- May 2016
Hospital security guards indicted for patient death
Two former guards at MedStar Washington Hospital Center were charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 74-year-old patient
5/31/2016
What healthcare facility professionals need to know about the 2012 Life Safety Code
CMS has adopted the 2012 edition of NFPA 101: Life Safety Code® through a new rule changing its Conditions of Participation
5/31/2016
What healthcare facility professionals need to know about the 2012 Life Safety Code
CMS has adopted the 2012 edition of NFPA 101: Life Safety Code® through a new rule changing its Conditions of Participation
5/31/2016
Hospital workers prep with earthquake simulator
To prepare for 'the big one,' a Canadian hospital used the Shake Zone to replicate an earthquake
5/31/2016
Lean process improvements boost ICU workflow
Even the most efficient healthcare systems consist of hundreds of complex, inter-related processes
5/31/2016
Wi-Fi offers opportunities for device innovation
Many healthcare facilities struggle to keep up with connectivity expectations
5/31/2016
N.Y. children's hospital rethinks wayfinding with new facility
Golisano Children’s Hospital created a more cohesive wayfinding approach for its new facility, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
5/31/2016
Harris Williams & Co. advises Meadows Behavioral Healthcare on its Sale to Kohlberg & Company
5/31/2016
CBRE facilitates largest U.S. medical office monetization on behalf of a health system on record
5/31/2016
Dancing to the hand-hygiene tune
Hospital matron writes song to deliver hand-hygiene message
5/27/2016
Albuquerque hospital actively seeks locally grown produce, meats
Presbyterian Healthcare Services is seeking business relationships with New Mexican farmers and ranchers
5/27/2016
Sports medicine center design honored
Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center received the 2016 FAB Award for Healthcare
5/27/2016
Methodist Healthcare’s Memphis project starts as 'need' rule ends
Only one issue would still require approval in the $280 million project
5/27/2016
Lapses in infection control found at UCLA and Cedars-Sinai
Calif. state health inspectors focused on two of Los Angeles’ largest hospitals and found numerous safety violations
5/27/2016
OSHA may make hospital workplace injury data public
Hospitals would be classified as a 'high-hazard' industry
5/27/2016
Will new overtime regulations affect healthcare facilities?
New minimum salary level for the executive, administrative, and professional employee exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act will be $913 per week, or $47,476 per year
5/26/2016
Surgical equipment safety issues remain at Ann Arbor VA
Six months after particulate matter on surgical equipment temporarily stopped surgeries, concerns are again being raised
5/26/2016
What does the Internet of Things mean for healthcare?
Internet-connected devices can harness the power of big data analytics
5/26/2016
Healthcare televisions enable hospitals to offer patient-centric care
Hospitals are making investments in technology that improve care, support financial reimbursements, increase safety and reduce readmissions
5/26/2016
Clearing the air around hospitals
A collaboration in Charlotte, N.C., reduces air pollution at two medical construction sites
5/26/2016
Study focuses on design's impact on outpatient facility communication
Researchers offer strategies to encourage staff-patient interaction
5/26/2016
Hospitals urged to follow mold protocol
Investigators focusing on negative pressure room at UPMC Presbyterian
5/25/2016
Field hospital set up to serve workers restoring Canadian city after fire
Facility in Fort McMurray will have emergency services, a lab, pharmacy, X-ray and head CT
5/25/2016
EPA to finalize hazardous waste pharmaceutical disposal rule
Regulatory changes would provide new requirements for managing hazardous waste pharmaceuticals
5/25/2016
Mass. hospital equips some staff with walkie-talkies to call for help
OSHA told the for-profit psychiatric hospital to equip its staff with panic buttons and improve staffing levels
5/25/2016
Cleveland Clinic launches green revolving fund
The $7.5 million fund called the largest in healthcare
5/25/2016
From ambulance to ward with iPads
Devices are used when patients’ meals are ordered, mobile access to the patient files is needed
5/25/2016
Protecting healthcare workers from Zika during birth process
Birthing process exposes healthcare staff to patients’ body fluids
5/24/2016
Study says poor healthcare facility design may hurt nurses' performance
Design choices can make nurses feel unvalued
5/24/2016
Healthcare facility staff called key to patient safety
NPSF president says patient safety initiatives are everybody's business
5/24/2016
N.Y. bill would give healthcare facilities' security officers peace officer status
Bassett Healthcare Network’s security staff will be given certain powers while on hospital and clinic grounds or immediately adjacent properties
5/24/2016
N.Y. adult care facilities reviewing security after robbery
Emergency room at the Eastern Niagara Hospital in Lockport robbed by armed man
