Expert Advice

The Importance of a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)

12/2/2019

When you step into a hospital, whether to start a workday, undergo a procedure, or visit a friend who is recovering, you may not think about all of the moving parts that keep a facility up and running. (Unless of course you’re the facilities manager!) Hospitals serve thousands of patients and visitors, control hundreds of different machines and continually support employees all day, every day. This means a facility’s infrastructure, maintenance machines and computer systems work overtime to accommodate necessary functionality.

Planning, Design & Construction: Three Services to Standardize Your Healthcare Facility

11/18/2019

As of March 2019, there was approximately $400 million invested in simultaneous, ongoing healthcare remodeling projects. How do these healthcare facilities ensure their money is being put to good use? It comes down to three services – planning, design and construction – that lead the transformation of healthcare facilities from good to great.

Eight Practices For Faster Crisis Resolution in Healthcare Environments

11/4/2019

Disasters can happen at any time. Severe storms, active shooters, disease outbreaks and other events are not as rare as they once may have seemed. When one of these incidents occurs at or near your healthcare facility, how do you respond? Being prepared for an emergency is vital for the functionality of healthcare facilities and their ability to serve patients when disaster strikes.

10 ways to reduce and prevent workplace violence

10/21/2019

In 2014, a 68-year-old patient pulled a bar from the side of his hospital bed and attacked a team of nurses at a Minnesota hospital. In 2018, a hospital shooting in Chicago — which left two innocent healthcare workers and a law enforcement officer dead — made national headlines and heightened healthcare leaders’ concerns about violence in the healing environment.

Telehealth and Facilities Management

10/7/2019

The practice of doctors making house calls to see patients in their own homes was popular back in the 1930s and 40s. In fact, house calls accounted for 40% of U.S. doctors’ visits at the time. Medical professionals would arrive at a patient’s home at a moment’s notice, bringing with them all the tools they needed to provide the best care (the “best care” for the 40s, that is). As house calls have become virtually nonexistent today, who would have thought they’d make a virtual comeback?

What a 5-star rating from CMS means for your patients and your facilities teams

9/23/2019

Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) update Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings on a five-star scale through Hospital Compare. Hospital Compare is a website for healthcare consumers that provides information on how well hospitals provide recommended care to their patients, allowing consumers to make more informed decisions about where to go for their healthcare needs.

Building automation systems do more to help hospitals work smarter, not harder

9/9/2019

Hospitals are complex environments with many active systems. One of the least understood - and one of the most expensive - is the building automation system (BAS). As technology continues to advance, we are seeing more systems become integrated into the building automation system, such as fire alarms, power monitoring, lighting control and security. The benefits from a well-programmed BAS ensure operational performance, which can reduce energy costs and keep patients, visitors and staff comfortable.

Want to improve the patient experience? Start with employee engagement.

8/26/2019

Defined as employees who are “involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace,” employee engagement is an integral part of everything that happens in and around a healthcare facility. If that description doesn’t sound like the employees in your facility, you might have some employees who are disengaged.

Be prepared: Healthcare facility readiness for public surveys

8/12/2019

In May 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it would be making all survey results from accrediting organizations, such as The Joint Commission (TJC), public. This unprecedented decision redefined the healthcare landscape – empowering healthcare consumers to make a more informed decision on where to receive care.

Top Executive Concerns in 2019: Mergers and Regulations

7/29/2019

Top Executive Concerns in 2019: Mergers and Regulations

7/29/2019

How to Leave a Smaller Energy Footprint in an Era Concerned about Climate Change

7/22/2019

How Hospitals can Mitigate Vendor Risks to Combat Non-Compliance Requirements

7/2/2019

All hospitals strive to establish and maintain a safe, functional environment, but 100% compliance is not as easy as it seems. Having an environment that provides the best possible care to patients is a common goal for caregivers and executives alike. However,  many hospitals surveyed by the Joint Commission in 2018 were non-compliant with this requirement.

Wake up and smell the roses: why landscaping is important for your business

6/27/2019

We don’t usually think of hospitals and making a sale going together; however, the curb appeal is usually the first impression the community receives. 

Opioid abuse and workplace violence: Is there a correlation?

6/21/2019

Workplace violence, including physical assaults and threats of assault toward people at work or on duty, is a growing issue within the healthcare setting. 

3 tips for combatting healthcare staffing shortages

3/13/2019

The gap in the skills trade industry continues to widen as baby boomers age out of the workforce and future generations take their place. With staffing shortages on the horizon, what can healthcare facilities do to retain their staff?

Patients Over Paperwork: 3 Ways to Utilize CMS’s Reduced Burdens

2/26/2019

Less red tape means less paperwork, and more time for everything else. How can healthcare facilities take advantage of CMS’s reduced burdens?

The Importance of Compliance Assessments Before and During New Construction

2/12/2019

Healthcare providers have to consistently keep up with new rules, regulations and advisories in their practices. 

Suicide Risk: Ligature & New TJC Safety Goal

1/14/2019

The holidays are over, so we’re settling into the winter doldrums before spring returns. While some may think we’re moving away from the season where suicides are prevalent, suicide rates actually peak in springtime, rather than winter. According to Neel Burton, M.D., “This is probably because the rebirth that marks springtime accentuates feelings of hopelessness in those already suffering with it.”

4 methods to protect healthcare organizations and staff against workplace violence

12/10/2018

Workplace violence. For healthcare workers, it can be as simple as a patient grabbing a nurse or an associate being bullied by co-workers. Unfortunately, it can also be as grave as a deadly assault. No matter the severity, it’s vital that healthcare organizations find effective measures to eliminate violence and protect their workforce.