With all the focus on energy-efficiency and the drive to reduce carbon emissions in buildings through design and technology investments, it is easy to overlook the fact that significant energy savings can be achieved as a byproduct of well-performing building systems. As equipment ages, as minor components fail, as the seasons change, and as space...Read More
When faced with a possible infection risk from Legionella colonization within a hospital water system, many health care systems take broad, buildingwide actions to stop the risk before it spreads, and they will continue to repeat those same actions without understanding the root cause. Common recommendations are to periodically add chlorine disinfectant (either low-level or...Read More
Having an effective water management program has proven critical for minimizing patient exposure to a wide range of dangerous waterborne pathogens. In fact, one CDC study found that approximately 21% of HAIs can be transmitted via water. However, many hospitals have struggled with the development and implementation of a comprehensive water management program. Pathogens include...Read More
Preventing hospital acquired infections remains an ongoing battle for many healthcare infection prevention and facilities management teams. Fortunately, new tools and strategies continue to emerge to help experts address potential infection risks. One such tool is an air tracing study, which identifies the pathways that infectious organisms can travel from their source to a compromised...Read More
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...Read More
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...Read More
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...Read More
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...Read More
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...Read More
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...Read More
