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AHE conference closes out with a lightning round of discussions
The Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) wrapped up its annual Exchange Conference & Solution Center today with its conference-within-a-conference. The program featured three talks on management and leadership.
AHE Exchange connects environmental services leaders to purpose
The Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) kicked off the 2019 Exchange Conference & Solution Center this morning in San Antonio. The conference features experts and thought leaders in the health care field with a focus on environmental services, infection prevention and patient experience. AHE President Pam Toppel, CHESP, T-CHEST, started off the morning general session challenging environmental services leaders to “show up and step up,” for their departments and organizations.
How maintenance can help or hurt infection prevention
Facility professionals routinely perform risk assessments to make sure construction work will have a minimal impact on patient safety and comfort. Image courtesy of ASHE Health care facility engineering and maintenance staff play an important role in providing a safe and healing environment for patients, visitors and staff. The look and feel of a health care facility impacts the first and lasting impressions of patients and visitors.
How dangerous mold develops
A common concern in hospitals is the development of mold, which can often grow unnoticed but can pose a health threat to patients. While healthy people are constantly exposed to various types of mold and fungus in their daily environments with little impact, mold can pose a significant threat to patients whose medical conditions or treatments may have compromised their immune systems. The conditions needed for mold development are: A host surface, such as carpet, drywall or ceiling tiles.
Solutions: Laundry and cleaning products
RELIABLE SYSTEM The Liebert GXT5 is the latest update to the GXT family of rackmount, online uninterruptible power supply systems for small information technology environments and edge locations, such as network closets in health care facilities. It protects critical equipment against outages and disturbances without drawing on battery power, which extends battery life and minimizes replacements. Vertiv Group Corp.
Collaborating with EVS
Throughout nearly four decades in health care facilities management, I have had the honor to learn from, lead and work alongside dedicated environmental services (EVS) team members. Often, I took time to work with my EVS team members as they went about their daily routines, which I viewed as an opportunity to understand their experiences. I saw firsthand how decisions made during the planning, design and construction process can impact EVS success.
UV robot joins hospital’s EVS team
From left: Andrea Brown, EVS training supervisor; Patricia Mullins, UV technician; and Debbie Sandberg, EVS director. Image Courtesy of Sutter Medical Center Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, Calif., the flagship location of the Sutter Health network, has served its community since 1923.
EVS technician leads with love
Stephan Vick, CHEST, winner of the 2019 Heart of Health Care Award. Image Courtesy of Northside Hospital Stephan Vick, CHEST, lives by one simple motto: “Spread love, not germs.” As an environmental services (EVS) technician II at Northside Hospital in Atlanta for the past six years, Vick’s adherence to that motto has meant a lot to the patients he serves in the hospital’s blood and marrow transplant (BMT) unit.
USP releases new and revised chapters
USP releases new and revised chapters The U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) has published new and revised USP Compounding General Chapters and made them available for free download. The chapters published include: <795> Pharmaceutical Compounding – Nonsterile Preparations; <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding – Sterile Preparations; and <825> Radiopharmaceuticals – Preparation, Compounding, Dispensing, and Repackaging.
Health care uncertainty brings challenges to EVS
The Toppel File CV Regional manager for environmental services at OSF HealthCare, Peoria, Ill. Director of support services at OSF HealthCare Saint James, Pontiac, Ill.
Students take aim at pressure ulcers
The Personal Care E-ssistant earned recognition from the university’s annual electrical engineering competition. Image by Hadassah Fromowitz Electrical engineering students at Arizona State University (ASU) designed a hospital bed that addresses an issue facing care facilities. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, more than 2.5 million U.S. patients develop pressure ulcers and approximately 60,000 die annually as a direct result.
2019 Environmental Services Departments of the Year
As key players ensuring the safety, cleanliness and patient-friendliness of health care facilities, environmental services departments hold a wide range of important responsibilities. What’s more, they’re being challenged to perform these functions more efficiently and collaboratively than ever before. Winners 501-plus beds: Parkview Health, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Parkview Health focuses on training and collaboration
In an organization the size of Parkview Health — a 941-bed system based in Fort Wayne, Ind., with more than 2.5 million square feet of cleanable space — consistency among buildings, staff and processes is critical. So, when Parkview’s environmental services department decided to restructure its new hire training program in 2017, establishing consistency was central to the team’s strategy, says Daniel J. Malloy, CHESP, director of corporate environmental services at Parkview Health.
