrable due diligence

10/30/2014



Blighted Los Angeles hospital rebuilt after challenging history

New Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital rebranded with humane and welcoming design

10/30/2014



Green initiatives gaining favor with hospitals

Sustainability believed to be a deciding factor for patients when choosing hospitals, survey says

10/30/2014



N.Y. prison expands medical facility

$32 million expansion of the Mohawk Correctional Facility designed to be safer and more cost-effective

10/30/2014



Health system switches to meats without unnecessary antibiotics

Morrison Healthcare Partners with Health Care Without Harm in serving meat and poultry without unnecessary antibiotics

10/30/2014













Optimizing lighting and HVAC control can save money

Light and HVAC play a critical role in creating an ideal healing environment

10/29/2014



Facilities professionals must communicate how they contribute to the organization as a whole

The evolving healthcare industry may offer new opportunities for facility managers prepared to take advantage of them

10/29/2014



Health center planned for Brooklyn cultural district

The facility won't have physicians'offices or waiting areas. Patients will check in at kiosks and go directly to an exam room, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website

10/29/2014



Download free whitepaper on hand hygiene

Paper on Infection Control Today website discusses the effects of hand hygiene on skin

10/29/2014



About one in six doctor visits will be virtual in 2014

Virtual visits are expected to save $5 billion this year

10/29/2014



Cancer center includes 'quiet room'

Comprehensive Care Center within Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., has a space for contemplation

10/29/2014



New hospital planned for booming Texas region

Memorial Hermann Health System plans 80-bed facility in Cypress

10/29/2014













Mandatory Ebola quarantine criticized

Doctors Without Borders, the New Jersey chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology disagree with the states' actions

10/28/2014



New emergency department designed with smaller waiting rooms

Providence Hospital's expanded emergency department will register and triage patients in private rooms

10/28/2014



Lenox Hill HealthPlex opened in former maritime building

New York health facility takes over ground floor of the 1964 headquarters of the National Maritime Union

10/28/2014



Expert on designing for elderly talks about long-term facility innovation

In a Q&A on the Environments for Aging website, Lorraine G. Hiatt talks about new ideas for environments and design

10/28/2014



Controlling allergies in a long-term living facility

A blog on the Long-Term Living website offers five environmental tips to surviving allergy season

10/28/2014



Oklahoma hospital begins to rebuild after tornado

A new $29 million hospital is being constructed to replace a Moore facility destroyed by a tornado

10/28/2014



Testing can help clarify wayfinding system

Munson Medical Center's process improvement exercises helped pinpoint problems in their signage and communication, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website

10/28/2014













Prevent winter pest problems

As colder weather drives pests indoors, integrated pest management minimizes the risk of infestations

10/27/2014



London STD clinic designed to overcome stigma

Facility has a boutique-like, inviting atmosphere defying preconceptions

10/27/2014



N.C. continuing care retirement community tackles expansion

Aldersgate CCRC in Charlotte played to its strengths, recognizing land as its greatest asset, according to an article on the Environments for Aging website

10/27/2014



Longitudinal thinking can optimize healthcare projects

Architects must optimize the delivery outcomes for healthcare building clients

10/27/2014



Denver's Saint Joseph Hospital includes interventional platform floor

Cardiac cath lab, electrophysiology lab and endoscopy services are located near each other on one floor

10/27/2014



Pittsburgh facility ups hand-hygiene compliance to nearly 100 percent

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian initiative includes education and accountability measures

10/27/2014



Georgia Medical Center keeps grounds green all year

Northwest Georgia Medical Center in Gainsville wins gold award in the landscaping competition, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website.

10/27/2014













NYC healthcare workers readying for Ebola

Workers urged to calm rampant public fears over Ebola

10/24/2014



California healthcare district cutting hospital construction costs

Tehachapi Valley Healthcare District may be able to cut a $23 million shortfall to $5.8 million

10/24/2014



Successfully integrating BIM in hospital construction

Article offers 10 ways building information modeling can benefit the healthcare industry

10/24/2014



How loudness affects the hospital environment

As technology and devices become more prominent, the bed rest required for a full patient recovery is being compromised by a rapidly emerging challenge: noisy surroundings

10/24/2014



Healthcare design survey stresses efficiency

Health Facilities Management and the American Society for Healthcare Engineering of the American Hospital Association surveyed healthcare architecture, facilities and construction professionals about trends in healthcare design

