Trending News - May 2014
Employee smoking bans a hot topic
To address this incongruence of smoking and healthcare, some health systems have started barring smokers - even those who don't work in clinical and patient support roles - from employment
5/30/2014
Keeping healthcare construction costs in check
Challenged by construction cost overruns, owners will look to project teams to work together to stick to a budget, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
5/30/2014
Green pest management in healthcare
There are many ways to make a healthcare facility greener, including pest management. Instead of reactive chemical treatments, more and more healthcare facilities are using integrated pest management
5/30/2014
Clarifying proposed changes to smoke compartment size requirements
ASHE supports the change in NFPA 101: Life Safety Code that would increase the maximum smoke compartment size in new facilities
5/30/2014
Q&A: Trends in healthcare interior design
Interior designer Carolyn BaRoss discusses the trends and advancements of modern healthcare interior design
5/30/2014
Continuing process improvements can lower cost, raise quality
Successful improvement projects move through four stages: identifying the problem, researching a solution, changing the way people work and maintaining the change
5/30/2014
LightSense - bright ideas for healthcare facilities
The quarterly LightSense blog will cover the latest in healthcare lighting trends and how lighting can address energy and maintenance savings and optimize the patient experience
5/30/2014
For hospitals, ACA is all about the numbers
Over the next two to three years, the full impact of the Affordable Care Act will be felt
5/29/2014
ASHE survey seeks feedback on CMS Life Safety Code proposal
ASHE is also encouraging members to submit public comments about the proposal
5/29/2014
Florida hospital solves infection problem with communication
Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami uses weekly reports to hospital leaders to help nearly eliminate Acinetobacter baumannii infections
5/29/2014
Quieter hospitals can help healing
Specially designed quiet latches and sound-reducing exit devices can help limit the disturbances to patients and staff
5/29/2014
Cost-effective sustainability tips for hospitals
University of Pennsylvania's online business analysis journal recently released a special report exploring the idea of sustainability in hospital purchasing
5/29/2014
Take a photo tour of a nursing home conversion
A portion of the Fleur Heights Care Center was converted from an assisted living unit to a skilled nursing care unit, according to a Healthcare Design article
5/29/2014
Illinois hospital uses disinfection robot
Palos Community Hospital implements system to improve patient safety and prevent infection
5/29/2014
Video tracks path of hospital linen
Five children at Children's Hospital in New Orleans died from a fungal infection most likely spread through hospital linens
5/28/2014
Dallas hospital project includes VoiP phone system with screens
$1.3 billion public hospital will have 865 private rooms, 27 operating rooms and 96 neonatal intensive care rooms and 12 intensive care beds in its burn center
5/28/2014
Protecting safety while respecting patient autonomy
Once patients are admitted, hospitals have the responsibility to keep them safe. But hospitals aren't prisons.
5/28/2014
Volunteers assemble mobile hospital in Mississippi disaster
Disaster relief volunteers are setting up a mobile disaster hospital in tornado-ravaged area
5/28/2014
Real-time feedback encourages hand hygiene
Using real-time feedback may encourage hand-hygiene compliance, according to a study in American Journal of Infection Control
5/28/2014
Eyewash station Q&A
In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about non-ANSI-approved eyewash stations
5/28/2014
The origins of evidence-based design
A blog on the Healthcare Design website explores when the evidence-based design movement first began to find its footing
5/28/2014
IFMA Health Care Institute releases report on medical facilities' future
The report was developed from interviews with 30+ CEOs, strategic planners, facilities managers, deputy administrators, financial analysts and chief medical officers
5/27/2014
White paper discusses fighting infection in long-term care facilities
As many as 2.8 million adults living in long-term care facilities contract HAIs every year
5/27/2014
System adopts consistant room standards for large projects
Standard design for patient, exam and operating rooms thought to encourage consistent practices
5/27/2014
Simple restroom care tips for healthcare facilities
Survey shows that 94 percent of U.S. adults would avoid a business in the future if they encountered a dirty restroom
5/27/2014
Health facility business continuity planning
With increased risks of natural and man-made disasters, many hospitals have upgraded their business continuity planning
5/27/2014
Medical tourism a growth opportunity
Today's medical tourism industry is largely composed of patients traveling to receive tertiary care, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
5/27/2014
Long Island healthcare facility invests $4.5 million in renovation
St. James Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center project includes new cardiac rehabilitation program and enhanced services
5/27/2014
Hospital linen safety infographic
New Orleans Times-Picayune publishes infographic on hospital linen cleaning process in wake of deadly fungal outbreak
5/23/2014
Prefab truck and shipping container win healthcare facility design contest
Moved To Care competition sought design solutions for providing healthcare to rural and isolated areas in Asia
5/23/2014
Texas hospital project integrates lighting, HVAC
Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas integrated a building automation system with a lighting control system
5/23/2014