- June 2017
Rural healthcare facility uses woodchip waste as heating fuel
Ripon Peace Memorial Hospital in Australia is heated solely from woodchip waste supplied from local sawmill
6/30/2017
Microgrids for healthcare facilities
Is it realistic to utilize this type of a technology for healthcare facilities?
6/30/2017
Outpatient clinics finding homes in shopping malls
More providers are moving closer to potential patients
6/30/2017
The truth about disinfectant contact time
More providers are moving closer to potential patients
6/30/2017
Magazine names healthcare design industry contest winners
Healthcare Design editors have selected this year’s winners of The HCD 10, an annual awards program that honors professionals across 10 categories
6/30/2017
Videos urge hospital staff to close the door on 'tailgating'
Boston hospital campaign reminds staff of safety training
6/30/2017
NetDirector Streamlines Patient Experience in Healthcare with New Health Logix Integration Suite
6/30/2017
Swedish Hospital & Medical Center First Hill Earns Top Honors for Nurse Employer In Washington
6/30/2017
Study says healthcare facilities need pet therapy guidelines to limit infection
Without proper policies, pet associated infection risks may outweigh any benefits
6/29/2017
New CMS survey guidance expected soon
Interpretive guidance for the new survey process incorporating Phase 2 regulations could be released over the next weeks
6/29/2017
Complying with Joint Commission and CMS standards
Standards can offer a template for designing security programs
6/29/2017
Checklist for protecting your healthcare facility
A piece of the endoscopy equipment had a defect that may have prevented it from being properly disinfected
6/29/2017
Patients at Md. medical center may be infected by improperly cleaned equipment
A piece of the endoscopy equipment had a defect that may have prevented it from being properly disinfected
6/29/2017
Omaha outpatient center designed to untangle services maze
Nebraska Medicine’s ambulatory services were once an odyssey for patients, with services scattered in different locations, according to an article on the HealthcareDesign website
6/29/2017
HLAC Makes Its Mark on Trade Conference Circuit with Impressive Showings at Clean 2017, APIC 2017
6/29/2017
Cortet by CEL Launches New Online Resource for Lamp and Luminaire Manufacturers and Integrators
6/29/2017
Illinois hospital sued for red-winged blackbird attack
Suit says hospital knew it hosted aggressive birds in its landscaping but failed to block the path or post warning signs
6/28/2017
Bringing robust bandwidth support to a retirement community
The technology had to support 500+ residents with Wi-Fi-enabled Internet, and the behind-the-scenes patient management systems
6/28/2017
Adding a UV disinfection system to a healthcare cleaning routine
There are specific steps to creative an effective system
6/28/2017
Regulations can spur healthcare design innovation
Working with regulators to review and revise critical governing criteria could open the door to new models and methods of care, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
6/28/2017
2017 has seen at least $500 million in hospital expansions, renovations so far
Nine hospitals and health systems have facility plans
6/28/2017
Children’s hospital to consolidate four sites into new clinic
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin to build clinic in Kenosha
6/27/2017
U.S. Airmen may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis due to contaminated scopes
135 patients were treated with improperly sterilized endoscopes at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar
6/27/2017
Children’s hospital partners lighthearted design with advanced technology
Facility has murals of rainbows and baby animals as well as a lab with pressure-sensitive floor plates to analyze how patients walk
6/27/2017
Healthcare security urged consider the impact of Sentinel Event Alert No. 57
The Joint Commission recently issued Sentinel Event Alert No. 57, 'The Essential Role of Leadership in Developing a Safety Culture'
6/27/2017
Transformational health and wellness solutions as economic drivers
Health and wellness centers in Othello, Wash., and Tahoe, Calif., contribute to local economies
6/27/2017
Overhead Door Launches New RapidFlex Model 990 Flexible Bottom High Speed Fabric Interior Door
6/27/2017
Healthcare facilities seeking their own 'Alexa' app
Voice recognition technology could save time, lives
6/26/2017
Study finds airborne pathogens live for 45 minutes
Queensland researchers have developed technique to study how some pathogens can spread
6/26/2017
NFPA casts final votes on healthcare, life safety code changes
Changes that would have stopped efforts to expand maximum compartment size to 40,000 square feet failed
6/26/2017
Size not enough for healthcare facilities in uncertain times
Houston hospital sector mostly weathered the storms but future is seen in smaller regional centers
6/26/2017
Who should get a healthcare construction certificate?