5/24/2016
Healthcare facilities encouraging wellness with on-site nutritional resources
Demonstration kitchens have become an innovative way for hospitals to engage the public in disease prevention and management, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
5/24/2016
Pa. hospital expands for expected increase in births
The quickest and most cost-effective solution was to redesign and expand the current space
5/24/2016
Howden American fan company offers jet fans and induction fans for parking garage ventilation
5/24/2016
N.Y. healthcare facility resident contracts Legionnaires' disease
A resident at an Auburn facility has tested positive for Legionnaires' disease and trace amounts of legionella have been detected in the water system there
5/23/2016
The value of sustainability in healthcare
Healthcare facilities that pursue sustainability initiatives find multiple benefits
5/23/2016
Healthcare video surveillance balances security and privacy
Footage captures anesthesiologist removing drug vials, but also exposes many female patients
5/23/2016
Venezuela’s failing hospitals lack reliable power, water supplies
At the University of the Andes Hospital there is not enough water to wash blood from the operating table
5/23/2016
Venezuela’s failing hospitals lack reliable power, water supplies
At the University of the Andes Hospital there is not enough water to wash blood from the operating table
5/23/2016
Architect sees greater interest in wellness
Healthcare Design talks to Perkins+Will’s Sharon Woodworth in a Q&A on its website
5/23/2016
A new approach to master planning
Healthcare organizations are aligning strategy with their desired role in the healthcare community
5/23/2016
DMS Health showcases state-of-the-art mobile healthcare clinic at annual Rolling Thunder Rally
5/23/2016
CDC links UPMC mold infections to improper use of negative-pressure rooms
CDC releases findings from its investigation into a cluster of fatal mold infections at two Pittsburgh hospitals
5/20/2016
Lebanon VA Center project creates a flexible therapy space
The Center for Veterans' Enterprises was created for residential rehab and outpatient veterans,
5/20/2016
Study lists high-touch OR areas
The CDC's recommendations to clean high-touch areas more frequently did not include surfaces in the operating room
5/20/2016
Managing fluid waste in the OR
Outpatient Surgery readers share tips on keeping ORs floors dry
5/20/2016
Carolina East Health System installs thin client workstations
System wanted to replace many of its physical desktops with thin clients and centrally manage applications and desktops
5/20/2016
Program helps healthcare facilities to reduce energy usage
Commissioning building stock is becoming a means of identifying energy-efficiency opportunities
5/20/2016
Program helps healthcare facilities to reduce energy usage
Commissioning building stock is becoming a means of identifying energy-efficiency opportunities
5/20/2016
Q&A on healthcare design for wellness
Healthcare Design talks to Mortenson Construction's Larry Arndt in an article on its website
5/20/2016
PDIHealthcare announces launch of Prevantics Device Swab Strip, designed with convenience in mind
5/20/2016
Live white python falls from ceiling in Tacoma hospital
The snake spent a month slithering around Tacoma General Hospital
5/19/2016
CMS, Joint Commission adopting 2012 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code
Groups will begin surveying to the 2012 version of the National Fire Protection Association’s 101 Life Safety Code as of July 5
5/19/2016
CMS, Joint Commission adopting 2012 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code
Groups will begin surveying to the 2012 version of the National Fire Protection Association’s 101 Life Safety Code as of July 5
5/19/2016
Washington boosting healthcare facilities' security after escapes
Two patients escaped and another two went missing from the state's psychiatric hospitals in one week
5/19/2016
Mayo Clinic investing in Fla. healthcare facility
The nation’s biggest healthcare organizations are focusing on Florida
5/19/2016
NIST design guide could impact healthcare cybersecurity
NIST released a guide for IT developers on integrating security measures into the development process
5/19/2016
Groups promote caregivers' role in design
'Guiding Principles for Building the Hospital for the Next Generation' says operations and facility design must be mutually supportive
5/19/2016
Architect talks about 'designing for wellness'
In an interview on the Healthcare Design website, Jocelyn Frederick, Tsoi/Kobus & Associates, calls designing for wellness a complex process of balancing the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the built environment
5/19/2016
The Waterfall event center features endless skylight provided by Super Sky, finished by Linetec
5/19/2016
Milwaukee hospital adds dogs to security team
St. Joseph's Hospital adds dogs to help keep patients safe and calm
5/18/2016
Texas healthcare system opens more 'patient-friendly' facility
CHI St. Joseph Health hospital's emergency and trauma center features a more comfortable space and improved amenities
5/18/2016
