American Hospital Association (AHA)
New AHA Web site helps hospital employees vote 9/04:48
American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE)
(Each month, HFM ran an ASHE President's Letter and ASHE Update. They can be accessed by searching HFM's Web site at www.hfmmagazine.com.)
International Conference and Exhibition on Health Facilities Planning, Design and Construction convention program 2/04:31
American Society for Healthcare Engineering Annual Conference & Technical Exhibition convention program 6/04:31
American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES)
(Each month, HFM ran an ASHES President's Letter and ASHES Update. They can accessed by searching HFM's Web site at www.hfmmagazine.com.)
American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services Annual Conference & Technical Exhibition convention program 8/04:29
Architecture/Design/Construction (also see "Facility Profiles," "Interior Design/Decorating & Furnishings," "Infection Control," "Infrastructure (misc.)," "Patient Safety" and "Security")
(Most months, HFM ran a "New Projects Announcements" column in its News section. The individual columns can be accessed by searching HFM's Web site at www.hfmmagazine.com.)
Hospital gets LEED certification; Green Guidelines posted for comment 1/04:3
Eyesore converted into gathering place: 1/04:4
Trends in critical care planning and design roundtable discussion 1/04:24
Rural hospital consortium finds pathway to replacement facilities 2/04:4
Breaking with tradition: Hospitals explore project delivery alternatives 2/04:14
Heavy-duty shielding for most powerful MRI 3/04:5
Vista award winners: The best in health care projects 3/04:30
Center's study links light and comfort 5/04:6
Kids' stuff: Features and factors driving children's hospital design 6/04:38
Universal rooms offer benefits, in addition to controversy 7/04:4
Taking a closer look at connections between design and patient care 8/04:4
Essential elements: Key components and features of cancer centers 9/04:29
Hospital builds ED strictly for the kids 10/04:6
Dollar daze? Understanding a construction contract's general conditions costs 11/04:18
AIA design and construction guidelines open for comment 11/04:40
Green Guide for Health Care Version 2.0 to be released 11/04:40
Hospital aims to retain workforce by designing for aging caregivers 12/04:4
Beth Israel moves PICU in less than 90 days 12/04:6
Hospital upgrades to new, stronger skin 12/04:6
Career Development (misc.)
Turbulent times: Economy affects pay raises for most department heads in this year's salary survey 10/04:14
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (also see "Infection Control")
CDC issues health-care-associated pneumonia prevention guidelines 5/04:44
Clinical/Biomedical Engineering (also see "Food & Drug Administration (FDA)")
Worlds collide: Clinical engineering is converging with information technology 4/04:22
Medical center tests ultrasound device 5/04:6
Seal of approval: ACCE rolls out new certification for clinical engineers 5/04:30
FCC extends bandwidth freeze for medical telemetry users 5/04:44
Study: MRI machines no longer off-limits to pacemaker patients 8/04:6
MRI patients can relax by bringing a movie10/04:6
Winning hand: Playing the odds with clinical equipment service contracts 10/04:22
Out of the shadows: Clinical engineers work to increase their visibility 11/04:12
Codes, Standards and Regulations (misc.)
Earthbound: EPA takes a closer look at hospitals and the environment 6/04:46
Critical access hospitals permitted to establish psych, rehab units 6/04:60
ASHE opposes proposed increase in damper testing requirements 9/04:48
New fit-testing requirements pose high level of difficulty 10/04:44
Conferences (also see "American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE)," "American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES)" and "National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)")
(Most months, HFM ran an "Industry Events" column in its News section. The individual columns can be accessed by searching HFM's Web site at www.hfmmagazine.com.)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
DHS approves incident system, adopts equipment standards 4/04:44
DHS announces date, locations for next TOPOFF exercise5/04:44
DHS outlines future requirements for wireless communications 6/04:60
Economics (misc.)