10/24/2014



Florida health center project based on collaboration, Lean design

Tradition Medical Center team philosophy: 'Start smart, design smart, build smart'

10/24/2014



Liquid oxygen transfilling Q&A

In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about liquid oxygen transfilling operations

10/24/2014



N.J. bill would give power-restoration priority to healthcare facilities

Electric companies say healthcare facilities are already among the first customers they consider when getting service back to normal after an extended outage

10/24/2014













Hospital security departments bracing for Ebola impact

Hospitals are re-examining their plans to ensure they are prepared to meet the challenges

10/23/2014



Twin Cities hospitals help anchor local food movement

Most medical centers and colleges have come together to broaden their collective impact by purchasing more local goods and services

10/23/2014



Modular construction booming in healthcare

Despite benefits, modular construction but not for every project

10/23/2014



UK hospital criticized for filthy conditions

Patient sat on a pressure cushion covered in previous patient's feces for a week, according to family

10/23/2014



Delaware's health facility built on military tank assembly site

One project challenge was reusing a portion of the original assembly plant, according to an article and photo tour on the Healthcare Design website

10/23/2014



Facility managers feeling effect of healthcare industry changes

Industry veteran says facility managers need to stay involved or risk being left behind

10/23/2014



Western Massachusetts hospital earns LEED HC Gold

The project's brownfield site was once a rope mill and included salvageable brick and other materials that were incorporated into the new structure

10/23/2014











CDC issues stronger standards for Ebola healthcare workers

Updated protocols include personal protective equipment that covers the entire body and leaves no skin exposed

10/22/2014



Ebola units have few rooms

Only four hospitals in the country have high-level containment units and each has the capacity to treat only a handful of Ebola patients at once

10/22/2014



Long Beach hospital may be partially or completely razed due to Sandy damage

New owner will decide if any part of the hospital is salvageable and develop plans for opening a free-standing emergency department

10/22/2014



Maintaining Joint Commission accreditation

Various state agencies utilize Joint Commission accreditation as a condition for Medicare payments, so accreditation is even more important with the Affordable Care Act

10/22/2014



San Antonio hospital energy investments save money

Sky Tower at University Hospital includes an array of energy-saving technology and building materials

10/22/2014



Energy measurement best practices for healthcare

Effective measurement and control can help ensure healthcare facilities get the best return on their energy investments

10/22/2014



UK hospital patient dies after dietary mistake

Croydon University Hospital staff gives patient solid food instead of liquids

10/22/2014



Competition encourages design innovation for cancer patients

Designers asked to consider frequent, long hospital stays; parental presence and a space appropriate for infants to teenagers, according to Healthcare Design website

10/22/2014













Ebola preparedness urged for clinics

Stand-alone clinics need to prepare themselves for patients with Ebola-like symptoms

10/21/2014



Healthcare community focuses on healthy lifestyle

Nevada senior development to offer healthcare services and lifestyle perks

10/21/2014



Ebola raises concerns over infection controls

The track record of the nation's hospitals in controlling other infections suggests a lot of them aren't prepared

10/21/2014



First U.S. hospital built on a community college campus

Holy Cross Germantown Hospital is open on the Montgomery College campus in Germantown, Md.

10/21/2014



Iowa hospital works to decrease patient falls

Horn Memorial Hospital, Ida Grove, was one of three Iowa hospitals to be recognized by the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative for their success in significantly reducing their patient fall rate

10/21/2014



Improving hand-washing compliance

Hospitals are adopting direct observation, education and creative signage initiatives to increase hand washing among staff

10/21/2014



On-site corporate clinics becoming more common

On-site clinics can help control employee healthcare costs and attract and retain talent, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website

10/21/2014













OSHA issues Ebola guidance

The agency is being urged to move forward with an infectious-disease rule initiated in 2010

10/20/2014



Healthcare construction at seven-year high in Twin Cities

Activity linked to shift from inpatient to outpatient care

10/20/2014



Appropriate technology key to hospital security

The goal should be balancing the need for a secure environment and allowing staff and visitors to move through a facility without too much hassle

10/20/2014



What determines a wet procedure location?