Geisinger's front-line staff leans in to excellence
At Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, Pa., environmental services leaders are keenly aware of the critical role front-line staff play in pleasing patients at the 284-bed hospital that serves Lackawanna County and the northeastern part of Pennsylvania. “Our front-line staff are the heartbeat of this hospital,” says David C.
Northside Hospital uses staff input to increase efficiency
When Northside Hospital – Cherokee, Canton, Ga., moved to a newly built replacement facility in Canton in 2017, the environmental services department faced enormous challenges that come with transitioning to a much larger facility. Twelve years in the making, the $264 million, state-of-the-art, seven-story hospital and medical center on a 50-acre complex was built to accommodate the growing health care needs of the region.
Function and aesthetics drive flooring choices
Image courtesy of Ecore International Health facility managers are looking for flooring materials that provide noise reduction, comfort underfoot, cleanliness and aesthetics. Surfaces that provide an ergonomic solution for staff and prevent slip-and-fall accidents also are in demand. In response, manufacturers have developed a variety of hard flooring innovations that meet those needs.
AHE Exchange 2019 preview
The Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) Exchange 2019 annual conference and solution center will be held Aug. 21-24 in San Antonio. The Exchange program convenes health care professionals from multiple disciplines to collect tools, build and enhance skills, and share the lessons necessary to optimize environmental services as a critical programmatic response to infection prevention and environmental hygiene, as well as to quality outcomes and patient or resident experience.
Curbing the costs of rural health care construction
Despite their financial challenges, many rural organizations find that they must invest in — or even replace — their facilities. For some, the cost of maintaining aging structures has reached unsustainable levels, and infrastructure failures threaten their ability to reliably provide care. For others, investment is motivated by competition for physicians or service lines. Unfortunately, rural hospitals considering facility investments may encounter surprisingly high construction costs.
Managing security outside of the emergency department
Medical surgery and intensive care units are often the next stop for patients coming from the emergency department (ED). Therefore, many of the same challenges faced in the ED follow the patient. However, there are some distinct security advantages to being the second or third unit stop in a patient’s recovery process. They may include: Information. This is the ability to receive clear intelligence gained regarding the patient and their challenges. Disrobed.
Sim center designed for care continuum
A mock apartment allows clinicians to practice administering care in patients’ homes. Image courtesy of SSM Health As health care breaks out of its traditional four walls and into off-site facilities, community-based clinics, medical office buildings and even patients’ homes, SSM Health wanted to ensure that its newest simulation center would reflect the same progression.
ASHE celebrates victories at ICC meeting
ASHE celebrates victories at ICC meeting The International Code Council (ICC) Committee on Healthcare (CHC), which is a joint effort created by the American Society for Health Care Engineering and ICC, held meetings to vote on 17 code change proposals to better align the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requirements.
Solutions: HVAC and security products
SMOOTH EXIT The Slyde Evacuation Sled offers an easy to use, cost-effective and reliable solution to evacuate nonambulatory occupants from any multistory building. This compact, lightweight transport sled is built to quickly and easily slide people in a horizontal evacuation to a safe place on the floor, a vertical evacuation using an elevator or going up/down stairs, or over uneven terrain to escape from harm.
Navigating a future course
The way we navigate from point A to point B today is very different from what we did just 10 years ago. Instead of depending on our memories or paper maps, we receive verbal guidance from the global positioning systems in our smartphones. Through crowdsourcing data in real time, these instructions adjust to guide us to our destination efficiently based on the current conditions of the environment.
Health care microgrids attract NFPA attention
The Department of Energy defines a microgrid as a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that act as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid. Realizing that we need to rethink how we utilize energy resources, a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) technical committee is addressing this in the next edition of NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities Code.
HFM Print Magazine Archive
Inside HFM Conference provides important guidance in the face of change The 55th Annual ASHE Conference and Technical Exhibition gathers trusted experts and information to optimize health care's physical environment The 55th Annual ASHE Conference and Technical Exhibition gathers trusted experts and information to optimize health care's physical environment.
