Facility Operations - October 2017

Tesla returns power to Puerto Rican children's hospital

Repairing or replacing healthcare facilities to their prior condition may be foolish

10/31/2017

Long-ignored unsanitary conditions found at Ga. prison hospital

Bags of garbage have piled up outside the operating room, attracting flies and mosquitoes

10/31/2017

Electrical design considerations for healthcare projects

Mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers should be well versed in all factors related to their disciplines

10/31/2017

Mississippi healthcare facility replaces 120 in-house housekeepers with contract workers

University of Mississippi Medical Center is no longer employing an in-house cleaning staff

10/31/2017

Hot cleaning rags ignite at California nursing home

Cleaning rags had been removed from the dryer too soon without cooling off

10/31/2017

Man rides bike into Okla. hospital, steals laptop

Police trying to identify a man who rode his bicycle inside a Bethany hospital during a theft

10/30/2017

Most common types of hospital security officer training

Survey shows eight of the training categories decreased in prevalence compared to four years ago

10/30/2017

Group working to curb harmful surgical smoke

Association of periOperative Registered Nurses' 'Go Clear' program aims to bring awareness to the harmful effects

10/30/2017

Greenest hospitals in America

Becker's Healthcare names 60 of the most environmentally friendly hospitals in the country

10/30/2017

North Wales hospitals' laundry called infection risk

Machines are breaking down and there are pest control issues

10/27/2017

Florida moves to shut down nursing home where 14 died during Irma

Regulators have moved to permanently revoke the operating license of the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills

10/27/2017

Family of man murdered at Johns Hopkins questions policies

A woman killed her estranged husband in the ICU

10/26/2017

Four reasons to modernize a hospital’s electrical power distribution system

10/26/2017

Mich. hospital reviewing policies after shooting

A patient barricaded himself in his room at Covenant HealthCare until officers gained entry with ballistic shields

10/26/2017

How typical ceiling light fixtures can help reduce HAIs

Healthcare providers are increasingly looking for solutions that provide a safety net by disinfecting surfaces that may have been insufficiently disinfected

10/26/2017

Arkansas VA healthcare system failed to update cleaning standards

Standards for instruments used in eye surgery cited

10/26/2017

Puerto Rico healthcare system faces long recovery

The situation with Puerto Rico’s healthcare system is far more vulnerable than those in Texas or Florida

10/25/2017

A month after Irma, Ormond Beach hospital still closed

Officials at damaged healthcare facility reviewing the assessments and evaluating the necessary repairs

10/25/2017

New tent hospital boosts NZ’s disaster response

Tent features a series of interconnecting sections for triage, maternity, resuscitation, a 10-stretcher observation ward and a pharmacy

10/25/2017

Hospitals in disaster areas may have to fight for federal funds

Over the last 10 years, FEMA has denied appeals for more than $1 billion requested by local governments

10/24/2017

Patient, 78, fires handgun inside Saginaw hospital

Police subdue shooter at Covenant Hospital without injury

10/24/2017

Suspected Legionnaires' disease in Buffalo hospital leads to water restrictions

Testing found slightly elevated levels of Legionella bacteria in the hospital's water system

10/24/2017

Common generator problems - and how to avoid them

Conference also serves as yearly training event

10/24/2017

California declares state of emergency after hepatitis A outbreak

The disease has most often struck the homeless or drug users, but has spread to workers at a healthcare facility

10/23/2017

Fire at Ohio hospital forces evacuation, closing

Fire at Summa St. Thomas Hospital in Akron in basement

10/23/2017

Study: Room service improves patient nutrition

Room service showed an increase in both energy and protein intake

10/23/2017

Hospital security professionals gather at Kentucky conference

Conference also serves as yearly training event

10/23/2017

Woman who gave birth in Japan photographs hospital meals

Meals look more than restaurant-worthy

10/20/2017

Debunking the assumptions around proper hand hygiene

Hand hygiene in healthcare involves not only washing hands with soap and water, but also the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers

10/20/2017

Hospital ship off Puerto Rico sits mostly idle 2 weeks after its arrival

Only 33 of the 250 beds on the Comfort — 13 percent — are being used

10/20/2017

Dirty floors, kitchens found at Colorado veterans hospital

The inspections also found two doors in a mental health treatment facility were found unlocked and the alarms were not turned on

10/20/2017

Minn. hospital sued after stillborn baby discarded with dirty laundry

Regions Hospital in St. Paul had promised to cremate the remains

10/20/2017

Tomorrow's hospital will include digital command centers

Experts envision hospitals using a central command center that mimics an air traffic control system

