Groundskeeping - June 2020

California hospital suspends admission of non-Coronavirus patients after surge of staff cases

The facility has been preparing for this type of surge since the pandemic began

6/30/2020

FEMA paid company $7M for plastic soda bottles

Original order was for test tubes for COVID-19 testing

6/30/2020

Cleanroom requirements and classifications for healthcare facilities

Cleanroom facilities provide an essential barrier against the spread of contaminants and disease in the healthcare sector

6/30/2020

Assisted living facilities running low on PPE equipment

Many facilities said they have less than a two-week supply of specific PPE

6/30/2020

Healthcare facility environmental services managers share top concerns

Role of the environmental services department in patient care often underestimated

6/30/2020

Pandemic has greatly increased the use of telemedicine

Will it be the future of healthcare?

6/30/2020

California long-term care facilities build booths for visits

Families visit loved ones through Plexiglas during pandemic lockdown

6/26/2020

Long Island emergency staff wants more security after bomb scare

Two floors, including the emergency room, were evacuated in the incident

6/26/2020

Infection preventionists are preparing for COVID’s second wave

Part of the process are education and establishing plans

6/26/2020

R.I. hospital using disinfecting units to fight coronavirus

The units use disinfecting solution effective against COVID-19

6/26/2020

Battling COVID with a video camera

With the continued need for social distancing, hospitals are seeking ways to distance healthcare workers form contagious patients

6/26/2020

A sustained response to COVID-19 depends on key capabilities

Kaiser Permanente put together a checklist to manage a pandemic

6/25/2020

How can hospitals prepare for two disasters at once?

Coordination with emergency response agencies is key

6/25/2020

How access control technology is being used in the pandemic

Technology is being used to help eliminate common touch points, isolate infected patients

6/25/2020

Reducing HAIs with touchpoint disinfecting

EVS staff should focus their efforts on one of the most challenging areas to disinfect

6/25/2020

Implementing a healthcare data platform to promote high-value care

The global pandemic amplifies the day-to-day challenges of identifying gaps in care

6/25/2020

Unions say mask decontamination endangers healthcare workers

N95 respirators used by clinical workers are complicated safety devices and are meant to be disposable, according to an expert

6/24/2020

Pittsburgh company repurposing industrial masks to use against Covid-19

Elastomeric masks cost more upfront, but they can be cleaned and reused for years, with the filter replaced monthly

6/24/2020

Outsourcing: Going from 'housekeeping' to 'environmental services'

Professional environmental services make a science of cleaning

6/24/2020

Outsourcing: Going from 'housekeeping' to 'environmental services'

Professional environmental services make a science of cleaning

6/24/2020

Indiana hospital security guard shoots, kills patient and fellow guard during assault

Patient had attacked nurse and was choking guard that was killed

6/23/2020

Senior living facilities applying Covid’s infection-control lessons long term

Procedures have come under scrutiny during the pandemic

6/23/2020

The impact of blue light on patients at night

Light is critical to our health because it helps synchronize the biological clock that maintains our circadian rhythms

6/23/2020

What if hospitals face a hurricane and coronavirus at the same time?

COVID 19 has made storm preparations even more critical

6/22/2020

N.H. nursing home workers petition for COVID-19 stipends

Facility staff in Rockingham County want to be compensated as front-line workers

6/22/2020

How hospitals can prepare for a ‘new normal’

Hospitals are facing new challenges that have lead to technological innovations

6/22/2020

How to curb the spread of airborne and surface contaminants

Building’s mechanical systems can support occupant health

6/19/2020

Lessons learned in pandemic offer opportunities for change

Telehealth became more common with significant advances in the last 10 weeks

6/19/2020

Improving facility door security as crime risk increases

Door can have vulnerabilities that can be exploited

6/19/2020

Infection preventionists, environmental services staff urged to work together

COVID-19 is inspiring teams to improvise

6/19/2020

Cleaning machines may be smart investment for healthcare facilities

It is important that floor-cleaning machines be employed whether or not an imminent threat is already present

6/19/2020

Purdue University startup creates bedside hand-washing system

Project Process created a portable bedside sink

6/18/2020

Pennsylvania orders stricter COVID-19 protections for hospital workers

The measures include staff members in housekeeping services, dietary services and maintenance

6/18/2020

VA not prepared for second virus wave

Agency says it lacks adequate medical gear

6/18/2020

Sanitizing, stockpiling and communication helps keep nursing home stay COVID-free

Some of these steps happened before the U.S. entered its lockdown phase

6/18/2020

Environmental survey shows how HAIs often start

The researchers sampled 179 sites including sink traps, pulse oximeters, and door handles

6/18/2020

FDA updates rules on cleaning N95 masks

Some made In China should not be reused

6/17/2020

What hospitals can learn from the Parkview Medical shutdown

The good news is COVID-19 is not resistant to disinfectants

6/17/2020

Children in care at risk for coronavirus

Many have been locked down since late February facing isolation with strict social-distancing measures

6/17/2020

Regulations, Codes & Standards Q&A: Dead-bolt lock on closet door

Brad Keyes discusses regulations for a dead-bolt lock on closet door

6/17/2020

Environmental services technician certification proves its worth

Certification also helps decrease infection rates in hospitals

6/17/2020

Protecting healthcare facilities from drones

There continues to be a sharp increase in uses for drones - both positive and negative