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The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the policy of the American Hospital Association. This website contains links to sites which are not owned or maintained by the American Hospital Association(AHA). The AHA is not responsible for the content of non-AHA linked sites, and the views expressed on non-AHA sites do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Hospital Association. © 2017 Health Forum
Preserving construction capital
The Zen garden at Jupiter Medical Center’s Margaret W. Niedland Breast Center is the centerpiece of the 26,000-square-foot project that features comprehensive women’s services. Image by Jeffrey A. McDonald Hospitals and health systems must evolve their bricks-and-mortar investments to adapt to patient preferences as more care moves out of the hospital and toward outpatient facilities.
Countdown to new drug waste rule
Image from Getty Images On Aug. 21, 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Final Rule: Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals and Amendment to the P075 Listing for Nicotine will begin impacting how hazardous waste pharmaceuticals are managed in hospitals and other health care facilities. Despite its imposing name, the new rule is groundbreaking in that it is only the second time in EPA history that the agency has specifically carved out rules for a particular field.
Determining regulatory costs for hazardous waste compliance
A cost analysis is dependent on many factors, including current generator status, waste segregation policies and vendor relationships. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is actively encouraging the management of all pharmaceutical waste as hazardous waste but has not done a specific cost analysis.
Handling indoor air quality concerns
Whether a facility’s HVAC maintenance is contracted out or performed in-house, the level of competency of the maintenance providers is critical. The old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” holds true when addressing indoor air quality (IAQ) concerns. Consequently, looking at a facility holistically and from different angles allows facility managers to put multiple safeguards in place to minimize the probability an IAQ issue will develop.
Preventing mold-related issues
Undetected water leaks, pipe breaks, roof leaks, clogged drains and inadequate maintenance can lead to mold-related issues. The prevalence of uncontrolled water and elevated humidity levels can create the perfect environment for mold growth in hospital environments. More importantly, the location, type and quantity of mold that develops can be serious and sometimes deadly.
Maintenance software applications expand
Image courtesy of Fluke Corp. The ideal computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) encompasses more than work order tracking and maintenance scheduling. It provides users with the insights needed to manage maintenance proactively, increase equipment reliability, ensure compliance with internal and external regulations, and support a sustainable environment. In short, a properly utilized CMMS can transform maintenance activities into a business value driver.
Survey finds nimbleness a key to career success
Image from Getty Images Given the current state of flux and uncertainty in hospitals and the entire American health care system, American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) members have voiced an interest in understanding more about how the field of health care engineering is evolving and want to be able to compare themselves with others on topics such as career satisfaction, compensation and career development.
Gender differences show in ASHE survey
ASHE Career Collaboration Project survey The American Society for Health Care Engineering’s Career Collaboration Project also explored gender differences. Results indicated that men taking the survey were, on average, five years older than women. Educational attainment was similar across both genders, and no differences were found for career satisfaction or career satisfaction social comparisons. A few significant gender differences were found.
ASHE reaches across the field to advance advocacy efforts
Image from Getty Images One of the questions frequently asked of Chad E. Beebe, AIA, FASHE, CHFM, deputy executive director of advocacy for the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association (AHA), is, “Why get involved in the code process?” The compelling reason for doing so, Beebe says, is that it is one of the few health care regulations that the field has control over.
Alternative power technologies drive new regulatory attention
Alternative power sources, including combined heat and power (CHP) and health care microgrids, are of increasing interest to American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) members. CHP, or co-generation, is a means of improving energy efficiency while reducing carbon emissions, enabling health care facilities’ finite financial resources to be stretched further. Low-emission, clean-burning natural gas can be leveraged to produce electricity and heat.
Hospital pharmacy regulations present new facility challenges
Some refer to United States Pharmacopeia (USP) General Chapter 800, Hazardous Drugs — Handling in Healthcare Settings, as a “heavy lift” for health care facilities. While a daunting challenge for facilities to implement, the chapter is required, says Jonathan Flannery, CHFM, FASHE, FACHE, American Society for Health Care Engineering senior associate director of advocacy. “It’s not just about protecting the patients, but our staffs also,” he says.
Hospital captures wind, solar power
Jacobi Medical Center is replacing less efficient street lamps with renewable energy lighting. Image courtesy of Jacobi Medical Center Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y., kicked off its two-phase $11 million energy-efficiency project with the installation of combined wind- and solar-powered street lamps that operate completely separate from a traditional energy grid. The 22 outdoor lights replace 36 less efficient street lamps to illuminate the campus’ sidewalks and roadways.
