Cuts to environmental services staff lead to rise in hospital-acquired infections, study says

Union representatives drew a relationship between hospital underfunding and a rise in preventable deaths


A union organization says cuts to cleaning services can lead to a rise in hospital-acquired infections, according to an article on the Recorder website.

A study by the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) indicates hospital-acquired infections may kill around 3,200 Ontarians per year. 

The study, completed in the fall of 2016, claims provincial funding decreases are at the root of the problem.

Other factors cited include high hospital bed occupancy levels, overcrowding, increased antibiotic use, and the privatization of cleaning staff.

Read the article.

 



January 12, 2017


Topic Area: Environmental Services


Recent Posts

What Does Light Daily Cleaning Miss in Patient Rooms?

Most environmental services workers still clean as if they are wiping dust off a countertop, not disrupting a living, structured community.


Smart Lighting Overhaul Boosts Efficiency, Diagnostics and Wellness at Bryan Health

Case study: LED upgrade and advanced controls across Bryan Health campuses cut lighting energy use by 57 percent while enhancing patient care and staff productivity.


AdventHealth Opens New Freestanding ER in Florida

The approximately 13,700-square-foot emergency room features 12 patient rooms, respiratory therapy services, diagnostic imaging including CT scans, X-ray and ultrasound.


Dirty Floors: How Pathogens Can Accumulate and Spread Underfoot

Studies show that healthcare floors are covered in bacteria and can quickly spread throughout patient rooms. 


WellSpan Health Opens Its Newberry Hospital in Pennsylvania

This marks the opening of its 10th hospital in the region spanning Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.