6/16/2020

Reliable power source key during pandemic

In some countries, 25 percent of health clinics lack electricity

6/16/2020

N.Y. initiative boosts cleaning in longterm care facilities

Daily, discharge cleaning show improvements

6/16/2020

Alabama doctor invents hand-sanitizer-dispensing wristband

The device could be helpful in combating illnesses commonly spread by hand, such as the flu, the common cold and food poisoning

6/16/2020

Pop-up grocery stores popping into healthcare facilities

Foodservice company is converting existing retail space at healthcare facilities into 'pop-up' grocery stores to serve frontline healthcare workers

6/15/2020

Considerations for hospital and healthcare facility evacuations

Facilities should incorporate elements of an evacuation plan, with logistics and alternatives

6/15/2020

Healthcare design can help prevent infection spread in restrooms

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need for better design in restrooms

6/15/2020

Coronavirus complicates hurricane planning

Storm shelters have to be designed for social distancing

6/12/2020

WHO says there’s a second outbreak of Ebola in Congo

Country already battling COVID-19 and measles

6/12/2020

Avoiding the hidden costs of environmental services staff injuries

Environmental services work-related injuries usually involve either exposure to harmful contaminants or musculoskeletal disorders

6/12/2020

COVID-19 would complicate hospital evacuations

The University of Texas Medical Branch has been training to deal with a complex disaster during a COVID-19 flare up

6/11/2020

CDC updates COVID guidance for assisted living communities

The update provides recommendations on infection reporting, visitor restrictions and group activities

6/11/2020

Tackling difficult carpet stains

When an accident occurs, it is vital to clean bodily fluids from floors immediately and with caution

6/11/2020

Chatbots are reshaping the way COVID-19 ERA healthcare facilities and hospitals connect with patients

Tools that allow self-service customer response techniques are more important than ever

6/11/2020

Survey finds almost 75 percent of campuses use multiple emergency notification systems

But this total represents a drop since the last survey

6/11/2020

Minneapolis hospital cancels surgeries over safety concerns

Emergency procedures continued but other surgeries were postponed

6/10/2020

North Carolina using drones in Covid-19 response

Novant Health received a temporary waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly the drones

6/10/2020

Healthcare facilities urged to redefine their culture

Establishing a career path and offering continued development is important

6/10/2020

HEPA containment systems for isolation rooms

Because the ductwork is protected by the filter, there is a reduced risk of a potential contagion spreading in the ceiling service spaces

6/10/2020

Resilient design for healthcare facilities about more than disasters

Resilience can be about how the design holds up in the long-term

6/10/2020

Georgia student creating COVID-19 protective equipment

The equipment is made using a water-jet machining process

6/9/2020

Nursing home workers face risks during coronavirus

A third of Covid deaths in the U.S. have been in longterm care facilities

6/9/2020

Kaiser Permanente releases guidance on bringing back employees to the workplace

The playbook was made in response to requests from the health plan's customers

6/9/2020

COVID-19 increases importance of hand hygiene

Proper hand hygiene training called the number one way to reduce the spread of illnesses and viruses

6/9/2020

Environmental services' role goes beyond cleanliness

EVS professionals can impact patient satisfaction

6/9/2020

Elastomeric masks may be an alternative N-95s

Elastomeric masks used with a P100 filter provides 99.97 percent respiratory protection

6/8/2020

Strategies for effective healthcare facility management in the time of COVID-19

To support healthcare workers and limit the spread of the virus in care facilities, the impact of identifying critical areas that need support such as HVAC, fire systems, security, and building automation systems is underestimated

6/8/2020

Many common cleaning products reported effective against COVID-19 virus

The researchers said the microbicidals ethyl alcohol, para-chloro-meta-xylenol (PCMX), salicylic acid; and quaternary ammonium compounds kill 99.9 percent of coronaviruses

6/8/2020

Drones are delivering medical supplies and PPE in North Carolina

It may be the longest-range drone delivery service that’s been approved in the U.S.

6/8/2020

CDC reports pandemic has killed close to 300 U.S. healthcare workers

More than 60,000 workers have been infected

6/5/2020

Maine healthcare facility switches to in-house security

The decision was made after an assessment of the physical environment

6/5/2020

Iowa manufacturer turns ceiling panels into intubation shields

The acrylic and polycarbonate sheets used were turned into medical equipment

6/5/2020

Products to fight COVID-19

The good news is COVID-19 is not resistant to disinfectants

6/4/2020

The key to an effective emergency plan

The program should address a range of emergencies

6/4/2020

How nursing homes can bolster infection control

Infection control in skilled nursing facilities has come under scrutiny

6/3/2020

Manufacturers and providers – Superheroes in fighting healthcare cybercrime

More and more medical devices are wirelessly connected to the Internet and also to healthcare facility networks and their respective sensitive devices

6/3/2020

How cloud-integrated robotics can make your budget and staff more efficient – choose to make a difference today

The U.S. healthcare system must look for opportunities to automate tedious tasks

6/3/2020

Cleaning strategies during coronavirus pandemic

Focus on cleaning and disinfecting common areas where staff and others providing services

6/3/2020

Banner Health launching virtual waiting room

COVID-19 is expected to bring changes to maintain social distancing guidelines

6/2/2020

Facilities could be liable if healthcare personnel test positive for coronavirus

If an employee tests positive for coronavirus they contracted while working, or they unknowingly brought the disease to work and infected others, employers can be held liable for a workers’ compensation claim

6/2/2020