Facility managers need to prove knowledge of the standards set at both the state and federal levels as well as those set by outside organizations
6/26/2017
Widow sues Olympus over scope-related superbug outbreak
Case is the first to go to trial in the U.S. stemming from a series of superbug outbreaks
6/26/2017
Tailored veterans home infection control cuts MRSA
Program led to a 64 percent reduction during first year
6/23/2017
Louisiana VA hospital cited for improper cleaning
OIG investigated the hospital's compounding pharmacy
6/23/2017
Two Legionnaires' case linked to hot tub at Florida senior facility
A third individual who showed signs of Legionnaires' disease later died, but his tests for the disease were negative
6/23/2017
Hospital floors are critical areas when it comes to cleaning
In rooms with a C. diff patient, floors were more likely to be contaminated with any of the three pathogens
6/23/2017
Eaton Furthers Commitment to Data Center Innovation with Open Compute Project Foundation Membership
6/23/2017
EHNAC Applauds Health Care Industry Cybersecurity (HCIC) Task Force Report and Recommendations
6/23/2017
Minnesota hospital has seven security breaches in eight months
If further violations are found and aren’t fixed, Fairview can lose federal healthcare funding
6/22/2017
Deadly bacteria found in 37 percent of tested heater-cooler devices
CDC recommends hospitals notify patients who have had open-heart surgery in the last five years
6/22/2017
Study: Copper-impregnated surface has 80 percent reduction of contamination
The study examined the amount of microbial contamination on overbed tables
6/22/2017
Healthcare can see its future, and it's hi-tech
Automation can do some jobs more cheaply, safely and efficiently
6/22/2017
Microhospitals can offer emergency care access
Houston hospital adopts two microhospitals to supplement emergency access
6/22/2017
Healthcare bill could cost 924,000 jobs — most of them in health sector
The research said that the healthcare bill would start off by adding 864,000 jobs and growing state economies
6/21/2017
Healthcare facility design impacting care
New hospitals that are more like hotels, with private rooms, gardens and art installations
6/21/2017
Make health information available to facility visitors
Accessible information should be a priority for healthcare facilities
6/21/2017
Scope cleaning and sterilization processes leave instruments contaminated
Study finds sterilization process leaves instruments contaminated with debris, residue and bacteria
6/21/2017
Spokane teaching healthcare facility supports new model of healthcare
Spokane Teaching Health Center was designed for all healthcare specialties to be trained together
6/21/2017
Hospital tower to be inspected after London fire
Tower at Derry’s Altnagelvin Hospital among the buildings set to undergo an urgent fire safety check
6/20/2017
Rx for noise control at Virginia Hospital: Large dose of acoustical ceiling systems
Myriad of ceilings meets needs of different spaces at new Inova Health System Women’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital
6/20/2017
Designing to 'right-size' patient rooms
Well-planned smaller spaces can accommodate patients and families just as larger rooms would
6/20/2017
Centers for healthy living designed for 21st century wellness
Outdated senior living communities are repositioning themselves to stay competitive
6/20/2017
APIC 2017 Film Festival winner highlights hand hygiene
Providence Health & Services Alaska as the winner of its seventh annual competition announced
6/20/2017
Xenex Announces LightStrike Disinfection Pod - Industry's First Mobile Equipment Disinfection System
6/20/2017
Child dies after being left in Arkansas clinic van
Ex-employee said it was common practice to check the vans three times after children were taken off
6/19/2017
Interior design choices can support infection prevention
Style must be balanced with ease of cleaning
6/19/2017
Antiseptic manufacturers help make sense of FDA rules
The American Cleaning Institute will help infection control experts understand the pending Food and Drug Administration decision
6/19/2017
Employee background checks key to security plan
Background checks among the first items to get cut when money is tight
6/19/2017
Study says removing sinks from ICU cuts bacterial colonization
'Water-free' patient care can reduce the number of ICU patients colonized with gram-negative bacteria
6/19/2017
Master planning: Key insights into early stages to optimize success
Faced with reacting without the knowledge that forecasting brings, leaders at a large academic medical center sought to be proactive and develop a master plan looking forward at least five years
6/19/2017
Xenex Announces LightStrike Disinfection Pod - Industry's First Mobile Equipment Disinfection System
6/19/2017
Hospital reviewing security after woman impersonates staffer
Indiana woman entered several restricted areas of the hospital
6/16/2017
Designing for the millennial patient
Survey shows most millennials said that in addition to having their healthcare needs met, they want to have a good experience as patients
6/16/2017
Hospital to increase security after attack on surgeon
Victoria, Australia, has doubled funding for security in public hospitals after attack
6/16/2017
Whitepaper offers guidance on choosing the right disinfectant
"Researching the Right Disinfectant for Your Facility: Without Damaging Instruments or Surfaces" available on Infection Control Today website
6/16/2017
Calif. hospital closes surgical unit after mold is found in sink
Healthcare facility has no way to sterilize equipment
6/16/2017
Caring for healthcare facility electrical infrastructure
