By Mackenna Moralez, Associate Editor

The end of the year always brings a time of reflection, and 2023 is no different. As restrictions started to ease from the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals and other healthcare facilities started their “New Normal” when it came to their operations. Nonetheless, challenges still reached the surface, forcing managers to think on their feet for the safety of patients, residents, employees and other building occupants. Saying goodbye to 2023 will be easy, but the lessons that managers learned throughout the course of the year will be hard to forget.  

"Healthcare facilities present a diverse set of challenges to facility managers, so it's no surprise that our most popular articles reflect that. From shootings to infection control to changing spaces, our readers must remain educated on a variety of trends. I'm proud that Healthcare Facilities Today remains a trusted resource," says Dan Weltin, editor-in-chief, facility market. 

The most read Healthcare Facilities Today articles of 2023 discuss a range of topics impacting healthcare facility management. These articles offered insights and information to help managers succeed now and know what to expect in 2024: 

5.) Good Samaritan Medical Center Ups Security After Shooting 

There is only so much planning that can go into unprecedented events, such as an active shooter. Unfortunately, Legacy Health learned that lesson the hard way. A security officer at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center was shot and killed this summer, forcing the healthcare facility to increase and tighten its safety and security measures.  

4.) Biophilia, Luxe Minimalism Paint Colors to Trend in Healthcare Facilities 

Color can have an impact on our moods. For some, brighter colors can cause headaches, while a dull-white or gray can often leave people feeling stale. Facilities managers need to choose colors for wall that allow staff to remain productive, while also feeling at ease. In this most-read article, Healthcare Facilities Today spoke with Ruthanne Hanlon, PPG color expert on popular paint colors and what trends they expect to see within healthcare facilities in the coming years.  

3.) Demand for Gender Neutral Restrooms on the Rise 

Gender-neutral restrooms shouldn’t be just about checking a box on an accessibility to-do list. These spaces need to be functional, operate safely from both a mental and physical standpoint and live up to hygienic standards. In 2023, more healthcare facilities began implementing gender-neutral restrooms, making it so that public restrooms have never been more private.  

2.) 29 Dead After Hospital Fire in Beijing 

A fire at Changfeng Hospital in Beijing killed 29 people. Most of the deceased were reportedly patients. The fire prompted public safety officials across China to conduct impromptu inspections of hospitals and senior care facilities to ensure that evacuation routes were not obstructed. At the time of the initial report, 12 people were detained by police, including the director and deputy director of the hospital, as well as the head of the firm overseeing the building’s renovation. They are being investigated for possible violations of safety management regulations.  

1.) Disinfectants Effective Against Candida auris 

Deadly fungal infections such as Candida auris are not easily treated. There are only five classes of antifungal drugs because they are so difficult to design. Fungi and humans are similar at the cellular, making it challenging to create a drug that can kill fungi without potentially harming humans as well. In this article, J. Darrel Hicks discusses the 11 products that have been approved for use to disinfect surfaces against the emerging multi-drug resistant fungus C. auris.  

Mackenna Moralez is the associate editor for the facilities market.