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Marlee Loiselle, uses an ultraviolet light to detect unclean areas in a test at Royal Jubilee Hospital. |
The Vancouver Sun wrote an article on Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) and their latest efforts to improve hospital cleaning tactics and prevent hospital infections. The new methods look to increase cleaning staffing levels and create a specialist outbreak cleaning team, amongst other upgrades.
In order to improve cleaning standards at VIHA facilities, staff will "identify and mark 10 of the 'most touched points' in a given room or area" and return 24 hours later with UV lights to inspect the areas to see if they are adequately cleaned. UV testing will take place at three facilities - Victoria General, Nanaimo, and Cowichan District hospitals.
Click here to read the entire Vancouver Sun article.
Susquehanna Health is inviting the public to an open house at the newly renovated Susquehanna Tower on February 26, from 12:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. The new tower, 10 years in the making, includes the addition of private treatment rooms in the emergency department, six new conference rooms, a therapy gym, and a multi-media conference center. Visitors will be treated to refreshments and giveaways and self-guided tours.
For more information on the Susquehanna Tower open house, click here.
The Spring 2012 Pebble Project Colloquium, hosted by The Center for Health Design with facility tour host Princeton Healthcare System, is April 16 – 18, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency in Princeton, New Jersey.
Presentation slots are open to members of the Pebble Project to present an update on your project at this meeting. Please mjelen [at] healthdesign [dot] org (contact Matthew Jelen) to reserve your presentation slot – space is limited.
Main Pebble Colloquium events will be conducted at the Hyatt Regency, Princeton: http://princeton.hyatt.com/
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Contact Matthew Jelen at The Center for Health Design if you have any questions about the general meeting or reservations at 925-521-9404 ext. 129, or email him at mjelen [at] healthdesign [dot] org. This event is exclusive to members of the Pebble Project. Contact us if you are interested in learning more about this event, or joining this research initiative.
Pebble Partners from across the country met up in Lexington, Kentucky to attend the Fall 2011 Pebble Project Colloquium. Held September 12-14 at the University of Kentucky, attendees gathered to discuss the latest developments with their projects, take a behind-the-scenes tour of the University of Kentucky facilities, and get to know the newest Pebbles in the group.
The event kicked off with a presentation from Center for Health Design board director Joe Flower, who spoke about the future of healthcare. Highlighting hospitals that succeeded in providing high quality care while reducing costs, Flowers’s talk was inspiring for those in the midst of grappling with similar issues in their own organizations. Following the presentation, attendees were treated to a reception and bourbon tastings from Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, and Heaven Hill. Wild Turkey Master Distiller Jimmy Russell gave an entertaining talk about the history of bourbon and how it is made.
The next day, following talks on evaluating room design based on human factors, the group traveled to the UK HealthCare AB Chandler Hospital to get a look at the new facility and learn how it developed over the course of five years. Participants learned about everything from the IT structure to the artwork (the beautiful Kentucky wall of images are very striking) and grew to appreciate the aesthetics and functionality of the hospital.
"Rarely do we find an in-depth learning event targeted in just one healthcare area. This workshop was a terrific opportunity to integrate theory, research, impact, lessons learned and outcomes focusing specifically on the ED environment," said participant Barbara Huelat. "In addition, the presenters were real problem solvers who responded to and met the challenges of the Emergency department."
“What I am constantly struck with is the level of energy and commitment among our Pebbles to keep the focus on the patients, staff, and families and to provide an environment that results in the best outcomes for them,” says Anjali Joseph, Ph.D., Director of Research for The Center for Health Design. “Clearly the patient was a focus at AB Chandler Hospital and the outcome was visible for all to see.”
The day wrapped up with a networking reception and dinner at the historic Kentucky Horse Park, where attendees met Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes Winner Funny Cide, learned about horses of all shapes and kinds, ate a delicious meal, and listened to some good Kentucky bluegrass music.
The last day featured a Research in Practice Workshop on Emergency Department (ED) design, taking a close look at key issues involved in planning a new ED. Working with national experts on ED design, attendees were able to address issues specific to their organization, as well as participate in hand-on workshops, knowledge bar sessions, and listen to informative panel discussions.
“This meeting ended on an energizing and uplifting note,” says Mark Goodman, Vice President, Project Development. “Our Pebble partners, guests, and ED workshop participants learned a great deal from UK HealthCare and are taking home some great ideas to incorporate into their own projects.”
If you have photos from this meeting you'd like to share,
please email Dianne de Guzman at ddeguzman [at] healthdesign [dot] org.