Antibacterial soaps, disinfectants and antiseptics can result in more bacteria
Triclosan and triclocarbon are the ingredients to avoid
5/18/2016
Strategic dispenser placement key for hospital hand hygiene
Research shows that hand-hygiene dispensers have an impact on compliance rates
5/18/2016
CDC launches campaign to improve hand-hygiene compliance
The 'Clean Hands Count' campaign promotes compliance by addressing myths about hand hygiene
5/18/2016
Caregivers develop careers in healthcare facility design
Nurses hired by designers to provide a clinical perspective on healthcare facility projects
5/18/2016
Making a wellness connection
Forgoing the traditional healthcare environment, Columbus (Ind.) Regional Health set out to serve the health and wellness needs of young urban professionals, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
5/18/2016
Linetec 'Select and Spec' samples available at AIA and online at its Architectural Resource Center
5/18/2016
FDA cancels recall of superbug-linked scope cleaners
Hospitals still must not use the reprocessors in question to disinfect some endoscopes
5/17/2016
Oakland hospital building an energy-efficient acute care tower
The new building plan includes low-emissivity glazing, smart air-conditioning zones and long-life lighting
5/17/2016
Nurses are being recruited to contribute to healthcare facility design
Despite their knowledge of the environment, nurses have not always been included in the design process
5/17/2016
Hospital's surveillance cameras identify woman stealing baby
A woman turned herself in to police after allegedly stealing a newborn baby from Louisiana hospital
5/17/2016
How to measure the value of wellness efforts
To measure the results of wellness initiatives in the built environment, HDR has created a wellness dashboard tool, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
5/17/2016
LIGHTFAIR International 2016 was largest trade show to date and broke West Coast attendance record
5/17/2016
Plug-and-Play LED lamps from Lunera Lighting used for GSA Green Proving Ground program report
5/17/2016
CMS ruling lets ASCs operate as timeshare properties
Dual-licensed surgery center opens in Colorado
5/16/2016
N.H. hospital looks outside to improve facilities management
Huggins Hospital outsources organization and management of hospital operations and maintenance
5/16/2016
Injunction to stop demolition of Boston Children’s Hospital healing garden rejected
Plaintiffs include physicians and family members of patients who’ve used Prouty Garden
5/16/2016
Visuals show where to place hand-sanitizer dispensers in healthcare facilities
When it comes to hand sanitizer dispensers, location matters more than quantity
5/16/2016
Good healthcare facility design depends on cooperation
Healthcare organizations should integrate all major departments during the design process
5/16/2016
Creating a patient watch program
Appropriate staffing, training, collaboration and contract language can help ensure the safety of patients, clinicians and security officers
5/16/2016
Healthcare facility wellness resources
As part of its recent focus on healthcare facilities' contribution to wellness, Healthcare Design included some resources in an article on its website
5/16/2016
Biloxi VA facility opens textile processing facility
The new facility marks the first time since Hurricane Katrina that the medical center is processing its own textiles
5/13/2016
Benefits of wireless access control in a healthcare facility
Key cards, PINs, passwords and biometrics are just a few of the options available
5/13/2016
Facility management critical to infection control
Overlooking facility design, operations and management could prove costly
5/13/2016
HDTV system gives Steward Health Hospital quality entertainment to enhance patient experience
HD programming provides home-away-from-home comfort for patient satisfaction
5/13/2016
Safety violations cited in hospital construction injury
A worker was injured while building an above-ground power plant
5/13/2016
Cleveland health system campus designed for wellness
The MetroHealth system's new mission is “leading the way to a healthier you and a healthier community,” according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
5/13/2016
Pennsylvania’s Crozer-Chester Medical Center’s 40-foot-diameter skylight finished by Linetec
5/13/2016
Ninety percent of California’s acute care healthcare facilities are no longer at risk of collapse during an earthquake
Buildings at six rural critical access hospitals remain on the state’s list of structures most likely to collapse in an earthquake
5/12/2016
Cross-contamination prevention tips
Infection preventionists discuss top infection threats and solutions
5/12/2016
Healthcare facilities management can curb spread of super bugs
Report says effective facility design, operations and management can cut infections
5/12/2016
Toronto hospital an all-digital healthcare facility
Humber River is North America's first all-digital hospital
5/12/2016
Keeping diseases out of healthcare facilities
When staff and vendors take specific steps to prevent infection, rates can decrease by more than 70 percent.
