Groundskeeping - September 2014

Hospital pillows can harbor pathogens

Thirty-eight percent of pillows retained infection-causing pathogens after disinfection

9/30/2014

Experts say US hospitals unprepared for Ebola waste

Waste management companies are refusing to haul away the soiled sheets and Ebola virus-spattered protective gear

9/30/2014

N.J. utility honored for hospital efficiency

PSE&G recognized for its $3.7 million energy-energy efficiency effort at Trinitas Regional Medical Center

9/30/2014

Edmonton hospital fighting influx of flies

Misericordia Hospital says flies don't pose any health risk

9/29/2014

Five operating room cleaning checklists

Routine disinfection is associated with significant reductions in surgical site and other patient infections

9/29/2014

Ontario health system introduces guest meal program

Family members and visitors on all inpatient units at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital can order meals

9/29/2014

Critical power management systems vital for health facilities

A CPMS monitors and controls emergency generator sets, circuit breakers, transfer switches and other emergency power system equipment

9/29/2014

Minneapolis hospital reportedly used unsterilized equipment

Abbott Northwestern hospital use potentially dangerous instruments in four surgeries

9/26/2014

Broken bed alarm blamed in patient's death

Man died after he became disoriented and left his hospital room at UCSD Medical Center

9/26/2014

Derry renal facility honored for environmental services

Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry, Ireland, was honored in a Best Kept Healthcare Facility competition

9/26/2014

Boomers reinventing senior food service

Care organizations are recognizing that seniors want flexibility and variety in dining, according to an article on the Environments for Aging website

9/26/2014

Best hand-hygiene practices for a healthcare facility

Proper hand washing can help healthcare workers fight germs, bacteria and disease

9/26/2014

Earthquake-retrofit costs lead to closing of L.A. hospital

Temple Community Hospital closed its doors, citing low revenue and increasing costs of maintaining its aging building

9/25/2014

UAE hospitals don't spend enough on infection control

Experts say that healthcare managers are reluctant to spend spend money on infection control because they don't receive direct revenue from the investment

9/25/2014

Control valve tamper switches Q&A

In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about control valve tamper switches

9/25/2014

Hospitals trimming energy costs with demand response programs

The demand response strategy typically pays users for reducing their demand

9/25/2014

Healthcare center blamed for man's mushroom poisoning

Family says Cordilleras Mental Health Facility neglected to maintain a safe environment

9/24/2014

Seniors' food preferences and attitudes spark chef's creativity

Long-term living care is moving from institutional meals to fresh, local and organic food offerings, according to an interview on the Long-Term Living website

9/24/2014

Rural hospitals closing without ACA money

Four rural Tennessee hospitals have closed and dozens are at risk because of the state's decision not to join the Affordable Care Act

9/24/2014

Retail urgent care retailers increase access

Facilities part of shift in the way healthcare is delivered

9/24/2014

Palm Springs hospital unveils emergency phone system

Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Calif., unveiled a new satellite system that will back up existing hospital phones

9/24/2014

Preventing Clostridium difficile infections

Updated cleaning guidelines offer tips for fighting infection

9/24/2014

CDC issues Ebola checklist

Review of environmental services protocols suggested

9/23/2014

Connecticut health facility honored for energy efficiency

Day Kimball Healthcare recognized for renovating its infrastructure

9/23/2014

Nurses demand more ER security personnel

Nurses at Tri-City Medical Center call for a range of reforms

9/23/2014

Color-coded sheets to aid to infection control efforts

New Delhi hospitals to end use of white linens

9/23/2014

Irish hospital removes religious statues for infection control

The removal of two religious statues from wards at Gorey District Hospital tied to health and safety concerns

9/23/2014

California apartment complex adds health clinic

Complex joins healthcare system to run a 'wellness corner'

9/22/2014

Faulty CCTV system prevents hospital assault probe

Internal security system at Galway University Hospital problematic despite large investment

9/22/2014

Preparedness key to containing outbreaks

The evolution of prevention and protocols in Canadian healthcare industry are keeping pace

9/22/2014

Computerized maintenance management system a facility safety tool

A CMMS can help ensure that all environmental services staff members are trained to the same standards of cleaning

9/22/2014

California nursing home settles suit over asbestos violations

Wallboard from patient rooms at Salinas facility contained asbestos

9/19/2014

California hospital gets energy efficient outdoor lighting system

NorthBay VacaValley Hospital's system includes dimmable LEDs and motion sensors, including a new type of long-range microwave sensor

9/19/2014

FEMA offers resources for digital disaster prep

Agency app includes access to disaster safety tips, an emergency kit list, emergency meeting location information and a map with open shelters

9/19/2014

Healthcare systems move away from flame retardants in furniture

Advocate Health Care, Beaumont Health System, Hackensack University Medical Center and University Hospitals will stop purchasing furniture treated with flame retardant chemicals

9/18/2014

Ambulance staff says hospital ramping could have fatal consequences

Ambulance Employees Association complains of persistent ramping at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia

