Groundskeeping - March 2013
ACHC offers workshops on healthcare accreditation process
The Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) is offering workshops in April and May for those interested in obtaining and maintaining ACHC accreditation.
3/28/2013
Environmental services instrumental in combating C. diff in hospital
Environmental cleaning practices were the most significant factor in cutting a Cincinnati hospital's Clostridium difficile (C. diff) incidence rate in half over six months.
3/27/2013
Mississippi hospital announces HIPAA breach
The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) officials have announced a HIPAA breach at the hospital caused by a missing laptop computer.
3/25/2013
Healthcare association offers review of EVS training programs
Educational institutions, consultants and healthcare organizations with their own in-house training can submit training and educational materials to the AHE for review to earn the Seal of Review and Recognition.
3/22/2013
Hospitals should consider costs, benefits of in-house laundry versus alternatives
Maintaining an on-premises laundry facility can be a costly decision for hospitals. Some situations warrant this cost, but available options in high-volume laundry arrangements means environmental services managers should carefully weigh the costs and benefits of each.
3/20/2013
Training webinar offered on HIPAA risk analysis
Compliance Online will host a HIPAA risk analysis webinar on March 28 at 1 p.m. Eastern.
3/20/2013
Facilities team plays role in ambulatory surgery center joint venture deliberations
The facilities department can provide important strategic information that should be considered prior to a hospital embarking on an ambulatory surgery center joint venture.
3/20/2013
Extending deadline for nursing home sprinklers open for comment
A proposed deadline extension for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) requirement that all nursing home facilities have automatic sprinkler systems by August 13 is open for comment.
3/19/2013
Medical device integration with electronic health records is not plug and play
Integrating medical devices with electronic health records in order to facilitate meaningful use is possible, but requires facilities to consider how to support increased connectivity requirements.
3/18/2013
More than 8,000 hospital safety violations now publicly searchable
A searchable database of federal safety rule violations at about 1,000 hospitals since 2011 is now available.
3/18/2013
Pre-incident planning at facilities aids first responders in emergency
Understanding what is front of mind for first responders can help facility managers better prepare for what will happen in the event of an emergency.
3/14/2013
Fire alarm systems can provide emergency control function of non-fire alarm systems
Though the code language might be tricky to decipher, fire code does allow fire alarm systems to interface with non-fire alarm systems in order to provide emergency control function.
3/13/2013
ASHE offers course in healthcare facility commissioning
The American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) is offering a two-day course designed to specifically address the commissioning process in healthcare facilities.
3/13/2013
ASHE offers course in healthcare facility commissioning
The American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) is offering a two-day course designed to specifically address the commissioning process in healthcare facilities.
3/13/2013
Green Seal releases new laundry standard for industrial and institutional products
A new Green Seal standard for institutional and industrial laundry products addresses their life cycle impacts.
3/8/2013
IT is key to managing healthcare costs, says former president
Speaking March 6 at the annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) convention in New Orleans, former President Bill Clinton suggested information technology could be the key to controlling rising healthcare costs.
3/8/2013
Advancements in chiller systems lead to energy efficiency in healthcare facilities
Numerous technological advances in chillers allow healthcare occupancies to reap significant energy efficiency gains during new construction or significant retrofits.
3/7/2013
Proper floor care can prevent slips and falls in healthcare facilities
While evidence-based design has proven to be a useful tool in accident reductions in healthcare facilities, some suggest ongoing training for environmental services staff on the proper care of floors can also be beneficial to fall prevention programs.
3/7/2013
Hospital emergency response during Hurricane Sandy shows lessons learned
The successful evacuation of about 6,000 people from various NYC healthcare facilities due to Hurricane Sandy, including five city hospitals, speaks to the great strides the industry has made in emergency response planning after Hurricane Katrina.
3/6/2013
Chilled beams push UC Davis Health & Wellness Center to LEED Gold
The University of California, Davis' Health & Wellness Center in Davis, Calif., earned LEED-NC Gold in 2012 by incorporating a range of green technologies that help it perform at least 20 percent better than California Energy Code.
3/6/2013
AHE launches new online training for healthcare environmental services
The Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) of the American Hospital Association has introduced a new education program in collaboration with Clorox Healthcare.
3/4/2013
Automatic fire sprinklers now standard in nursing home facilities
By August 13, 2013, nursing homes must have automatic fire sprinklers as a precondition of participating in the Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement program. But the road to this regulation has been a long time coming.
3/4/2013
Free webinar promotes green cleaning programs in healthcare facilities
The Green Cleaning Network will host a free webinar March 6 on "The State of Green Cleaning" at 2 p.m. Eastern.
3/1/2013