Whether a system is old or relatively new, proactive management and maintenance programs will help operations and maintenance personnel mitigate the risk factors that impact functionality and reliability
6/16/2017
Caring for healthcare facility electrical infrastructure
Whether a system is old or relatively new, proactive management and maintenance programs will help operations and maintenance personnel mitigate the risk factors that impact functionality and reliability
6/16/2017
CMS says healthcare facilities must develop water management policies to prevent Legionnaires'
CMS surveyors will review facilities' water management implementation policies, procedures and reports
6/15/2017
Ways to improve access for disabled patients
When we talk about increasing access for the disabled, we are talking about improving a particular environment that can be used by everyone in an inclusive way
6/15/2017
Healthcare facility renovation expected to save £15 million in 25 years
Approximately £1 million has been spent on the electrical infrastructure
6/15/2017
Two infants develop Legionnaires' following water births
Two infants delivered in Arizona were diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease in early 2016
6/15/2017
New energy pipeline already creating savings for healthcare facility
Pipeline expected to save hospital trust half a million pounds per year
6/15/2017
New 150-acre medical campus planned in India
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences campus's oblong urban form was designed to establish an integrated and walkable healthcare campus, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
6/15/2017
QSI Facilities Acquires Emcon Associates, a Leader in Facilities Maintenance and Management Services
6/15/2017
Bacterial outbreak in NICU linked to contaminated tap water
An investigation were associated with absence of point-of-use filters on faucets
6/14/2017
Pew urges Congress to reject ONC budget cuts
ONC needs more than the $38 million allocated to advance interoperability, EHR usability and patient safety, group says
6/14/2017
Preventing ransomware attacks in healthcare facilities
Simple steps can help protect from cyber threats
6/14/2017
Chicago health facilities get bold new home
Building designed with rhombus-shaped perforations sprayed like bubbles across its shiny, forked facade
6/14/2017
Life Safety Q&A: Operating room fire drills
Brad Keyes discusses regulations for operating room fire drills
6/14/2017
Chattanooga safety net facility transformed into region's first lifestyle hospital
Project focused on having the facility resemble a hospitality setting wherever possible
6/14/2017
RF Code to Demonstrate Benefits of Real-Time Data Center Solutions at DCD>Webscale in San Francisco
6/14/2017
N.J. healthcare facility settles OSHA workplace violence issues
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has withdrawn a general duty clause citation
6/13/2017
Sustainability focus transforms healthcare facility operations
Green building practices are also changing design and construction
6/13/2017
Study examines disinfectants effect on C. diff
Researchers compare effectiveness of four products
6/13/2017
Hospital patients require better food service and it's improving bottom lines
The fifth moment of The World Health Organization's Five Moments for Hand Hygiene is the most overlooked
6/13/2017
Too many Legionnaires' cases start in healthcare facilities, CDC says
After hotels, long-term care facilities and hospitals are the most common types of buildings associated with Legionnaires
6/12/2017
Hospitals building short-stay spaces within facilities
Outpatient observation spurs new designs
6/12/2017
Cancer treatment center designed to improve outcomes through a multidisciplinary approach
Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center organized by specific cancer types so that patients can receive most of their treatment in one area, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
6/12/2017
California hospital water system break causes four-day outage
Patients and staff were instructed to use anti-bacterial wipes for hygienic cleaning
6/12/2017
HHS says healthcare cybersecurity in 'critical condition'
A cybersecurity task force report included list of vulnerabilities
6/12/2017
Focusing on surface contact in hand hygiene
The fifth moment of The World Health Organization's Five Moments for Hand Hygiene is the most overlooked
6/12/2017
Infection control in longterm care facilities
A proposed rule would make major changes to improve the care and safety in longterm care facilities or nursing homes that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs
6/9/2017
Medical villages are changing models for healthcare delivery
Villages can improve healthcare delivery by integrating hospital care with retail, housing, elder care and living systems
6/9/2017
Kaiser’s San Diego Medical Center focuses on sustainability and patient experience
Facility incorporated ideas from the Small Hospital, Big Idea hospital design competition
6/9/2017
BIM supports architects and MEP consultants for healthcare construction project
Healthcare construction projects need a concentrated investment in coordinated MEP layout design
6/9/2017
Creating a superior washroom experience
Washrooms play a critical role in driving a positive perception of healthcare facilities
6/9/2017
Facility upgrades save Texas healthcare facility $189,000 annually
Upgrades include infrastructure replacements and the installation of new air control and chilled water systems
6/9/2017
Hospital star ratings will not be updated in July
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will not update the overall hospital quality star ratings
6/8/2017
