Airborne Contamination Insights From the Pandemic and Strategies to Optimize Efficiency
By Jennifer Wagner, PhD, CIC, and Damon G. Greeley, PE, CEM, HFDP, CBCP, EDAC, CHFM, A-IPC As more people are vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, many would like to resume their routine medical appointments and elective surgeries. Research indicates that airborne transmission of aerosolized droplets may be a significant factor for the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 … Continued
Report: Building a Smarter Healthcare Facility
A new report from Honeywell gives healthcare facility managers a chance to voice their thoughts and concerns after more than a year of weathering the pandemic. The report found that 94% of healthcare managers said remote management is important for operational efficiency. Only one in four respondents have such a system in place, but 26% said they plan on investing in this technology over the next year to 18 months.
Hurricane Ida Illustrates Need for Plans Within Emergency Plans
Most hospitals in Louisiana were forced to shelter in place as category 4 Hurricane Ida swept in from the Gulf of Mexico Sunday, August 29, because there was no place to go with evacuated patients as another COVID-19 surge filled normally available facilities to capacity, according to several media reports.
What’s Ahead for Ambulatory Surgery Centers
Based on an industrywide study, ASCs continue to perform more than half of all U.S. outpatient surgical procedures, and they can expect to see greater volumes as the number of outpatient procedures increases an estimated 15% by 2028. However, analysts predict this number will be even higher based on the CMS 2021 final rule on the Outpatient Prospective Payment System and ASCs.
Need to Lower Overhead Costs? Try a Space Management Plan
Healthcare leaders are investigating options for reducing overhead costs. In addition, social distancing requirements for patient and staff safety are forcing hospitals to devise strategies on how to approach space use. In unprecedented times like these, healthcare organizations should consider space management strategies to reduce overhead costs.
More OSHA Scrutiny on Healthcare Organizations, Expanded Whistleblower Protections
In March, OSHA issued its Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The updates extend existing OSHA protections for workplace safety whistleblowers, explicitly stating those protections apply to those who report COVID-19 related violations at the workplace by creating a National Emphasis Program (NEP).
Emergency Preparedness and Utility Infrastructure in Healthcare
As the COVID-19 vaccines roll out across the country and around the world, healthcare organizations can now pivot from frontline surge preparation and focus on futureproofing their facilities. While hospitals successfully implemented emergency facility upgrades and stopgap measures to meet pressing pandemic demands, now is the perfect time for healthcare leaders to take a more comprehensive approach to their utility infrastructure capacity and capabilities.
HazCom: What EHS Managers Need to Know
The hazard communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)—sometimes referred to as the HazCom standard or “worker right-to-know”—remains one of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) most frequently cited standards. The HazCom standard was the second most frequently cited workplace safety standard for fiscal year (FY) 2020, with 3,199 violations.
Adaptable Expertise
As hospitals anticipate a return to pre-pandemic operations, healthcare leaders seek to complete these projects as quickly and efficiently as possible, recognizing that a move into a new facility or renovated space provides an opportunity to assess patient care models, staffing levels, and workflow—and provides, in some instances, better infection control and cleaner environments.
PSQH: The Podcast Episode 26 – How Healthcare Facility Design Can Improve Patient Safety
On episode 26 of PSQH: The Podcast, Dr. Tom Schwieterman, vice president of clinical affairs and chief medical officer of Midmark, talks about how healthcare facility design can help improve patient safety.