If no risk assessment is completed by the facility for the operating room, the room is considered a wet procedure location by default, according to a blog by Krista McDonald Biason

10/20/2014



Detroit hospital considers outsourcing housekeeping

Move is part of a trend by hospital systems in Southeast Michigan and elsewhere

10/20/2014



Fiber optic cable Q&A

In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about fiber optic cable

10/20/2014



Making the most of a multi-tenant outpatient facility design

The right facility design can be instrumental in healthcare economics

10/20/2014













Ebola a workplace issue for healthcare facilities

Hospitals focusing on training, communication to diminish risk and worry

10/17/2014



Facility conditions key to controlling spread of viral hemorrhagic fever

Many of the hosts that carry hemorrhagic fever viruses are rodents

10/17/2014



Saskatoon hospitals warn of thefts

Hospitals advise greater precautions to deal with thefts from patients

10/17/2014



What if a flu pandemic were to happen tomorrow?

As part of a pandemic plan, hospitals should work with a security provider to focus on crowd control and restricted access or 'lockdowns'

10/17/2014



Hospital commits to reducing its carbon footprint

George Washington University Hospital will source enough zero-emission solar power to cover about one-third of its energy needs

10/17/2014



Hospital security a growing concern

Shootings, privacy breaches and theft are just some of the challenges that hospitals face daily

10/17/2014



Community health beyond just the data

According to a blog on the Healthcare Design website, focus groups, interviews and ethnographic studies can help clarify community needs

10/17/2014













Health officials discussing designated Ebola hospitals

Bellevue Hospital Center has agreed to take confirmed cases of Ebola from the 11 hospitals within the New York City Health and Hospitals Corp.

10/16/2014



CDC's how-to on treating Ebola safely

New York Times article includes instructions, charts and graphics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

10/16/2014



Nurses at Dallas hospital say there were no Ebola protocols

Union says guidelines were constantly changing on how to deal with the virus

10/16/2014



Housekeeping leader at senior care facility honored

Monique Walker, director of housekeeping Vi at Grayhawk, recognized with 'Managers of Distinction' Award

10/16/2014



TriRivers Health Partners installs integrated power management system

System supports healthcare IT requirements and electronic health record storage

10/16/2014



Many nursing homes still lack sprinklers

A total of 385 facilities in 39 states fail to meet requirements set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

10/16/2014



Manhattan medical center tailored for men

Preston Robert Tisch Center For Men's Health created an environment where men would feel comfortable in both sickness and in health, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website.

10/16/2014













Hospitals can learn from Dallas' Ebola mistakes

U.S. hospitals are concerned that more Ebola patients will emerge, pushing them to buy more protective equipment, build new isolation rooms

10/15/2014



Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center FM honored

Brian Tallmadge recognized with 'Managers of Distinction' Award

10/15/2014



Hopes realized seven years after Michigan hospital installs vegetative roof

Project enhances sustainability efforts as part of the hospital's stormwater management

10/15/2014



Winning facility design for men 'strong but vulnerable'

Men's clinic designs' role in preventative care discussed in a blog on the Healthcare Design website

10/15/2014



Choosing patient-unit flooring

A flooring mock-up can be an ideal way to show all the options

10/15/2014



Waste containers Q&A

In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about waste containers

10/15/2014



Surgical fire prevention strategies

Between 550 and 650 surgical fires occur each year in the U.S.

10/15/2014













New case raises questions about treating Ebola in all hospitals

CDC considering whether patients with the virus should be transferred to hospitals with special containment units

10/14/2014



Free 'Building Commissioning for Hospitals' webcast Thursday

Webcast will include an in-depth examination of how existing building commissioning can be used to identify system improvements in hospitals to boost utility savings and capital ROI

10/14/2014



Full-scale health village planned in Nevada

An acute-care hospital will be the first facility built in Henderson's $1.2 billion Union Village

10/14/2014



Firefighting in hospitals takes specialized training

One of the most complicated types of facilities that a firefighter will ever respond to is a healthcare center

10/14/2014



Hues for healthcare spaces

Color influences mood and can be a tool to shape the patient and guest experience

10/14/2014



Designing a welcoming waiting room

Today's patients want a waiting room that is inviting and that makes them feel valued

10/14/2014



Ohio State University opens cancer emergency department

Department has private negative air flow treatment rooms, in which cancer patients can be placed in isolation to reduce exposure to infectious diseases

10/14/2014



University of Delaware health facility built on brownfield

Healthcare Design website posts photo tour of redevelopment project

10/14/2014













White House blogs about preparing for Ebola

The blog was cross-posted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 'CDC Director Blog'

10/13/2014



Infection-control problems found in Connecticut hospital

Community Health Services cited for inadequate handling of patients who arrive with a cough, fever or rash; unsanitary conditions and poor sterilization procedures

