Groundskeeping - May 2018

Survey says: Most hospitals aren't ready for mass tragedy

Nine out of 10 ER doctors say their hospitals aren't fully prepared for major disasters or mass tragedies

5/31/2018

New Florida emergency nursing home power rules now the law

Law enacted after 12 patients at a Hollywood Hills rehabilitation center died in the heat after Irma

5/31/2018

Closing the loop on medical device cybersecurity

To protect themselves and their patients, healthcare facilities must embrace a holistic, lifecycle approach to connected medical device cybersecurity

5/31/2018

Hospital cutting food waste and cost

Providence Health trimming unnecessary food expenditures

5/31/2018

IoT security is critical to healthcare

Traditional cybersecurity sometimes lapses when it comes to the IoT

5/31/2018

Does biohazardous waste get a label or a bag?

Incorrect waste segregation and labeling are among the most common violations for healthcare facilities

5/30/2018

Hawaii State Hospital announces new facility, security features

The hospital plans to build a new $140 million facility with 16-foot high security walls and enclosed courtyards

5/30/2018

Seattle hospital upgrades communications system

Valley Medical Center is expanding deployment of secure communication system

5/30/2018

Hospital food can carry MRSA, VRE

The study shows one or more food specimens were positive for pathogens

5/30/2018

Reusable medical scopes harbor bacteria after cleaning

More than 70 percent of scopes tested positive for bacteria

5/29/2018

Boston hospitals prepare for tragedy

Healthcare facilities' tactics include large-scale drills

5/29/2018

VA expands telehealth regulations

The Department of Veterans Affairs is expanding its reach into more remote areas

5/29/2018

Follow-up finds more violations for embattled Wisconsin hospital

More than 30 new violations were found at UnityPoint Health - Meriter

5/29/2018

Va. health system works to improve cleaning protocol uniformity

Sentara Healthcare recently initiated a campaign to assess the practices used to clean patient rooms

5/29/2018

How worried should U.S. be about Ebola outbreak?

Patients have turned up in Mbandaka, a city of more than a million on the banks of the Congo River

5/25/2018

Bronx-Lebanon Hospital without promised turnstiles, 1 year after shooting

In the weeks following the mass shooting, the hospital promised tougher security

5/25/2018

Six steps to write an energy-efficient hospital audit report

An energy-efficient hospital audit is how the energy consumption of a healthcare institution is measured

5/25/2018

Pa. health network drops food vendor Sodexo

St. Luke's University Health Network moves to local company

5/25/2018

Process and design improvements explored for China's Drum Tower Hospital

American and Chinese hospitals evaluate similarities, differences

5/25/2018

Two more cases of Ebola confirmed in urban area of Congo

Total of three cases confirmed in city of 1 million people

5/24/2018

Emergency department communications badges reduce response times

The average response time is now down to 1.02 minutes

5/24/2018

Senior care workforce by the numbers

A report from senior living industry organization Argentum has quantified the labor crisis

5/24/2018

Health intelligent virtual assistant market is disrupting industry

Health intelligent virtual assistant market to be characterized by the massive exploitation of IoT and artificial intelligence

5/24/2018

NIH officials responding to Ebola outbreak

U.S. health experts on ‘high alert’

5/23/2018

Nursing home ‘granny cam’ bill passes La. Senate

Bill was opposed by nursing home industry

5/23/2018

New hospital sound design may cure alarm fatigue

The constant alarms of hospital technology called a problem for patient safety

5/23/2018

NHS staff plead for body cameras to prevent assaults

Increasing levels of violence mean staff needed better protection

5/23/2018

App technology is designed for healthcare facility wayfinding

A study has shown that 30 to 40 percent of patients and visitors get lost at the hospital

5/23/2018

Nurses call for use of animals on hospital wards

Royal College of Nursing guidance includes information on infection control, allergy considerations

5/22/2018

Cyberattackers exploit healthcare data security weaknesses

The healthcare sector is the most targeted industry in the first quarter of 2018

5/22/2018

Hospital security departments can help protect domestic violence victims

75 percent of domestic violence victims are targeted at work

5/22/2018

Few Mass. hospitals have enhanced security after stabbing

A Harrington Hospital nurse was stabbed by a patient last June

5/22/2018

Denver patient says surgery was canceled due to contaminated tools

Porter Adventist patient said doctor had to abort his spinal surgery after discovering 'contaminant' on surgical instruments

