Ventilation Tips to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities during the Winter Holiday

Brian Baker | December 16, 2021

For the second holiday season the US is experiencing an escalation in COVID-19 cases. This presents cause for concern for long-term care facilities that anticipate an increase in visitors during the holidays. On top of this, colder winter temperatures mean facilities may not have the option to open windows to improve ventilation or to hold...

How to Identify Environmental Factors Leading to Hospital Acquired Fungal Infections

Bryan Connors | October 22, 2021

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) notes that surgical site infections carry an estimated cost of $3.3 billion each year and are associated with nearly 1 million additional annual inpatient days. Bacteria is by far the most common contributor to surgical site infections, and as a result much surgical site infection surveillance has...

Boston’s healthcare greenhouse gas emissions cut by 18% in 9 years despite growth

David MacIntosh | September 14, 2021

The United States is the world’s highest emitter of healthcare greenhouse gases (GHG), accounting for 27% of the global healthcare footprint.1 Climate change impacts a wide range of health outcomes from asthma and cardiovascular disease to malnutrition and heat-related illness and deaths.2 Healthcare has the opportunity, and obligation, to promote the health of the community...

Compliance with The Joint Commission’s New Water Management Standard Relies on Risk Assessment

Erin Higgins | September 13, 2021

Most healthcare facility managers already have in place a water management plan that outlines control measures for mitigating the risk of waterborne pathogens. Despite this, many of those same facility managers find themselves struggling with how to implement these plans in line with The Joint Commission’s (TJC) new water management program standard for the Hospital...

6 Steps to Creating a Water Management Program for Your Healthcare Facility

Bryan Connors | April 27, 2021

The problem of Legionella bacteria growth in complex water systems has been known for decades, but recent changes to regulatory requirements have created a compliance issue for many healthcare facilities. If your hospital doesn’t currently have an effective water management program implemented with effective “control measures”, it’s time to make creating one a priority. The...

Creating More Resilient Healthcare Facilities: Steps to Take Today to More Rapidly Prepare for a Winter COVID Surge

Bryan Connors | January 18, 2021

The winter surge of the COVID-19 pandemic is here. This time there is no epicenter, the spread of the virus has accelerated across the United States. Some healthcare systems just this summer were able to transition from COVID-dedicated spaces back to general patient care areas. Now they are faced with converting back again to respond...

The Need to Understand Infection Risk Sources and Pathways to Mitigate HAIs

Erin Higgins | January 12, 2021

Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) remain a significant source of concern for healthcare facilities of all types and sizes, and the physical environment is often a leading source of these infection-causing pathogens. Data from the CDC indicates that each year, about 1 in 25 U.S. hospital patients are diagnosed with at least one infection related to hospital...

Practical Tips for Performing Your Hospital’s After Action Evaluation for COVID-19

Kristin Pitocco | July 2, 2020

When your hospital starts to see the crisis period for COVID-19 deescalate, it will be important to thoroughly evaluate your response to the pandemic and document the assessment in an After Action Report (AAR). What worked well? What didn’t? The extreme strain hospital staff has been under for months makes it daunting to think about...

Six Common Mistakes When Donning and Doffing PPE that Could Lead to COVID-19 Infections

Bryan Connors | June 15, 2020

As of June 12, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that approximately 75,000 cases of COVID-19 were healthcare providers in the US. Healthcare providers are on the front lines and are at high risk of infection. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is paramount in helping to protect them from infection. Yet, PPE...

Reopening Clinics: Ensuring a Healthy Facility and Staff Safety

Bryan Connors | May 14, 2020

As public health experts determine that it is safe to see patients and stay-at-home restrictions are relaxed, ambulatory care centers, physician clinics and dental clinics should strategically plan when and how best to reopen. The physical environment is part of the foundation of providing a healthy workplace so properly preparing your facility prior to re-occupancy...