California budget crisis puts mandated construction on hold 1/04:48
Cost of treating severely obese a burden for hospitals, survey says 2/04:48
HFMA: Weak capital spending threatens hospitals' future 2/04:48
Behind the boom: What's driving hospital construction?3/04:12
Hospital capital spending to jump 14 percent, survey says 5/04:4
Deep Medicare cuts for hospitals are possible, report predicts 12/04:40
Editorial
Bridging the technology gap 1/04:2
A world of choices 2/04:2
The big picture 3/04:2
The pace of change 4/04:2
Slippery when wet 5/04:2
Fighting the culture wars 6/04:2
All together now 7/04:2
Searching for solutions 8/04:2
"Scope creep" in a good way 9/04:2
Navigating the shallows 10/04:2
Breaking out of the basement 11/04:2
To the max 12/04:2
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
New HHS post to facilitate electronic health records 6/04:60
IT alliance opens directory of standards to the public7/04:48
HHS unveils 10-year plan to speed EHR adoption, national IT network 9/04:48
Legal barriers hinder IT adoption in health care, GAO concludes 10/04:44
Panel to launch EHR products certification by summer11/04:40
Emergency Management & Disaster Readiness (also see "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)," "Department of Homeland Security (DHS)," "Energy Management & Electrical Systems" and "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)")
Project tests "temporary hospital"1/04:4
Hospitals get "first responder" designation for federal funding 2/04:48
ACR posts guide for preparation against radiological attack 5/04:44
AHA backs bill to help hospitals, others to secure facilities 5/04:44
Guidelines issued for automated detection of anthrax in workplace 7/04:48
HHS awards nearly $500 million to improve hospital preparedness 7/04:48
Substantial damage to hospitals reported after Hurricane Charley 9/04:4
HHS issues draft preparedness, response plan for flu pandemic 10/04:44
AHRQ offers evaluation tool for disaster training drills10/04:44
Carolina medical center prepares with mobile "hospital" on wheels 11/04:4
Heavy weather: Hurricanes put hospital codes changes to the test 12/04:29
N.J. hospitals, other providers agree on emergency codes12/04:40
Energy Management & Electrical Systems (also see "Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) & Building Controls" and "Lighting")
Balance of power: Five steps to creating an emergency power master plan 2/04:20
Stormy weather: Redundant power system keeps cancer center up and running 5/04:41
Powering down: An orderly process for switching off hospital electrical equipment 6/04:26
Energy ensured: Selecting the right uninterruptible power supply 7/04:24
Energy demand: A facility manager tells how he is complying with a state energy mandate 8/04:37
VA facility partners for easy peak shaving 9/04:6
Full power? Guarding against electrical malfunctions with preventive maintenance 11/04:22
Environmental Services & Housekeeping
Microfibers, macro benefits: Health care facilities discover microfiber mops and cloths 1/04:42
Clean to the extreme! Maintaining kitchen areas in health care facilities 2/04:40
Clean care: Improving the environment of care with "green" initiatives 3/04:40
Tough love: Though designed for heavy-duty use, coated floors still require care 4/04:37
On point: Reducing sharps injuries in the ES department 5/04:35
Aftermath: Housekeeping's role in emergency management6/04:50
Kaiser drafts policy for toxic chemicals 7/04:5
Good wood: Maintaining wood flooring in health care facilities 7/04:38
Clean and green: Instituting a "green" floor care program 8/04:25
Chemical reaction: Pest control enters an environmentally friendly era 9/04:38
Cleaning system helps USC improve efficiency, fight cross-contamination 9/04:47
Spot away: Removing stains from health care carpeting 10/04:37
Kaiser tests "green" coating for floors11/04:5
Evolutionary tale: A look at different floor cleaning methods11/04:35
Back talk: Key considerations for backpack vacuum ergonomics 12/04:33
Ergonomics
Facility adopts "zero-lift" policy3/04:5
Facility Profile
Design takes flight at Florida hospital 1/04:8
Expansion makes birth cozy, staff efficient 2/04:12
Emory hospital provides oasis in midtown Atlanta3/04:10
Desert clinic blends beauty, efficiency 4/04:12
Healing environment, Texas style 5/04:12
Creating a Planetree inpatient psychiatric unit 6/04:12
Plano expansion bridges old and new 7/04:10
Children's hospital supports the whole family 8/04:12
Aged rural hospital moves into the future9/04:12
Facility integrates southern charm 10/04:12
Hospital brings "wellness" to rural settings11/04:10
Ohio surgery center develops innovative ICU design12/04:12
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
FCC private land mobile radio audit to conclude, ASHE reports 6/04:60
FCC extends freeze on licensing of private land mobile radio users 7/04:48
