Features

Environmental Design Initiatives Work for Infection Prevention
		By Debra D. Harris, Ph.D.  and Deborah J. Breunig, R.N., BSN, MBA, EDAC - Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAI) are infections caused by a wide variety of bacteria, viruses and fungi while receiving medical care. HAI affects an estimated two million patients in the United States each year with 90,000 or more ending in death. In the United States, HAI:

Ronald McDonald House unveils shiny, bacteria-killing renovation
The Ronald McDonald House of Charleston, South Carolina (RMHC) unveiled an unprecedented renovation featuring bacteria-killing Antimicrobial Copper to further protect the health of the vulnerable patients and families it serves. The extensive renovation, which makes RMHC the first nonprofit temporary residence facility in the nation to undertake an Antimicrobial Copper retrofit.

Morristown Memorial Hospital wins LEED Gold for WHR Architects’ floor renovation
At Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morristown, New Jersey, the renovation of a single floor, Simon Level 5, has received a Gold LEED Commercial Interiors certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The 14,070 square foot project, the renovation of a 1948 semi private room bed floor into an in-patient unit focused on oncology patients, encompasses 30 patient rooms and support areas including a nurses station, pharmacy, a staff lounge, two waiting rooms and administrative offices.

CT scans in the ED cost a lot; reveal little
Performing CT scans in the emergency department for patients experiencing dizziness may not be worth the expense—an important finding from Henry FordHospital researchers as hospitals across the country look for ways to cut costs without sacrificing patient care

Herman Miller Healthcare supports nation’s most advanced clinical simulation center
ZEELAND, Mich—Through a partnership between Simulation and Training Environment Lab (SiTEL) and Herman Miller Healthcare, the technology used to train astronauts and airline pilots is now available to healthcare professionals with the unveiling of the Clinical Simulation Center (CSC).

EDAC hits 1,000-certified Evidence-Based Designers
The Center for Health Design’s Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC) has hit a momentous milestone. Now, 1,000 industry professionals, including interior designers, architects, physicians, nurses, healthcare executives, and product manufacturers, have become EDAC certified. In 2009, there were just 100 certifications.

Healthcare facilities managers point out bottlenecks to attaining sustainability
There are three important – and interrelated – perceptions that create bottlenecks in developing more cost- and energy-efficient healthcare facilities. According to a survey of 20 major North American metropolitan areas.

Top 10 patient-care technologies for 2012
If you’re wondering what technologies will likely cross your facility’s threshold over the coming year, ECRI Institute, an independent nonprofit that researches the best approaches to improving patient care, has developed a list of the top 10 health technology issues for every healthcare facilities’ managers’  ‘watch’ list.

More young workers enter Facility Management Profession
as average annual compensation nears US$100,000
HOUSTON—The facility management professional of 2012, on average, is college educated, manages more than 1 million square feet of space and multiple employees, has experienced a growth in job responsibilities over the past two years, and is enjoying a base salary increase of 8 percent from 2007 levels, according to the results of an International Facility Management Association (IFMA) salary and demographics survey.

Real-time location systems are gaining traction in the healthcare market
According to a study by KLAS, an independent healthcare research firm, approximately10% to 15% of the healthcare market is currently using a real-time location system (RTLS) solution. Some providers may initially view RTLS as a specialty investment that is only helpful at certain types of organizations.

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Case Studies

Seismic Certification and the Consulting Engineer 4 Critical Factors at Issue: Minimizing Liability, Good Specs’, QA and Certified Equipment - by Bhavesh Patel
Building code standards for seismic certification require that critical mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment must endure higher ground acceleration levels, or risk being red tagged during inspection, or worse. They also are being more broadly applied than before

Overcoming Hurdles Produces Power Reliability for Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago
Ensuring power reliability for Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s new Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago was as demanding a project as Randy Ehret, senior vice president of Environmental Systems Design, had ever faced. Configuring electrical infrastructure, such as emergency power, is never easy in the heart of a major metropolitan center. Getting the job done was at the same time a 100-yard dash and a 26-mile marathon.