Facility Operations - August 2018

Nursing home reviews security after being robbed twice in a month

Thieves targeted the facility to steal drugs

8/31/2018

Study says patients in private rooms less likely to get fatal HAI

Hospitals with mostly private rooms had 33 percent fewer central line infections

8/31/2018

Hundreds of Fla. assisted living facilities without critical equipment

Some counties have received failing grade for not having plans in place

8/30/2018

Newest CMS memo leaves HFAP ligature standard intact

HFAP recently updated 13 of its standards

8/30/2018

Cybersecurity, digital failures called top hospital hazards

The ECRI Institute releases its list of top healthcare technology hazards for 2018

8/30/2018

Hospital supply chain offers cost-saving opportunities

Joining a group purchasing organization can cut expenses across the system

8/30/2018

Health system's new security measures include badges, metal detectors

Atrium Health also plans to add more armed security officers

8/29/2018

Evolution of barrier-resistant doors

Door functionality for behavioral health facilities has improved over the last decade

8/29/2018

Trends for creating the new patient experience

From the first impression to the last — how to create an exceptional continuum of care

8/29/2018

Energy improvements at Louisiana hospital to save $200K a year

The improvement measures include replacing water management fixtures

8/29/2018

Integrating lighting systems in healthcare facilities

Range of codes and standards can make integration a challenge

8/29/2018

Hawaii hospitals prepared for Hurricane Lane patients

Healthcare facilities stocked up on supplies and generators

8/28/2018

Company diverting unopened healthcare products from waste stream

Program also helps healthcare facilities recover cost from unused

8/28/2018

Stray cat causes infection scare at UK hospital

A deep clean was ordered after the cat's activities came to light at Epsom Hospital in Epsom, England

8/27/2018

N.Y. hospital institute new security policy for visitors

Security officers have been stationed at all entrances to help guide patients and visitors

8/27/2018

Inmate captured after escape from Michigan hospital

Sheriff says more should have been done to secure the inmate

8/27/2018

Healthcare facilities' energy efficiency improves air quality

Salt Lake City Op-Ed says healthcare facilities' energy efficiency efforts can impact community health

8/27/2018

HAIs can cause social, emotional pain

Many patients described 'feeling like a leper'

8/24/2018

Hospital scavenger hunt teaches employees workplace safety skills

Workers earn prize tickets for fixing issues

8/24/2018

Researchers create bacteria-fighting polymers with light

The discovery may help identify antimicrobials for a range of applications

8/23/2018

Technology can boost hand-hygiene compliance by 45%

The study, originally featured in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) stated that hand hygiene compliance rates provided by the traditional direct observation method did not accurately reflect baseline rates.

8/23/2018

Is your operating room sweating this summer?

There are a few tricks that the facilities staff can use to help keep the room open until the bigger problem can be addressed

8/23/2018

A greener environmental services department can have a wide impact

Green practices can increase environmental sustainability and improve patient care

8/23/2018

Health worker among five new cases in Congo Ebola outbreak

They bring the outbreak total to 78 cases

8/22/2018

New biocide mist kills bacteria

A viscous disinfectant has been turned into a breathable mist for the first time

8/22/2018

Accidents blamed for most healthcare data breaches

Accidental disclosures made up 38 percent of the data breaches

8/22/2018

To get rid of fax machines we must first standardize prior authorization

Ninety percent of communications between provider and payer are still done by phone or fax

8/22/2018

Man who died in jump from N.Y. hospital went out window in unused ward

The 5th floor window was secured, but appeared to be tampered with

8/22/2018

Ebola outbreak will be test of world’s ability to respond

This outbreak is occurring in a part of the Congo that has long been a conflict zone, with over 1 million displaced people

8/21/2018

D.C. VA hospital reportedly used rusty surgical tools, contaminated water

Reports in November 2017 included findings of VA sterilization specialists

8/21/2018

LED benefits, strategies illuminated

The most effective applications depend on matching advances in the technology to facility needs

8/21/2018

Digital trends transforming healthcare facilities

As patients become more active in their healthcare decisions, healthcare facilities are tapping digital technologies to help their organizations overcome these challenges

8/21/2018

Getting ready for a CMS emergency preparedness survey

Long-term care facilities have to decide whether to focus on high-impact but low-frequency events or more common, but less impactful events

8/21/2018

Test, inspect, maintain: Fire suppression system priorities

If the facility or its mission changes, facility managers must be able to recognize and understand how those changes might cause a water-based fire suppression system to fail

8/21/2018

More US hospitals going green to save green

Healthcare facilities are responsible for nearly 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions

8/20/2018

Strategies for green product selection in healthcare facilities

Beyond cost and performance, facility managers must consider a range of environmental factors in the products

8/20/2018

Small mistakes can spread hospital infections

The use of personal protective equipment is challenge for many healthcare facilities

8/20/2018

How managers can streamline CMMS

Maximizing the performance of a CMMS can improve technician productivity and hold down inventory costs

8/20/2018

Break-out at mental health facility prompts door upgrade

A N.Z. facility is replacing wooden doors leading to high-care areas in Hillmorton Hospital's acute inpatient unit

8/20/2018

Preparation key to dealing with healthcare facility shootings

Those providing essential medical care to patients cannot run, hide or fight

8/17/2018

CMS says Joint Commission recommendations set standard for ligature risk

CMS surveyors will be referring to those recommendations when looking for environmental hazards

