A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) reports the infection prevention steps taken to control a months-long multispecies outbreak of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales that occurred in a pediatric ward at the Toho University Omori Medical Center in Tokyo in 2017. The Tokyo study highlights the particular vulnerability for contamination through sinks and other water sources; indeed, even replacing all sinks in the ward did not stop this outbreak.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are a major public health threat because of their resistance to widely used antibiotics. The biological mechanism that confers multidrug resistance can be passed from one bacterial species to another, contributing to the growing epidemic of antimicrobial resistance. An outbreak of one CPE species in a hospital has the potential to turn into an outbreak involving many species, making it that much more difficult to stop. Many studies have shown that there is a high risk of CPE contamination in and around hospital sinks. The sampling in this report identified nine sinks contaminated with CPE, including six in hospital rooms and three more in a nurse center, a waste room, and an ice machine. The CPE-positive sinks were all found in rooms where CPE-positive patients had been treated. In rooms with CPE-negative patients, no sink contamination was detected.

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Publisher Wiley has released a new book edited by Edmond Rondeau, AIA Emeritus, RCFM, IFMA Fellow — the 1988 president of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), currently secretary/treasurer of the Facility Management Accreditation Commission (FMAC), and a familiar name to many FMs — and FM industry expert Michaela Hellerforth of Germany, professor of FM at Westfälische Hochschule.

With valuable insights from over 50 diverse contributors from over 15 countries around the world, Facilities @ Management: Concept, Realization, Vision — A Global Perspective describes the evolution of the FM industry from a global perspective, discussing the past, present and future of a profession that has grown significantly over the last 40 years. The contributors are industry professionals, many of whom are the founders of the profession, and members from academia who are responsible for teaching future FM leaders. This edited work is an FM origin anthology, but it also reviews the current state of the industry through best practices and lessons learned from some of the sharpest minds in the field.

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The American Hospital Association (AHA) has released a new report showing that hospitals and health systems continue to experience significant financial pressures that challenge their ability to provide 24/7 care for the patients and communities they serve. The Costs of Caring report shows that in 2023, hospitals and health systems continued to face substantial challenges due to higher costs for labor, drugs and supplies. At the same time, reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid did not keep pace with these mounting costs, and hospitals and health systems increasingly encountered challenges navigating onerous commercial insurer practices such as denying and delaying access to and payment for patient care. These headwinds persist in 2024 and have been further exacerbated by the recent unprecedented Change Healthcare cyberattack, forcing many hospitals to dip into their diminishing cash reserves to maintain operations. 

Key findings from the Costs of Caring report include:

• Economy-wide inflation grew by 12.4% between 2021 and 2023, more than double the 5.2% growth in Medicare reimbursement for hospital inpatient care. This makes it harder for hospitals to maintain access to care and invest in cybersecurity and cutting-edge treatment.
• Hospitals and health systems incurred significant underpayments for several essential and complex health care services in 2023
• Hospitals and health systems face mounting administrative burden and costs due to certain commercial health insurer practices like prior authorization and denials. At the same time, health insurance premiums grew twice as fast as hospital prices in 2023.

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The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a global green building authority and developer of the LEED program, announced the opening of the first public comment period for its draft rating system, LEED v5. This step marks a milestone for LEED and the building industry at large, providing a comprehensive framework for creating sustainable, efficient and resilient built environments that promote environmental responsibility, economic viability and social equity. IFMA encourages FMs to submit comments on sustainable operations and maintenance issues by May 20.

Centered around three impact areas, all credits and prerequisites in LEED v5 drive improvement towards decarbonization, quality of life, and/or ecological conservation and restoration. LEED v5 emphasizes impact, alignment and interconnectedness to support initial and ongoing sustainability efforts throughout a building’s lifecycle. LEED v5 Operations + Maintenance puts existing buildings on a path to decarbonization and ties Platinum-level certification to near-zero carbon operating emissions.

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A breakthrough brand redefining architectural walls and pods, KI Wall offers elegantly engineered solutions to support applications throughout healthcare facilities. Sustainably designed and manufactured, KI Wall solutions not only provide visual and acoustical privacy but also offer the flexibility to adapt to various spatial requirements and technological advancements. The result? Beautifully functional environments that support the well-being of patients, families, and staff.

Following an evidence-based design philosophy, the KI Wall portfolio exceeds architectural demands in healthcare design. From ensuring patient safety and confidentiality to supporting medical professionals with seamless functionality, KI Wall solutions deliver long-term benefits and industry-leading returns in total cost of ownership. Explore how you can reimagine your healthcare spaces with KI Wall.

Visit KI at NeoCon showroom 1181.

The International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety (IAHSS) announces the release of a significant update to industry guideline 06.02 Home Health Provider (Community Provider Services), which includes information to assist healthcare organizations in developing a security plan to protect staff traveling into the community to provide patient care. 

The guideline opens with the statement that “Healthcare Facilities (HCFs) providing home or community-based health services should develop a security plan to protect staff traveling into the community in the performance of their job duties.” 

Dean R. Sobcoviak, CPP, CHPA, chief protective services officer for Sutter Health and Council on Guidelines member, said he is excited about this updated guideline for several reasons.  

By prioritizing the safety and security of home health nurses and community service providers, healthcare organizations can enhance the quality of care provided to patients in the community while mitigating potential risks to those providing patient care services. 

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Inspired by the restorative connection between nature and wellness, and anchored by performance and sustainability, Natural Attraction by Stinson focuses on an affinity for the natural world around us. A walk in the woods, the pitter patter of rain, the swirling, soothing sensations of water currents, the tiny pebbles at the bottom of a flowing stream, each of these creates a positive art form now translated to high-performance textiles specifically designed for healing environments.