10/19/2017

Scandal-plagued hospital's cleaners claim hygiene standards dropping under new contractor

Since the hospital in Edmonton, North London, changed its cleaning firm in June, ten porters' jobs have been cut

10/19/2017

Technology that can improve behavioral health environments

One example is polycarbonate electronic glazing on doors that can switch to be transparent or translucent, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website

10/19/2017

Some flexibility seen in Florida nursing home generator order

Agency posted a rule outlining steps that nursing homes that are facing circumstances beyond their control

10/18/2017

Community hospitals swamped after wildfires shut down major hospitals

Some facilities are running out of supplies, such as linens

10/18/2017

California firestorm strains healthcare system

One company installed air purifiers to try to help with the smoke at three of its dialysis clinics

10/18/2017

Man arrested after streaming online while holding a gun at Columbus hospital

a security guard at the hospital who spotted the video

10/18/2017

New textile disinfects itself

Material is designed to be used on hospital doors instead of the traditional aluminum door plate

10/18/2017

Hospitals evacuated during Northern California wildfires

At least two hospitals in Northern California evacuated patients as wildfires destroyed 1,500 structures

10/17/2017

New lifting device may cut down on healthcare facility staff injuries

Healthcare workers experience injuries at nearly three times the rate of other professional and business services

10/17/2017

Healthcare facilities must have business continuity plan

There are guidelines in place to help healthcare facilities ensure the viability of critical systems

10/17/2017

Mobile weather monitoring technology can aid first responders

A hospital operation center could rely on those driving ambulances or helicopters to make decisions that are best for them and their patients

10/17/2017

Mayo food service fight boosts SEIU membership

Food service workers at Charter House voted to unionize by a 2-to-1 ratio.

10/17/2017

Drones studied for infection control possibilities

Technology may help with baby monitoring, remote health checks

10/17/2017

Puerto Rico’s healthcare situation is dire, three weeks after hurricane

Hospitals are running low on medicine while admitting patients from medical centers where generators failed

10/16/2017

Expert says Flint's Legionnaires' outbreak likely killed more people than reported

The death toll attributed to the 2014-2015 Legionnaires' outbreak in Michigan may exceed the 12 reported deaths

10/16/2017

Tips for pharmaceutical waste management

Healthcare facilities are faced with two key challenges related to pharmaceutical waste management

10/16/2017

CHI Health develops restaurant-style menu

Nebraska system reconfigured a cook-chill food preparation system, a centralized tray system and a retherm cart delivery system to get greater diversity and higher-quality food

10/16/2017

CMS requirement addresses Legionnaires' Disease control in longterm care facilities

Nineteen percent of all Legionnaires' disease outbreaks are longterm-care-related

10/16/2017

One Texas nursing home evacuation began with a gun drawn

Volunteer drew gun when facility staff wouldn't allow evacuation of patients

10/13/2017

Hospitals evacuate as California wildfires spread

Kaiser Permanente's and Sutter Health's Santa Rosa hospitals transported patients to other healthcare facilities

10/13/2017

Maintaining healthcare facility security with unrestricted family visitation policies

The right technologies can help maintain the right balance between openness and security

10/13/2017

Navigating challenges while implementing strategy

Data-driven metrics coupled with an understanding of the more nuanced aspects of planning are essential to achieving the goals outlined in a complex strategy

10/13/2017

CDC offers advice on controlling spread of superbug fungus

The multidrug-resistant yeast is transmitted in healthcare settings

10/13/2017

USNS Comfort responds to second hospital generator failure in Puerto Rico

The hospital ship received four critical patients from Hospital Menonita in Caguas

10/12/2017

The Triple S reinventing healthcare: Speed, scalability & space

The future of Big Data is promising — the analytics market in healthcare is projected to grow from $7 billion in 2016 to $24 billion in the next five years

10/12/2017

N.Y. VA facility problems blamed on poor maintenance oversight

Surgeries were suspended between mid-February and early June of 2016 after metal particles were found in the airflow to the operating rooms

10/12/2017

Senator calls for public disclosure of hospital safety inspections

Request sparked by an investigative report by the Wall Street Journal, that found The Joint Commission seldom revokes its seal of approval

10/11/2017

Technology trends dominating healthcare

IT will dominate the landscape for the foreseeable future

10/11/2017

Environmental service workers called unsung heroes of healthcare

Proper cleaning of surfaces is key to infection control

10/11/2017

Many nursing homes are unprepared for catastrophes

Some believe Irma-like catastrophe could have happened anywhere

10/10/2017

Central OhioTrauma System Central helps Ohio hospitals respond to potential disasters

They have plans for blizzards, tornadoes, virus outbreaks, aircraft crashes, mass killings and other calamities.