10/13/2014



Protecting healthcare workers from splash exposures

Splashes occur during workers' daily activities like emptying suction cups, spraying bedpans or changing fecal tubes of catheters

10/13/2014



Ensuring health facility firewall integrity

Constant construction, renovation and maintenance projects in hospitals can lead to compromises in firewall barriers

10/13/2014



Connecticut hospitals gear up for Ebola

Hospitals in the region say they have quarantine rooms at the ready

10/13/2014



When Ebola is suspected but not confirmed, linen should be left in the room until test results are obtained

If the tests show the patient is not infected, the linen can be processed according to regular procedure, if the patient has the virus, the linen should be discarded and treated as regulated medical waste

10/13/2014











A day at a Liberian Ebola clinic

An article in The New York Times examines a single day at the newly opened Ebola treatment center run by the International Medical Corps.

10/10/2014



Stabbed surgeon calls for safety boost in Australian hospitals

Secure entrances for hospital staff, restricted access to wards and regular security patrols of public areas urged for facilities

10/10/2014



Outstanding healthcare environmental services professionals honored

Honorees recognized for making a difference for patients and long-term care residents

10/10/2014



Virgin Island hospitals to be revamped to save energy

Some of the energy saving measures applied to the hospitals could save nearly $5 million annually

10/10/2014



California hospital gets seismic safety reprieve

New law allows Sutter Memorial Hospital to operate until Sept. 1, 2015 without meeting state earthquake safety rules

10/10/2014



CDC: Discard Ebola patient linens as regulated medical waste

CDC lists laundry and housekeeping staff as 'healthcare personnel' who should follow its recommendations during cleaning and disinfection activities

10/10/2014



Less (space) can be more with emergency department efficiency

While it seems counterintuitive, an ED staff can be more efficient in fewer treatment spaces

10/10/2014













Skilled nursing facility creates own TV station

Archie Hendricks Sr. Skilled Nursing Facility honored for technology that helps residents feel part of the nursing home and native communities

10/9/2014



Copper coated hospital beds help combat possible infections

UK hospital replaces high-touch surfaces - including bed rails, cabinet handles, chair arms, hand rails, switches and taps - with copper

10/9/2014



Successful healthcare project delivery starts right on day one

From design to operation, getting it right from the start getting it right

10/9/2014



New $25 million rehab center planned for Grand Rapids

Spectrum Health's replacement facility designed to have a more homelike setting

10/9/2014



Medical recliners can help providers with ACA requirements

Recliners with an 'open design' let fluids slip and fall to the floor. Swing-away arms and removable seats allow easy cleaning access to all chair parts.

10/9/2014



Facility design may attract, keep physicians

Physician support spaces can improve the patient experience, according to a blog on the Healthcare Design website

10/9/2014



Single-use device reprocessing saves money and the environment

When hospitals discard items that can be reprocessed, they perpetuate the problem by creating unnecessary landfill waste

10/9/2014













U.S. nearing solution on Ebola waste issue

Experts warn that conflicting regulations could make it difficult for hospitals

10/8/2014



Case study: Long-term value for VA healthcare campus

Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Wilkes Barre, Pa., added several patient-focused improvements to campus

10/8/2014



Vermont facility designed for privacy

Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington to add 128 single-occupancy rooms

10/8/2014



Behavioral health facility wins design award

University of Arizona Medical Center facility has received a citation in Modern Healthcare's 2014 Design Awards

10/8/2014



VA New Orleans replacement medical center has self-sustaining power plant

Plant has enough capacity for the campus to operate independently for up to five days in case of natural disaster

10/8/2014



U.S. has the healthcare system to stop Ebola

America has the facilities and equipment, public sanitation and communications infrastructure to contain outbreak

10/8/2014



Kaiser Permanente renovation celebrates Oakland location and relationship with city

Take a photo tour of the Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center on the Healthcare Design website

10/8/2014



Hand hygiene improves with monitoring

Study says healthcare workers' hand-hygiene compliance is better when other workers are present

10/8/2014













Feds may be lowering safety standards for Ebola waste

The Healthcare Coalition for Emergency Preparedness (HCEP) says the government will be lowering standards for disposing of Ebola waste in Dallas

10/7/2014



Calif. guv OKs one hospital workplace safety bill, vetoes another

Gov. Jerry Brown signed bill which imposes new requirements on hospitals for workplace violence plans and reporting

10/7/2014



Designing a better patient experience

Healthcare facilities focus on physical spaces to aid healing, satisfaction

10/7/2014



Take a photo tour of new Oregon women's health center

Facility in Grants Pass uses natural materials to emphasize both beauty and durability and has a water feature that uses reclaimed roof water in one of the gardens, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website.