Getting into the flow of preventive maintenance
A maintenance technician walks into a mechanical room and sees a bright and shining new air handler that is supposed to serve the newly renovated operating room (OR) on the third floor of a critical access hospital. The technician knows they are supposed to perform preventive maintenance on it, but they have no idea what it is, how it got there or how to start their work. They go back to the shop and complain to their coworkers, “They did it to us again.
Drones fly into hospitals as potential supply chain transformers
Leo A Daly’s Miami design studio sees potential for drones to add resiliency to health care facilities. Image courtesy of Leo A Daly Drones are pushing the envelope in a number of fields, and now health care systems are looking to integrate unmanned aircraft systems into their supply chains as a unique cost- and life-saving measure.
ASHE conference panel challenges outdated thinking on operational excellence
From left: Tim Adams, Dana Swenson, Rodger Glaus, Michael Hatton, William Tinsley and Kara Brooks at the 2019 ASHE Annual Conference Image courtesy of ASHE Establishing best practices, and defining and achieving operational excellence in health care facilities were main themes today at the 56th American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) Annual Conference & Technical Exhibition.
Annual ASHE Conference brings leaders together to map out a course for success
Keynote Speaker Robyn Benincasa talks about building winning teams at 56th ASHE Annual Conference Image courtesy of ASHE Thousands gathered today at the 56th American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) Annual Conference & Technical Exhibition in Baltimore.
Recycled blue wrap given new life as inpatient products
Monique Citro of UVMC shows off inpatient products made from recycled sterile blue wrap. Image courtesy of University of Vermont Medical Center The University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMC) in Burlington has been recycling its sterile blue wrap used to package surgical instruments for nearly a decade. However, up until this spring, the hospital had very little knowledge as to what happened with the 7 tons of No. 5 polypropylene plastic it diverted from landfills each year.
Pharmacy compliance advice
A compounding pharmacy with optional hazardous drug storage room. Image courtesy of ASHE United States Pharmacopeia (USP) General Chapter 800, Hazardous Drugs — Handling in Healthcare Settings, was developed to define the quality standards for the handling of hazardous drugs (HDs) and the proper environmental controls for compounding to protect health care workers and patients. This exposure can occur with workers who are unaware of their exposure and in departments outside of the pharmacy.
What to expect during certification of compounding spaces
The requirement for certification of the air quality, airflow and pressurization in the compounding areas is still found in Section 4.6 of USP General Chapter 797, Pharmaceutical Compounding — Sterile Preparations, but the similar physical environment requirements of the hazardous drug compounding area defined in USP General Chapter 800, Hazardous Drugs — Handling in Healthcare Settings, will be reviewed in the certification process as well.
Plan review for compounding rooms
The pharmacy staff should be highly engaged by the design and construction team early in the planning stages for compliance with USP General Chapter 800, Hazardous Drugs — Handling in Healthcare Settings. These discussions should start with understanding the entire process for how staff receives, transfers, stores, delivers and administers hazardous drugs (HDs) to patients. These discussions also should include the techniques the pharmacy staff will utilize for HD compounding.
ASHE Annual Conference preview
Photo courtesy of ASHE Health facility professionals rely on education, resources and networking opportunities to stay informed on current trends and issues related to the health care physical environment. The American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) 56th Annual Conference & Technical Exhibition, which will attract more than 4,000 attendees to Baltimore on July 14-17, will help them map the course of health care and further develop their career paths.
An oasis in rural Arizona
Images courtesy of Timmerman Photography Northern Arizona Healthcare’s Camp Verde Clinic made an investment in the health of their community by expanding primary care, and diagnostic and rehab services in rural Arizona. The services offered at the new location emphasize wellness and preventive care, supported by a facility design that blurs the line between the natural and built environment.
Public helps lead design of facility
Image courtesy of Gresham, Smith & Partners, and Harley Ellis Devereaux McLaren Greater Lansing, part of the Grand Blanc, Mich.-based McLaren Health Care, has revamped its design process as it builds a new $450 million health care campus. Like many hospitals, McLaren welcomes the input of patients on the campus’ design.
Devices and furnishings to reduce ligature danger
Photo courtesy of Bradley Corp. Creating a ligature-resistant health care environment is important to preventing patient suicide and self-harm. Yet challenges abound. Manufacturers must design ligature-resistant furnishings, fixtures and devices that do not look intimidating but can withstand rugged use. Fortunately, health facilities today have an ever-expanding choice of products from which to choose.
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