8/17/2018

CMS Administrator calls for an end to physician fax machines by 2020

CMS is also seeking app developers

8/17/2018

Healthcare industry hit hardest by cybercrime

The healthcare industry itself is partly responsible

8/17/2018

Top three trends underlining healthcare gamification market landscape

Global valuation to exceed USD 40 billion by 2024

8/17/2018

N.Y. hospital shooting illustrates complexity of threat

Incident spotlighted the complex job of protecting healthcare facilities

8/16/2018

Feds reverse plan to reduce reporting on hospital infections, safety

The information will now be published on the federal Hospital Compare site

8/16/2018

Healthcare workers hike to raise awareness about workplace violence

Minnesota healthcare workers are planning a 100-mile hike on the Superior Hiking Trail

8/15/2018

Security reviewed after apparent murder-suicide at NY hospital

An investigation will be conducted into how the man entered with the handgun

8/15/2018

Oregon toolkit aims to curb healthcare workplace violence

The collaboration grew from a workgroup started in 2014

8/15/2018

Study looks at contamination of frequently touched hospital objects

Study shows bacterial contamination for elevator buttons, door handles and phones

8/15/2018

10 taken to hospital after feeling sick at N.H. medical center

Employees reported feeling dizzy, lightheaded, and tightness in their chests

8/14/2018

Managing patient surges with social media

Use of social apps can help keep track of breaking incidents so appropriate treatment and security can be provided

8/14/2018

Rosebud reservation hospital under scrutiny again

Federal inspectors surveyed the hospital in late July

8/14/2018

How healthcare facilities survive natural disasters

Communication, planning and technology are key

8/14/2018

New Cape Cod healthcare facility being built to survive strongest hurricanes

Hospital adhering to Florida building code standards

8/13/2018

Superbug Candida auris spreads from UK to Australia

Outbreaks have occurred in more than 20 countries since the organism was discovered in 2009

8/13/2018

Interactive calculator quantifies cost savings from using mobile facilities dashboards

Winning budget approval for technology is still a challenge when senior management teams in healthcare are often juggling multiple, and sometimes competing, priorities

8/13/2018

Boosting energy efficiency with building envelope retrofit

Other benefits include improved appearance and uninterrupted workflow

8/13/2018

What to consider when planning for an industrial generator

Age, hours, and fuel type play significant roles in your decision-making process.

8/13/2018

Some bacteria are becoming more tolerant of hand sanitizers

It took a 70-percent alcohol mixture to eradicate some bacteria

8/10/2018

VA Medical Center in D.C. 'deteriorating,' memo says

The VA memo said agency leaders have the concerns about mishaps, employee dissatisfaction

8/10/2018

Calif. hospital reviews active-shooter procedures

Leaders looking at they responded to first 'code black' lockdown

8/10/2018

Water leak postpones surgeries at an Okla. hospital

The water had to be shut off at AllianceHealth Midwest City

8/9/2018

New device diffuses viscous disinfectants

Standard mechanical atomization doesn't work well with viscous fluids

8/9/2018

Maryland organizations collaborate to reduce HAIs

Participating facilities achieved a 14.2 percent decrease in C. diff rates

8/8/2018

Parata Systems boosts customer satisfaction with proactive maintenance and analytics

After finding their existing IoT platform lacking, Parata needed to evaluate other solutions.

8/8/2018

Food service becoming main course at senior facilities

As Americans age, senior living continues to evolve into big business

8/8/2018

Congo to use Ebola vaccine to counter flare-up

Four people have tested positive for Ebola

8/7/2018

Virginia electronically links all of its emergency departments

The ability to view information on a patient's 10 previous ED visits saves on unneeded imaging tests

8/7/2018

Safety improvements ordered for hospitals after arson attack

Entire staff will receive face-to-face fire safety training

8/7/2018

Food service veteran expects continued heavy chef presence in hospitals

James McGrody, UNC Rex Healthcare, discusses industry and career

8/7/2018

AHE announces 2018 Environmental Services Department of the Year Award winners

The award recognizes significant contributions made by an environmental services department to the overall patient experience and achieving a healthcare organization's mission

8/7/2018

Seismic deadlines looming for California hospitals

Kern River Valley facing bed shortage in event of disaster

8/6/2018

Patient satisfaction drives lighting investment decisions

Patient satisfaction and overall comfort can provide a cost benefit that outweighs any electronic dashboard savings

8/6/2018

Indiana microhospital has full food-service operation

Two employees staff the micro hospital’s food and nutrition department

8/6/2018

Hospital updates cleaning checklist

Update includes previously overlooked overlooked items

8/6/2018

Common sense approach urged for cybersecurity

Healthcare providers should scale their security programs and understand they're not going to fix everything at once

8/3/2018

Net zero energy is the future of facilities

Practices, considerations for an ultra-efficient building

8/3/2018

Shoddy IT infrastructure invites hackers

Hackers are attracted to hospitals with rapid adoption of IT

8/2/2018

Cybersecurity responsibility shared by entire healthcare supply chain

Increased use of connected medical devices and software and wireless technology have made health systems more vulnerable

8/2/2018

Bill to improve VA waste disposal moves to Senate

The bill would require the VA to install on-site medical waste treatment systems in all facilities

8/2/2018

Security questioned at hospital after mishandling of gun

Police officer heard ordering staffer to pick up a dropped gun during a shooting incident

8/2/2018

Sustainability can be infection prevention issue for healthcare facilities

Chemical safety, energy use and waste reduction can affect patient safety

8/1/2018

Patient risks grow when facilities underestimate IT

Almost every critical system rides on the central IT backbone, including building automation, fire monitoring, emergency power, refrigerators, water management and air management

8/1/2018