10/7/2014



Health system initiative to reduce red-bag waste

Inova Health System launches more aggressive waste-segregation and education strategy

10/7/2014



Book calls for detoxing healthcare

'Greening Health Care: How Hospitals Can Heal the Planet' says the healthcare industry produces waste and emissions that can make people sick

10/7/2014



CMMS success rests on having a plan, goals

Before installing a computerized maintenance management system, a facility needs a comprehensive view of how the system will function

10/7/2014













Hospital security can help contain Ebola virus

Policies and personnel can play a role in preventing the spread of Ebola

10/6/2014



Conducting business: collaboration and collocation in the locker room

By harnessing the opportunities created by technology and processes, project team members can increase their chances for establishing cohesiveness to ensure project success

10/6/2014



Parkland offers lessons in practical design

The massive Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas has a sense of appropriateness instead of excess, according to a blog on the Healthcare Design website by Executive Editor Jennifer Kovacs

10/6/2014



Indiana health network forms its own police force

Parkview Health in Fort Wayne is first network in the state to have it's own force

10/6/2014



Environmental services 'secret weapon' against HAIs

Scientist says environmental services staff rarely appear on the radar of hospital administrators except when there's a need for budget cuts

10/6/2014



Scottish hospital not clean enough for HEI inspectors

Inspectors found contaminated linen on 'ready to use' patient beds

10/6/2014



Managing health facilities after a merger

As more health systems consolidate, facilities managers are seeing the emergence of centralized facility management

10/6/2014













Dealing with infectious disease

Issues hospitals should consider before handling an Ebola patient

10/3/2014



Hospital's rebirth in New Orleans

Nine years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans East Hospital opened on the site of the former Pendleton Methodist Hospital

10/3/2014



Electronic surveillance cuts death rates, study says

The use of an electronic physiological surveillance system correlated with two United Kingdom hospitals slashing mortality rates by more than 15 percent over the course of a year

10/3/2014



Temporary staffing in healthcare security

Careful planning can help ensure that regardless of the situation, it's (safe and secure) business as usual for your hospital

10/3/2014



Lego blocks used to help design Canadian healthcare center

Designers of new $12 million facility in rural Saskatchewan gathered input with the help of Lego

10/3/2014



Electrical closets Q&A

In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about electrical closets

10/3/2014











UK hospital chlorine contamination sparks police investigation

Two patient deaths are linked to contaminated water with chlorine levels 16 times higher than accepted as safe

10/2/2014



Study says shark-skin-inspired surface helps control MRSA

Coating surfaces with microscopic bumps could limit the transmission of bacterial infections

10/2/2014



The Quiet Zone: Controlling noise and improving privacy in hospitals

Since 2007, the quietness of patients' rooms at night has been the lowest-rated satisfaction marker nationwide

10/2/2014



N.C. health providers team up to cut costs

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, WakeMed Health & Hospitals and Vidant Health have formed a shared-services operating company

10/2/2014



R.I. healthcare organization repurposes manufacturing space

Retrofit includes modulating boilers, packaged rooftop units

10/2/2014



Integrated care can benefit from psychiatric facility design

Providing treatment for both medical and psychiatric illnesses in one location can be beneficial to the patient as long as the space is designed for safety, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website

10/2/2014













Technology infrastructure can reduce costs and improve patient care

Implementing an intelligent technology infrastructure is one of the new wave of conservation measures

10/1/2014



Long-term care facilities plugging into electric charging stations

Charging stations for electric cars among facilities' newest amenities, according to an article on the Long-Term Care website

10/1/2014



Knowing the impact and costs of chemical disinfectants

The introduction of more specialized chemical disinfectants to combat Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms or MDROs and other pathogens, places us squarely in an environmental contradiction: we are making environments increasingly unfriendly to both pathogens and people

10/1/2014



Survey names 10 cleanest Dallas hospitals

Facilities chosen from Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey data

10/1/2014



Replacement hospital planned after tornado

Norman Regional Health System will build a $29 million medical facility to replace the Moore Medical Center

10/1/2014



Adelante Healthcare CEO talks about the future of community healthcare

Q&A on the Healthcare Design website explores explores industry challenges and plans for the future

10/1/2014













 
 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.