From soft pastels to deep saturated jewel tones, the colors, textures and patterns have been designed to complement healing environments. Upon first glance, taking cues from nature, it is easy to feel and understand that the collection is focused on a sense of calm and well-being. The simple yet sophisticated textures and patterns can be intermingled depending on the intended environment or application. The privacy curtain, Echo, has been designed to work with the upholstery surfaces. Other finishes and surfaces commonly used in healthcare have been considered.

Visit Stinson at NeoCon showroom 10-150.

With a mission to “Advance All Women in Business,” NextUp intends to improve leadership capabilities for all and to generate more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace cultures. The solutions and benefits that NextUp offers have been adapted to promote allyship, better support the needs of women of color, and transform corporate cultures. Since joining NextUp in spring 2023, Lisa Baird, president and CEO, has been focused on advancing all women in business. In a wide-ranging discussion with Eileen McMorrow, Lisa Baird reveals her interest in workplace equity and how she believes NextUp can be a resource to the commercial facility management, planning, design, architecture and real estate professions. 

NextUp is 17,000-members strong, focusing on women’s empowerment in the workplace. What are your broad goals for NextUp?

Baird: Strengthening its governance and setting tasks for the new board members who include the COO of a major retailer and the president of a consumer products group. Research from IBM and McKinsey details how the pipeline of women in top leadership is growing, getting better, and positioning more women on boards. There are more women in the C-Suite, and 4 out of 10 junior professional positions are filled by women, but there is still bias. 

NextUp Membership is open to individuals or members of a partner organization. When you join NextUp through The McMorrow Reports/FMLink, you are entitled to 20% off an individual membership when you enter the code: NextUp24McMorrow at checkout. Visit NextUp for more information. 

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The jury for this year’s highly anticipated Best of NeoCon competition brings a wealth of experience and insight into the nuances of product design and specification, along with a profound understanding of evolving industry trends. Handpicked from diverse industries and realms of expertise, the jurors will evaluate some 300 new product submissions in person at THE MART in Chicago on June 7 and 8. Winners will be announced on Monday, June 10, marking an exciting kickoff to the NeoCon 2024 show, which will run June 10-12.

With unique needs and specification requirements, the Healthcare categories include Flooring, Guest & Lounge Seating, Patient Seating, Storage and Accessories, and Textiles. Judging these categories, as is fitting, are healthcare design specialists and representatives from healthcare organizations. Among these experts are:

• Sonja Bochart, Director, Shepley Bulfinch, Phoenix, AZ
• Deborah Carruth, Project Manager, FF&E, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
• Pat Guichet, Senior Planning, Design, Construction Project Manager, SSM Health, St. Louis, MO
• Suzanne Lefebvre, Interior Design Practice Leader, CannonDesign, Buffalo, NY
• Tina Macica, AVP Design and Construction, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
• Linnea Rehnke, Manager Capital Projects, Advocate Aurora Health, Chicago, IL

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By Sara Marberry — If you want to know what people think, all you need to do is ask them, right? Besides giving us details on what people think about specific topics, surveys offer many clues to issues and trends that are influencing healthcare facility design and construction. Here’s a sampling of results from some recent surveys that I think have useful insights.

National Sample Survey of U.S. Registered Nurses – 2022/2023: HRSA and Census Bureau poll of almost 50,000 nurses released March 2024.

• Nursing is the nation’s largest healthcare profession, with some 4.3 million actively licensed registered nurses (RNs), up from 400,000 since 2017.
• While overall job satisfaction among RNs remains relatively high (80%), the degree of dissatisfaction grew from 11% in 2017 to almost 20% in 2021. Job satisfaction declined the most among hospital-based RNs.
• If labor force patterns remain the same as today, the demand for RNs in 2036 will exceed supply by 9%, resulting in a shortage of 337,970 full-time equivalent (FTE) RNs.

Nothing surprising here, but reinforces the need to design physical workplaces that are less stressful and more supportive of staff wants and needs.

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TurnOnGreen recently announced the continued expansion of the company’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across select properties in California owned by diversified healthcare services company Tenet Health. In accordance with a Site Licensing Agreement (SLA), TurnOnGreen will assume ownership, operation, and maintenance responsibilities for the EV chargers for a term of 10 years. In exchange, TurnOnGreen will retain a percentage of recurring charging revenues for the duration of the contract and any extensions.

Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California, will be the first Tenet facility at which TurnOnGreen will complete the installation of its EV chargers. The project features multiple high-power, networked EVP700G Level 2 EV chargers that hospital employees can activate using the TurnOnGreen App, RFID cards, or scanning a unique QR code displayed on each EV charger. The company collects fees for any paid sessions on the platform. Hi-Desert Medical Center, located in Joshua Tree, California, is the second Tenet facility under the SLA. The project is currently in the engineering and permitting phase and is expected to be completed by December 2024.



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This week's Featured Book from FMLink Books is part of a collection of peer-reviewed books curated by the FMLink editorial team to provide facilities, engineering and A&D professionals with access to publications relating to the Green Building topic.

Written by an architect who is an expert in sustainable design and is a former chair of the AIA's Committee on the Environment (COTE), this book will be a primer on green and sustainable design.

It defines issues of sustainable design, illustrates conceptual ideas and case studies, and provides an information base for continued learning for architects regarding issues of sustainability.

This and other Green Building titles are available for purchase on FMLink.