FCC bandwidth freeze extended through 20058/04:44
FCC announces filing deadline for rural provider discount 9/04:48
Flooring/Floor Coverings
Nature trails: Carpet design helps visitors navigate North Dakota facility 1/04:45
Senior service: Carpet has easy maintenance requirements at elder care facility 5/04:40
Shriners Hospital updates its look with colorful, durable carpet 6/04:59
No-slip solutions: Vendors rush to address hospital slip-and-fall concerns 11/04:26
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (also see "Patient Safety")
FDA publishes safety tips for preventing hospital bed fires 2/04:48
FDA issues rule requiring bar codes on hospital drugs and biologics 4/04:44
FDA revises guidance on reprocessing SUDs 7/04:48
FDA seeking draft comment on hospital bed safety guidance 10/04:44
FDA announces findings of reprocessed SUDs review 12/04:40
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Feds have received 3,400 HIPAA privacy complaints since launch 1/04:48
Some hospitals have burnout as HIPAA security rule looms 3/04:52
Survey: Hospitals, others largely compliant with HIPAA privacy rule 5/04:44
HIPAA security rule resource guide issued7/04:48
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) & Building Controls (also see "Energy Management & Electrical Systems," "Infection Control" and "Emergency Management & Disaster Readiness")
Relative humidity: Desert hospital requires moisture-repellant duct design 1/04:46
Hospital upgrades IAQ and saves $2 million 2/04:6
Book it! An overview of ASHRAE's design manual for hospitals and clinics 4/04:32
Adaptive control system helps hospital restore chilled water capacity 6/04:58
Florida Hospital puts a new light on HVAC maintenance and sees savings 7/04:44
Phoenix hospital uses Web-based system to monitor life safety compliance 10/04:41
High-tech fire alarm system integrates easily at Iowa hospital 10/04:42
Provider achieves an ROI of less than 12 months with new energy controls 11/04:38
Tuning up: Optimizing heating and cooling systems for energy savings 12/04:14
Infection Control (also see "Legionella" and "Mold")
Environmental infection control guidelines posted by CDC1/04:48
JCAHO adopts revised infection control standards1/04:48
CDC issues draft infection control guidelines for health care settings 8/04:44
Infrastructure (misc.)
Planning for PACS: Imaging upgrades present infrastructure challenges 1/04:10
Exhausting problem: Hospital prevents re-entrainment of generator odors 4/04:40
Combining IT systems to improve operations 6/04:6
E pluribus unum: Centralized utility plants can save hospitals money and headaches 6/04:20
Beware the backbone: Ignoring infrastructure can be a costly design mistake 9/04:20
Special delivery: Management process helps rural facility build affordable central energy plant 10/04:28
Systemwide wireless network underway 11/04:5
Interior Design/Decorating & Furnishings (misc.) (also see "Facility Profiles," "Architecture/Design/Construction," and "Security")
Inside information: Developing a master plan for hospital interiors 2/04:26
"Green furnishings": Environmentally friendly furniture for health care facilities 3/04:26
Big challenge: Designing for the needs of bariatric patients 3/04:34
Technology, care, employee trends drive decentralized nurse stations 4/04:4
Nurses' lounge debuts at NYC's Beth Israel 4/04:6
Hospital bed makers talk about their product innovations5/04:22
Cardiac rehab lab takes after nature 8/04:6
Plant director invents suicide-proof door 9/04:6
Sound effects: Design and operations solutions to hospital noise 9/04:14
Internet (misc.)
Patients get wired at Houston hospital 4/04:6
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) (also see "Infection Control" and "Patient Safety")
New year, "new pathways": Are you ready for JCAHO's new survey process? 1/04:39
JCAHO tailors safety goals to nonhospital programs3/04:52
JCAHO and ASHE to improve life safety, EC evaluations8/04:44
Joint Commission announces increase in survey fees 10/04:44
Process improvements: JCAHO makes revisions to scoring and standards for new survey process 11/04:31
JCAHO offers FAQs on eyewash and blood warmer testing12/04:40
Laundry/Linen
Load 'em up: Dolly trucks keep linen transport system running smoothly 3/04:46
Laundry tugs decrease employee strain at Oklahoma City medical center 11/04:37
Landscaping & Groundskeeping
Guiding sites: Using landscaping and exterior design elements to enhance campus wayfinding 4/04:28
Legionella
Water watch: A look at water quality recommendations and requirements 1/04:20
The word on water: New CDC guidelines recommend a proactive approach to Legionella 10/04:33
Lighting
Lighting prescriptions: Balancing clinical and aesthetic needs in hospital spaces 7/04:19
Lighting retrofit helps system cut energy use by 40 percent 12/04:38
Management (misc.) (also see "Career Development (misc.)")
