Hospitals and health systems are ramping up hygiene standards to help curb healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), according to an article on The Wall Street Journal website.
Healthcare facilities are focusing on the hospital fixtures most vulnerable to contamination along with the standard protocols and constant efforts to improve staff hand hygiene. Bed railings, wheelchairs, IV pumps and stethoscopes are among the areas getting extra focus.
Examples of heightened hygiene practices include:
Stamford (Conn.) Health has prioritized "environmental hygiene" on items such as telephones, call buttons, IV poles and stethoscopes, but their biggest focus is on computer keyboards. The 305-bed, nonprofit facility now has a computer in every patient room so the staff isn’t taking potentially germy computers from room to room.
The Sentara Healthcare in Norfolk, Va., is using copper to fight superbugs. Sentara installed copper countertops, bed rails, bed tables and other furniture. It also began using copper-infused linens, including patient gowns, bed sheets, towels and washcloths.
Examples of heightened hygiene practices include:
Stamford (Conn.) Health has prioritized "environmental hygiene" on items such as telephones, call buttons, IV poles and stethoscopes, but their biggest focus is on computer keyboards. The 305-bed, nonprofit facility now has a computer in every patient room so the staff isn’t taking potentially germy computers from room to room.
The Sentara Healthcare in Norfolk, Va., is using copper to fight superbugs. Sentara installed copper countertops, bed rails, bed tables and other furniture. It also began using copper-infused linens, including patient gowns, bed sheets, towels and washcloths.
Building Envelope Design: Beyond Energy Efficiency
Outpatient Surge Reshapes Long-Term Strategy for Medical Outpatient Buildings
Mercy Medical Center to Be Integrated into Baystate Health
Managing IAQ in Healthcare Facilities During Wildfires
Building Hospital Resilience in an Era of Extreme Weather