10/10/2017

Pre-plans should be considered in lowering facility, home and municipal insurance premiums

A pre-plan can be hosted by a facility or it can be a critical element of a municipal fire department’s tech toolkit

10/10/2017

Man killed at hospital had officer’s stun gun

The suspect obtained the stun gun after being left unattended in the emergency room

10/10/2017

Mass. health system tightens security after assault on nurse

New security efforts include limiting visitor access and subjecting everyone and all bags to search upon arrival

10/10/2017

Making a healthcare facility disaster-ready

Many hospitals are still not fully prepared to deal with disaster

10/10/2017

Blood soaks the hallways at Las Vegas hospital after attack

Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center resembled a war zone

10/9/2017

Study looks at potential infection spread from floor to hands

Analysis of 318 floor samples revealed floor contamination was common, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website

10/9/2017

Toronto hospital installing new encryption security tech

The strategy is designed to protect the exchange of data as well as sensitive data at rest

10/9/2017

Best practices for laundering of healthcare textiles

Proper laundering and handling are key to maintaining hygienically-clean healthcare fabrics

10/9/2017

N.H. healthcare facility reviews security after shooting

Officials say they are not presupposing what security changes may be needed

10/6/2017

Sioux City nursing home fined for food service

Facility plans to challenge $5,000 fine, potential loss of funding

10/6/2017

Health workers attacked and abused over hospital smoking ban

Rules banning smoking outside an Australian public hospitals could be reviewed

10/6/2017

Resident input key to dynamic dining in senior facilities

Dining and menu choices can be a deciding factor for older adults researching housing options

10/6/2017

Does Vermont's largest hospital have an effective active shooter plan?

An active shooter plan is one hospital officials hope they never have to use, but think about often

10/6/2017

Pittsburgh-area healthcare facilities say they could handle Vegas-level calamity

But hospital officials say they’ve never practiced for a tragedy of such magnitude

10/5/2017

Despite known best practices, hospital cybersecurity programs still lacking

Tradeoffs with data accessibility and portability make it almost impossible fully protect against attacks

10/5/2017

Healthcare design risk assessment toolkit offered

It focuses on helping designers promote patient and staff safety

10/5/2017

Facility's security questioned after wandering Alzheimer's patient dies

Woman's body was found two miles away from facility nearly a month after she disappeared

10/5/2017

Some nursing home disaster plans called paper tigers

Around the country, facilities have been caught unprepared for mundane emergencies

10/4/2017

Using technology to reduce violence against hospital workers

Security systems integrators can assist healthcare organizations in developing functional standards

10/4/2017

Houston healthcare facility official discusses Harvey preparedness

Memorial Hermann Health System was among the many hospitals affected by hurricane

10/3/2017

London's newest hospital failed fire safety checks

Cladding on Cladding on London’s newest hospital building failed fire safety checks ordered after the Grenfell Tower disaster

10/3/2017

Medical overview of dealing with natural disasters

As the storms approach, each healthcare facility must make difficult decisions between evacuating patients and staff and riding it out

10/3/2017

Terminal cleaning best practices evolve

High-tech tools have armed facilities with new weapons to kill pathogens

10/3/2017

Few healthcare facilities in Puerto Rico have power or fuel

Some fear the worst is yet to come as hospitals brace for a second wave of illness as outbreaks of disease are likely due to the spread of mosquitoes

10/2/2017

Navy hospital ship on relief mission to Puerto Rico

The USNS Comfort was stocked with supplies

10/2/2017

Mass. hospital boosts security after nurse stabbed

Additional metal detectors, security cameras and panic buttons have been installed

10/2/2017

D.C. hospital's sewage leaks seldom result in major penalties

MedStar Washington Hospital Center is under investigation by the D.C. health department for recent sewage leaks

10/2/2017

Legionella found in Montana healthcare facility water supply

The bacteria was recently discovered at Missoula’s St. Patrick Hospital

10/2/2017

Compatibility and infection control: Balancing cleaning demands with chemical profiles

MedStar Washington Hospital Center is under investigation by the D.C. health department for recent sewage leaks

10/2/2017