5/21/2018

New guidelines issued for infection control in GI endoscopy

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy rules based on a critical review of the most current data

5/21/2018

Defending against ransomware attacks

One of the best ways to prevent ransomware attacks is to educate employees

5/21/2018

Building an effective hospital/police partnership

Minnesota healthcare and law enforcement officials released a list of best practices

5/21/2018

Man charged in security officer’s death at Pa. hospital

The officer died a month after an altercation with a psychiatric patient at Heritage Valley Beaver Hospital

5/18/2018

Reassuring patients about facility cleanliness

Review cleaning procedures and improve whatever needs an upgrade

5/18/2018

Study ranks Iowa mostly prepared to handle public health emergency

A national study says Iowa's overall health security level is just under the national average

5/18/2018

Preventing bathing-acquired infections in nursing homes

Bath tubs and accessories can make residents sick

5/18/2018

Studies suggest violence is a virtually universal experience for ED staff

Healthcare facilities have taken a range of security measures to address the issue

5/18/2018

Veggie-focused restaurant opens at Cleveland Clinic

The health-focused eatery focuses on fresh, seasonal produce

5/18/2018

Explosion at California medical facility kills one, injures three others

Explosion in medical building in Aliso Viejo appears intentional

5/17/2018

Using AI to achieve real improvements in healthcare

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy rules based on a critical review of the most current data

5/17/2018

Fla. hospital evacuates critically ill patients after power outage

Emergency power came on later at Kindred Hospital in downtown Fort Lauderdale and allowed the facility to continue to function

5/17/2018

Healthcare facilities boost security after hostage incident

Kane County (Ill.) Sheriff’s Office and Northwestern Medicine both made security changes

5/17/2018

Solar power, other tech, can save hospitals money and energy

Technologies can help can cut costs and improve energy efficiency

5/17/2018

Securing IoT in healthcare is critical

The use of IoT devices is growing in healthcare environments

5/17/2018

Hospital relocation depends on training and IT planning

Parkland Health prioritized IT deployment and moving day coordination

5/16/2018

Healthcare industry–targeting malware increases the need for health informatics professionals

Often, conversations about HIPAA violations center around technological issues. The remaining compliance violations are related to employee actions and behaviors.

5/16/2018

Emergency power system gives N.C. hospital reliability, redundancy and flexibility

Ensures seamless delivery of normal and emergency power to all loads

5/16/2018

Shooting outside Chicago hospital reveals security issues

Two people were shot outside Chicago hospital while waiting for news of wounded relative

5/16/2018

Morrison Healthcare marks 'Stop Food Waste Day'

Atlanta-based Morrison Healthcare is working to increase the number of food recovery and donation programs to serve the hungry

5/16/2018

Ebola is back in the news — make sure your facility is ready

Healthcare facilities should have a pandemic plan and the staff needs to be familiar with it

5/15/2018

IoT technology integrator helps medical device company meet FDA requirements

Establishment Labs must balance safety and regulatory compliance with rapid product development

5/15/2018

How infection prevention can be improved in healthcare facilities

According to the Field Epidemiology Manual, environment is the main source of infection transmission

5/15/2018

WHO promotes hand hygiene in healthcare facilities

Good hand hygiene, including among patients and health workers helps stop the spread of infection

5/15/2018

VA clinic plagued by thieves despite security upgrades

Thieves have repeatedly targeted the site of a Springfield (Mo.) Veterans Affairs clinic

5/15/2018

Disposable cleaning products can help reduce HAIs

More healthcare facilities are adopting single-use, disposable microfiber cleaning tools

5/14/2018

IoT offers new opportunities for healthcare

The rise of the Internet of Things is resulting in a range of advancements

5/14/2018

UV energy can reduce HAIs

To eliminate pathogens from high-touch surfaces, hospitals can incorporate UV disinfection technology

5/14/2018

Mayo Clinic uses bottled water after tap water turns black

Visitors and staff reported that water in toilet bowls turned black also

5/11/2018

Flu activity reported down for fourth consecutive week

Only 1 of 10 U.S. regions reported outpatient flu activity at or above region-specific baselines

