Industry News - August 2013
Spike in health care construction brings higher interest costs
Hospitals in Chicago and elsewhere more than double debt service payments
8/30/2013
New hospital accreditation firm attracting attention
'Facility-friendly' DNV Healthcare emphasizes ongoing improvement
8/28/2013
Healthcare construction steady, but survey shows some uncertainty
The market for healthcare construction is holding steady, but firms still worry about uncertainty in the field, according to a survey in Healthcare Design magazine.
8/20/2013
Affordable Care Act spurs rise in hospital system mergers
The number of hospital mergers in 2012 (105) was more than double the total in 2009 (50), and with 46 mergers already this year, 2013 looks to be continuing the recent trend, according to Irving Levin Associates, a health care research firm.
8/19/2013
NFPA drops new emergency power requirement
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has dropped a requirement for adding an indicator light on each receptacle on emergency power.
8/16/2013
Art donated to enhance patient experience at health center
New artwork donated to enhance the patient experience at The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center in Worcester, Mass., was unveiled this week at a reception celebrating National Health Center Week.
8/16/2013
Evidence-based design knowledge repository launched
The Center for Health Design has launched an extensive library of more than 2,500 evidence-based designed references.
8/15/2013
Brooklyn faces threat of hospital closings
A combination of economics and health trends could lead to the closing of a series of large hospitals in Brooklyn, N.Y.
8/14/2013
Hospitals improve food service to increase patient satisfaction
Hospitals nationwide are changing the kinds of food they serve and how they serve it in an effort to increase patient satisfaction, and thus revenue.
8/2/2013
Walgreens rebrands its in-store 'Take Care' clinics as 'Healthcare Clinics'
The clinic name change is intended as a way to attract new patients by linking the growing retail clinic business to Walgreens' other healthcare assets under one well-known brand.
8/1/2013