5/12/2016
Children's hospital designed for access to nature
Shriners for Children Medical Center outpatient clinic is being built in Pasadena, Calif., with connections to the outdoors in quantities almost equal to its clinical space, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
5/12/2016
Joint Commission recently OK'd deletion of 131 requirements
The deleted requirements have become a routine part of operations
5/11/2016
Healthcare accounts for 23% of all data breaches
The number of breach victims tripled in the last two years
5/11/2016
Nursing homes working to protect wandering dementia patients
Two Eastern Iowa facilities faced combined fines of $17,000 last year for allowing residents to wander away
5/11/2016
Enhancing patient satisfaction and provider efficiency in healthcare with in-building wireless
A successful healthcare operation incorporates reliable and efficient communication among all parties
5/11/2016
Oklahoma healthcare facility readies for reopening three years after tornado
An EF-5 tornado destroyed the former Moore Medical Center
5/11/2016
Hospital staff climbing to wellness
Children’s Hospital Colorado South Campus includes a glass stair tower that offers the staff a space for both respite and exercise, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
5/11/2016
U.S. hospitals with cleanest rooms ranked
Eighty-nine percent of patients report that their room was always clean
5/11/2016
HVAC industry's air curtains expected to help U.S. fight oncoming mosquito-borne Zika virus
5/11/2016
An 18-year-old invents copper pajamas to fight MRSA
10 million MRSA bacteria on a copper surface will shrink to 0 in an hour
5/10/2016
Minneapolis healthcare facility looks like an Apple store
University of Minnesota Health Clinics and Surgery Center was designed to be more of an experience than an ambulatory site
5/10/2016
Keys to healthcare facility staff food and drink
The Joint Commission doesn't currently have specific standards
5/10/2016
Cleveland health system transforming campus and community
Health and wellness trends are inspiring the planning, design and construction community to create environments that help providers deliver on that mission, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
5/10/2016
Boosting efficiency in healthcare retail foodservice
Speed of service has become just as important as food quality for a healthcare facility foodservice operator
5/10/2016
Holiday Inn opens on Cleveland Clinic campus
Hotel offers patients and their families a more affordable alternative to nearby hotels
5/10/2016
Meet the microbes living on your hospital floor
While hospitals maintain strict protocols for minimizing infections and the spread of microbes, facility managers may be overlooking a prime area of concern
5/10/2016
Valspar's Fluropon Effects Rustica coatings offer natural colors with a weathered, antique look
5/10/2016
Boston healthcare facility includes a room for highs
Boston Health Care for the Homeless opens a room where drug users can ride out their highs under medical supervision
5/9/2016
Operating room fire reveals lapse in safety planning
Lack of prevention plan called 'jeopardy situation'
5/9/2016
Real time location systems in healthcare
A number of drivers point to its usefulness for providers and patients
5/9/2016
Psychiatric hospital design caters to different populations
North Tampa Behavioral Health deals with voluntary and involuntary hospitalizations, according to an article on the Behavioral Healthcare website
5/9/2016
Hospitals urged to consider worker safety when choosing a disinfectant
NIOSH received a complaint asking for a health hazard evaluation at a hospital because employees were reporting adverse symptoms
5/9/2016
Legionnaire’s disease – challenges and solutions
Healthcare facilities could spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on cleansing the contaminated water system and containing a public relations nightmare
5/9/2016
NFPA to offer life safety specialist certification for healthcare facility professionals
Certification recognizes advanced knowledge of life safety in healthcare; code compliance in facilities
5/6/2016
Integrating security into healthcare design
Security plans for individual healthcare facilities should begin before a project even breaks ground
5/6/2016
CMS publishes final rule on fire safety requirements for certain healthcare facilities
The rule adopts updated provisions of the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code (LSC) as well as provisions of the NFPA’s 2012 edition of the Health Care Facilities Code.