Concierge medicine for wealthiest patients widens healthcare divide
Elite concierge practices are booming
6/8/2017
Okla. medical clinic reflects Choctaw culture
Choctaw Nation Regional Medical Clinic in Durant includes bronze sculptures depicting figures dressed in traditional tribal attire
6/8/2017
How cloud-based asset management became essential to efficient healthcare operations
One of the cornerstones of modern healthcare management is the enterprise asset management (EAM) solution that keeps track of all the moving pieces and ensures that mission-critical equipment and technology are functioning and available when they’re needed
6/8/2017
Australian hospital is aiming to be most energy efficient
Hospitals are the second most energy-intensive of all commercial buildings
6/8/2017
Challenges of engineering leadership discussed
Too often healthcare building owners don’t get the results they expect from engineers and builders, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
6/8/2017
The end of net neutrality will impact healthcare
Telehealth, cloud-based EHRs and remote monitoring connectivity could all be affected
6/7/2017
Hospital cutting food waste and cost
Providence Health trimming unnecessary food expenditures
6/7/2017
Michigan healthcare system opens new integrated-care campus
Thirty-year-old medical office building gets $6 million of renovations
6/7/2017
Infographic on 'clean and green' hospitals
Infographic looks at some of the top hospitals in the UK and around the world and how they have been built with the environment in mind
6/7/2017
OSHA investigates Minnesota ED after patient sexual assault
University of Minnesota Medical Center-Fairview has increased patient monitoring in the ED and enhanced video monitoring, among other changes
6/6/2017
Kansas lawmakers vote to allow healthcare facilities to ban guns
State law requires most public places to allow concealed firearms by this summer or install security at entrances to keep weapons out
6/6/2017
Summa Health relaxes controversial dress code
Female employees can skip pantyhose and wear open-toed shoes
6/6/2017
Building a purposeful assisted-living environment
Residential and hospitality markets are strong influencers on senior housing
6/6/2017
Got your eye on a healthcare property? Make sure to consider maintenance costs
It’s critical to evaluate the property’s physical condition prior to inking the deal
6/6/2017
Healthcare facility renovation addresses patient experience
Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center added sconce lighting, warm wooden floors, and natural color palettes, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
6/6/2017
VA patients allegedly given trays of food with cockroaches on them
Administrators were aware that cockroaches were a 'persistent presence' at a veterans hospital in Illinois but failed to remove them
6/5/2017
Cool water as effective as hot for hand washing
New study found that cool water removes the same amount of harmful bacteria
6/5/2017
ERS changing to serve more elderly patients
Some healthcare facilities are creating separate, quieter emergency rooms for older patients
6/5/2017
Yearlong survey tracks bacterial diversity in new hospital
Study focuses on the flow of microbes between patients, staff and surfaces
6/5/2017
The value of the cosmetic surgery market and how it is constantly changing
Facility professionals play a key and active role when it comes to contributing to the success of the cosmetic surgery industry
6/5/2017
'Future proofing' key to healthcare facility planning
With hospital construction taking more than 10 years from planning to occupancy, planners can be proven wrong before the first patient arrives, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
6/5/2017
Healthcare facilities review plans in response to Congo Ebola outbreak
Experts say healthcare providers should review their Ebola response plans now to avoid repeating past mistakes
6/2/2017
Hospital evacuation blamed on 'system fault with alarm'
Patients were wheeled out of Wishaw General Hospital in their beds after an alarm sounded
6/2/2017
Boston Medical Center food pantry feeding 7,000 patients a month
Healthcare facility has one of the first hospital-based food pantries
6/2/2017
Patients leaning toward outpatient facilities, technology
Hospital systems have begun to shift more capital spending to outpatient facilities to provide more cost-effective and convenient settings for consumers
6/2/2017
Patients leaning toward outpatient facilities, technology
Hospital systems have begun to shift more capital spending to outpatient facilities to provide more cost-effective and convenient settings for consumers
6/2/2017
Hospital cleaning budget cuts blamed for superbug outbreak
The hospital has been forced to dramatically increase its cleaning budget
6/2/2017
Children’s outpatient facility designed for efficient care flow
Nemours Children’s Health System Outpatient Services Center in Glen Mills, Pa., was designed for efficient care flow, according to the Healthcare Design website
6/2/2017
Healthcare takeaways from Trump budget
Budget includes $610 billion in Medicaid cuts over 10 years
6/1/2017
Avoiding the hidden costs of environmental services staff injuries
Environmental services work-related injuries usually involve either exposure to harmful contaminants or musculoskeletal disorders
6/1/2017
Iowa healthcare facility prepares for helipad chopper crash
CHI Health Mercy Hospital staff tests procedures for responding to a medical helicopter crash
6/1/2017
Kaiser Permanente shifting foodservice focus to health and wellness
Sustainable purchasing practices, room service and sous vide preparation are part of the plan
6/1/2017