Juggling Act: The challenges of managing multiple sites6/04:14
Keeping tabs: Benchmark data show overall department trends7/04:32
Florida hospital makes MSDSs easier to understand for employees 12/04:37
Maintenance (misc.)
Facilities manager "writes the book"2/04:6
Tooling around: Managers consider reliability-centered maintenance techniques 4/04:14
Mold
Growing issue: An expert's perspective on molds and legal discovery 1/04:16
Got mold? Hospitals make progress in the fight against fungus 5/04:14
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (also see "Codes, Standards and Regulations (misc.)")
New directions: NFPA fall conference attendees discuss many changes 2/04:36
NFPA amends code to allow hand-rub dispensers in corridors 6/04:60
The good of all: NFPA conference focuses on standards for public safety 7/04:34
NFPA releases comments on health facilities standard11/04:40
Noise abatement (also see "Interior Design/Decorating & Furnishings (misc.)")
Hospital night noises can approach the level of a jackhammer, study says 3/04:4
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
AHA calls on OSHA to repeal decision on respiratory protection 3/04:52
OSHA releases safety bulletin on dry fire sprinklers3/04:52
Emergency management plan recently published by OSHA4/04:44
Operations (misc.)
Campus smoking ban ends mixed messages 6/04:6
PDAs help pharmacists improve patient safety7/04:5
Positive grip footwear reduces slips and falls7/04:5
Hospitals make return to warehouse concept 9/04:6
AHRQ releases tool to help in surge capacity planning9/04:48
Robotic vehicle system frees staff time at OSU10/04:6
Patient Safety (also see "Clinical/Biomedical Engineering," "Food and Drug Administration (FDA)" and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)")
Recall targets rocking chairs used in health care facilities 2/04:48
Trendsetting hospital wins safety award 3/04:5
Joint Commission approves 2005 patient safety goals8/04:44
Citing "serious risk to patients," FDA seizes patient lifts 8/04:44
Belgian company announces voluntary patient lift recall9/04:48
AHA groups urge their members to comment on entrapment issue 12/04:40
Patient Transport
Patient transport group joins with AHA 2/04:6
Groups release guidelines on transporting critically ill3/04:52
Plumbing (also see "Legionella")
High and dry: Managing water failures in health care facilities 3/04:20
No hands: Cincinnati hospital installs sensor-operated scrub stations in ORs 3/04:48
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
Vanderbilt study: RFID tracking successful 6/04:6
RFID makes cafeteria food purchases easy 11/04:5
Tagging along: RFID helps hospitals track assets and people12/04:20
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
New report highlights SARS preparedness considerations1/04:48
CDC updates SARS guidance for health care facilities2/04:48
Engineering issues raised in journal article on airborne SARS spread 6/04:4
Security
Hands off: Hospital uses biometric hand reader to protect birth center 4/04:42
Stepping into security: Advice for facility managers overseeing the protection function 5/04:26
Bundling up: Advice on integrating hospital security systems7/04:12
Bear tests security at rural hospital 8/04:6
Florida clinics switch to biometric devices12/04:6
Signage/Wayfinding
Sign language: System's affordable signage adds flexibility, cohesive outlook 2/04:44
Coordinated, flexible signage adds to Iowa hospitals new look 8/04:41
Sign language: Wayfinding design requires a team approach 9/04:24
Signage is only a small part of hospital's new wayfinding system 10/04:4
Telecommunications
Alaskan center makes "telemedicine" literal4/04:6
Communication system helps radiologists 5/04:6
Dialing for dollars: Advice on reducing a hospital's telecom spending 12/04:26
Waste Management & Reduction (also see "Environmental Services & Housekeeping")
Waste watch: Hospital's on-site treatment is cost-effective and staff friendly 2/04:43
Group praises defeat of proposed med waste technology standard 4/04:44
Tops in trash: Selecting a winning waste disposal technology 8/04:14
Bright lights, big recycling: A look at fluorescent lamp recycling efforts 8/04:20
Stanford fights medical waste shipping charges with on-site sterilization 9/04:46