5/6/2016
Invading pigeons don't stop Calif. hospital construction, but funding issues could
It took several weeks to get birds out of the ceiling work, and a hazmat team to clean out the debris
5/6/2016
Invading pigeons don't stop Calif. hospital construction, but funding issues could
It took several weeks to get birds out of the ceiling work, and a hazmat team to clean out the debris
5/6/2016
Muskegon hospital will use Lean design for $271 million medical center
The center will bring all of Mercy Health's inpatient services together at one location
5/6/2016
Hospital has Vancouver Island's largest array of solar power
The panels and installation cost $320,000
5/6/2016
Tips for more effective maintenance planning and scheduling
Effective maintenance planning and scheduling will deliver a safer and more cost-effective work environment for an asset-intensive facility
5/6/2016
CISCA presents Construction Excellence Awards to two projects featuring ROCKFON ceiling systems
5/6/2016
Video games used in hospital safety training
Hospital staff will be trained using goggles that allow them to see the computer-generated facility 360 degrees around them
5/5/2016
Alberta funding more healthcare facility maintenance
Rapid transfer unit for ambulance patients at University of Alberta hospital to be permanent
5/5/2016
'Sanctuary' sculpture inspired by disaster at Okla. hospital site
Artist took inspiration from the events surrounding the EF5 tornado that destroyed the Moore, Okla., hospital in 2013
5/5/2016
Hospital project setting energy conservation standards
British Columbia healthcare facilities designed to be the most energy efficient in the province
5/5/2016
Review of the HHS/CMS fire safety requirements completed
The proposed rule would incorporate much of the 2012 NFPA codes, but also makes exceptions
5/5/2016
Healthcare data security perimeter should be at server level
Leading cause of data breach incidents in healthcare facilities is lost or stolen end-user devices
5/5/2016
Worker protection guidelines for Zika
CDC recommends use of personal protective equipment and hand-hygiene
5/4/2016
Doctor fired for hiding spy pens in bathroom to catch thief
The doctor, who also faces criminal charges, said he hid the cameras to catch the person who'd stolen his prescription medication and a camera
5/4/2016
Researchers develop an anti-biofilm nano coating
Coating can prevent destructive bacterial biofilm from forming on metal surfaces
5/4/2016
Hotel concept designed to reduce the stress of hospital stays
Patient Hotel at Copenhagen’s Rigshospitalet is a relaxing place to stay for those undergoing treatment
5/4/2016
Modernizing disaster response plans for 2016 and beyond
Disasters necessitate frequent reviews and revisions to disaster and emergency response plans
5/4/2016
Entering the male-dominated healthcare facility management
Woman discusses how she got started in healthcare facility management
5/4/2016
Emergency department physical changes respond to operational needs
The ED is often an initial access point into a system-of-care and a significant touch-point for patient care
5/4/2016
Expert blames all Ebola outbreaks on infection control lapses
Staff, stuff, systems and space are needed to combat infections in healthcare deficient areas
5/3/2016
Designing to support healthy lifestyles
Health systems are beginning to focus more on becoming wellness destinations, according to an article on the Healthcare design website
5/3/2016
Standby systems for hospital campuses
Hospitals and data centers have difficult requirements for electrical systems
5/3/2016
Healthcare system adding microwave meals to food service
Officials say it will mean greater choice and less waste
5/3/2016
Meijer adding medical clinics inside more stores
Retailers partner with healthcare providers to meet people where they are in Wisconsin and Michigan
5/3/2016
Preventive maintenance can help healthcare facility budget
Facility managers must proactively manage the maintenance needs of his or her facilities
5/3/2016
Boston hospital security officers 'armed' for on-site ODs
Security officers carry opiate antidote so they can save the lives of drug users who overdose
5/2/2016
Healthcare facilities need a building envelope and HVAC strategy for patients' well-being
Technology advancement has resulted in better treatment for patients and has also led to higher energy consumption and elevated costs
5/2/2016
Healthcare facilities need a building envelope and HVAC strategy for patients' well-being
Technology advancement has resulted in better treatment for patients and has also led to higher energy consumption and elevated costs
5/2/2016
Elizabethkingia bacteria found in a baby in Wisconsin
The CDC and State Department of Hygiene did not recommend culturing any additional patients or hospital staff
5/2/2016
Effective rooftop management can benefit a healthcare facility
Effective management of the rooftop space of hospital and clinic buildings is frequently overlooked
5/2/2016
Healthcare facilities bring IoT to patient care
Aged care providers are sewing sensors and RFID technology into patient gowns
5/2/2016
Designing to fight Ebola
Team assessed critical supply needs, water and electricity issues, patient volumes and security concerns in healthcare facilities in West Africa, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
5/2/2016
Louisiana hospitals with cleanest rooms ranked
Eighty-six percent of patients report that their room was always clean
5/2/2016
Renovation without interruption
Cooper University Health Care project worked with a goal of minimizing disruptions to patient care
5/1/2016
Reducing airborne healthcare-associated infections
Indoor air quality and building hygiene can impact infection rates
5/1/2016
Behavioral hospital renovation balances security, healing
Design of Rogers Memorial Hospital in Brown Deer, Wis., on the leading edge of the biophilia trend
5/1/2016
San Antonio hospital designs antimicrobial elements into luxe atmosphere
While the setting is luxurious, it is also functional for a healthcare setting
5/1/2016
Integrated Project Delivery creates collaboration and builds value into healthcare design
Owensboro Health project used IPD method to redefine idea of patient care
5/1/2016