By Mackenna Moralez, Assistant Editor

To say that 2021 has been a year for the history books is an understatement. But even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues mutating into different variants, political tensions remainat an all-time high, and natural disasters affect every part of the globe, it is time to put this year to bed.

The healthcare industry has been in the spotlight throughout the year as organizations navigated a range of ongoing challenges. The year has not been easy on facility managers, who have worked to protect the health and safety of patients, staff, and visitors to facilities while complying with constantly changing regulations and standards.

The most read Healthcare Facilities Today articles of 2021 discuss a range of topics impacting healthcare facility management. Whether the topic is new construction, the future of hospital design, or safety tips, these articles offered insights and information to help managers succeed now and know what to expect in 2022:

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed issues within current healthcare structure. Healthcare Facilities Today senior editor Dan Hounsell discusses the way the impact of the pandemic has played a role in how hospitals and other healthcare facilities are updating the designs of their facilities and operations.

New York broke ground on its first specialty children's hospital this year. The facility will provide diagnosis, clinical assessment, crisis evaluation, and evidence-based treatment for issues related to complex conditions.

It is common for patients to become sleep deprived from environmental interruptions while in the hospital. A new study looks at the impact of lighting systems and noise levels on the health and recovery of patients.

A study by American Journal of Infection Control looks at bacteria levels on hospital surfaces after cleaning with dry hydrogen peroxide technology.

As healthcare systems adjust to the new normal, facility managers and other healthcare officials are taking stock of the lessons learned so far. One of the most important lessons from the pandemic is the way design, construction, and renovation of healthcare facilities will adapt to changing realities.

Environmental services teams are playing a major role in managing hospital throughput as the healthcare crisis continues to put pressure on hospitals to ensure patient satisfaction. In this article, Healthcare Facilities Today discusses the balance that is required to provide patients with the best care while dealing with ever-tightening budgets.

This fall, OSHA announced plans to conduct onsite inspections in hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and other facilities treating patients with COVID-19. Shari Solomon discusses the way these inspections will play a role in healthcare facilities and what managers should expect.

Mackenzie Healthfs Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital became Canadafs first smart hospital this year through a partnership with CenTrak.

When vaccines started to roll out in 2021, maintenance and engineering managers in hospitals and other healthcare facilities had to address the risk to front-line workers storing and handling vaccines using dry ice. Healthcare Facilities Today gives guidance on safely handling dry ice.

Cleaning terminology can be complicated, but it is critical knowledge when training environmental services personnel. Healthcare Facilities Today contributor J. Darrel Hicks discusses the reasons correct cleaning terminology is important when communicating with frontline employees involved in infection prevention.

Mackenna Moralez is assistant editor with Healthcare Facilities Today.