9/18/2014

Videos push hand hygiene

Videos from CDC, others encourage hand-washing at healthcare facilities

9/18/2014

Sustaining quality improvement in environmental services

Study showed that immediate performance feedback in addition to monthly face-to-face data reports was the most effective

9/18/2014

Maintaining, improving a plastics recycling program

After a recycling program has been running awhile, it's a good idea to revisit the numbers and replace initial assumptions with actual data to determine the program's financial impact

9/18/2014

Tennessee clinic rolls out 'Healthcare on Wheels'

Chattanooga Primary Care's mobile medical facility designed to serve industries and businesses

9/17/2014

Managing waterborne infection risks

Hospitalized patients at high risk for infection should avoid exposure to hospital water and use sterile water instead

9/17/2014

Ebola, HAIs boost sales of infection-control software

Infection-control technology moving off the back burner, according to a survey from Black Book

9/17/2014

Flammable liquid storage Q&A

In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about the storage of flammable liquids

9/17/2014

Military offers lessons for dealing with mass casualties

Iraq and Afghanistan show five ways hospitals can prepare for attacks, disasters

9/17/2014

Ohio hospital postpones surgeries for cleaning issues

Adena Regional Medical Center postponed surgeries until further notice after the operating room team found staining on surgical towels

9/17/2014

Linen loss is an $840 million problem

Nearly 90 percent of all linen used in U.S. hospitals does not reach its useful life

9/16/2014

$18.5 million rehab center set in Wisconsin

Campus to include a rehab center, long-term living facility and community center

9/16/2014

How to stop viruses from contaminating buildings

Contamination of just a single doorknob or tabletop can result in the spread of viruses throughout healthcare facilities

9/15/2014

UV robots battle HAIs

UV-C light, a part of the UV spectrum, can kill pathogens like C. diff and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus that cause HAIs

9/15/2014

Kaiser Permanente taps more solar power

System to increase solar capacity with installations in Hawaii and at the Oakland Medical Center in California and Hidden Lake Medical Offices in Colorado

9/15/2014

Complying with proposed fire safety regulation changes

CMS's proposed adoption of the 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code to simplify fire safety compliance

9/15/2014

Survey names 10 cleanest Chicago hospitals

Facilities chosen from Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey data

9/12/2014

Gloucestershire hospitals to save 500,000 pounds a year with green efforts

Carbon emissions will also be cut by 1,789 tons a year, a reduction of 30 percent

9/12/2014

Maryland hospital builds combined heat and power plant

Energy efficiency project is expected to save Upper Chesapeake Health $9 million over 20 years

9/12/2014

Tampa General improves facility with LED lighting and digital controls

LED lighting was chosen for nurses stations, corridors, exam rooms, conference rooms, the lounge and the waiting room

9/12/2014

Benchmarking called critical to energy management

ASHE offers resources for sustainable operations

9/12/2014

Photo tour of hospital food around the world

Images on Imgur site illustrates the range of typical hospital meals from 17 cities

9/11/2014

Mobile healthcare facility created in van

Families First Health and Support Center in Portsmouth, N. H. to use the van to bring services to the homeless, low-income individuals and seniors

9/11/2014

Texas hospital gets $500,000 rebate for energy efficiency

University Hospital Sky Tower designed to use 20 percent less energy

9/11/2014

Info offered on scabies management in healthcare facilities

An isolated case of scabies must be managed correctly to prevent the infestation spreading

9/11/2014

Rediscovering integrated building systems

Buildings need the flexibility to change and adapt to new needs and conditions

9/11/2014

Ebola survivor says supply shortage puts hospital staff at risk

Lack of hazard suits and other supplies called a danger to doctors and nurses safe

9/10/2014

Ontario hospital honored for going greener

Lakeridge Health in Port Perry an Energy Conservation Champion

9/10/2014

New Jersey hospital investing in urgent care

Lourdes is the latest N.J. hospital to invest in an urgent care center

9/9/2014

More hospitals focusing on sustainability, report shows

Hospitals are trying reduce their environmental footprint, lower costs and improve the health of patients and staff, according to a recent report

9/9/2014

Preventing common health facility accidents

Keeping workers from becoming complacent about safety rules key

9/9/2014

Magazine names two ES Departments of the Year

MD Anderson Cancer Center, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital honored

9/9/2014

Hospital parking changes raise safety concerns

Parking to be banned on streets around facility

9/8/2014

Linen chute door Q&A

In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about linen chute doors

9/8/2014

Determining sustainability's value

Going green becoming central to many health system's mission

9/8/2014

Bedside tech part of the healing process

Touchscreen technology, on-demand content and user guides are being widely used to support patient care

9/5/2014

California hospitals prepare for Ebola while stressing low risk

Recommendations for hospitals include private rooms for patients and protective coverings for staff

9/5/2014

Is your hospital earthquake ready?

California law's goal is not just that hospitals remain structurally sound after an earthquake - they must remain operational

9/4/2014

For a healthcare data center, redundancy is key

Data center downtime can mean lost revenue and the inability to access life-saving information, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website

9/4/2014