5/11/2018

Seniors expected to shake up facility food service

Study identifies five ways tomorrow's seniors could affect foodservice offerings

5/11/2018

Privacy curtains challenge infection control efforts

Most facilities are still using privacy curtains to avoid expensive remodels

5/11/2018

Three strategies to minimize regulatory overload

In recent years, clinical staff and facilities managers alike have seen an increased amount of time spent on regulatory compliance, which can take away from other valuable initiatives

5/11/2018

Photos of messy VA hospital exam room go viral

An internal investigation is underway to determine why the vet was placed in a dirty room

5/10/2018

Scabies outbreak kills 93-year-old in Georgia nursing home

Shepherd Hills had multiple scabies outbreaks in recent years and a history of health violations

5/10/2018

S.D. hospital says it has taken immediate action on medical waste protocols

A senior Region Health official said the hospital is taking new steps to make sure medical waste is being disposed of properly

5/10/2018

Providence St. Joseph Health launches telehealth in more than 100 facilities

Telehealth network that will offer more than 50 specialty services

5/10/2018

Healthcare facility kitchens don't have to be noisy

Small steps in facility design and equipment selection can greatly reduce noise levels

5/10/2018

S.D. hospital mixing medical waste with common trash

Despite city warnings, healthcare facility still mixing waste types

5/9/2018

Why the time is now for a mobile facility information technology revolution

Advances in mobile tech enable facility managers to build an entirely new model for healthcare facilities management.

5/9/2018

Strategic programming for healthcare facilities

Clear and effective communication of information throughout the process is critical to the success of a facilities project

5/9/2018

Flies in operating rooms force VA hospital to postpone surgeries

West Los Angeles veterans hospital struggling with insect infestation

5/8/2018

Vancouver Island hospital security officer honored for disarming attacker

The security officer wrestled the man to the ground and secured the room

5/8/2018

1,000 hospitals get a Leapfrog 'C' or worse

Safety and infection control common issues for facilities

5/8/2018

'Granny cam' bill advances in La.

Nursing home leaders criticized for attempting to water down legislation

5/8/2018

Preventing workplace violence without adding security

Joint Commission suggests seven policies and procedures

5/7/2018

Union workers picketing at Kaiser facilities

The union said that the informational pickets are not a strike and will not affect patient care

5/7/2018

Clean hospitals, hands best tools to reduce C. diff

A new study suggests combining the efforts results in a larger decrease than delivering those interventions on their own

5/7/2018

Vermont healthcare facility has real-time, interactive energy kiosk

The kiosk displays a real-time weather and energy consumption dashboard

5/7/2018

There's room for improvement in controlling Legionella

Legionnaires’ disease has been on the rise in the United States since 2000

5/4/2018

Hospitals, manufacturers still struggling to clean medical scopes

New study says 71 percent of reusable medical scopes tested positive for bacteria after cleaning

5/4/2018

Some providers need to catch up with telemedicine

Telemedicine may be the most rapidly evolving area in healthcare

5/4/2018

Hospital contractor under fire over substandard food service

The hospital is hit by complaints over bland, poor quality and late meal deliveries

5/4/2018

Two reasons why ambulatory care facilities struggle with infection control standards

The Joint Commission highlights problematic standards for office-based surgery practices

5/4/2018

Utah hospital practices for earthquake aftermath

Shriners Hospitals for Children — Salt Lake simulated a situation two days after an earthquake

5/4/2018

University Hospitals changes equipment at the lab after fertility clinic failure

The hospital has new tanks, alarms and remote monitoring

5/3/2018

UK hospital fined for Legionnaires' death

The Royal United Hospital in Bath has been fined £300,000 for health and safety breaches

5/3/2018

Study finds most endoscopes contain bacterial growth after reprocessing

Studies suggest current reprocessing methods are ineffective

5/3/2018

How can hand-hygiene compliance be improved?

The CDC says healthcare providers are cleaning their hands less than half as much as they should be

5/3/2018

N.Y. long-term care center has bistro with kosher foods, Ommegang

Senior care center built a bistro where residents and families can 'eat out' while staying in

5/3/2018

How hospitals respond to mass casualties like Toronto’s van attack

When healthcare facilities hear 'Code Orange' they get ready for patients’ arrival

5/2/2018

Enter the hospital change maker: Supply chain of the future

Having complete visibility into operational data, from the supply chain to finance and even into HR, in one system is becoming a revolutionary change-maker for hospitals

5/2/2018