Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This document provides guidance to facilitate planning for and execution of patient handoff between personnel at a fixed facility (hospital or clinic) and the transporting ambulance agency.

Healthcare Facilities Today
Because laundering of healthcare textiles (HCTs) is a process with distinct stages, choosing a strategy to inhibit serious contamination requires adherence to standards every step of the way, says the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC).

Rebecca Vesely, Suzanna Hoppszallern, Jamie Morgan, Health Facilities Management
The rise of consumerism and its influence on health care facilities came through loud and clear from respondents to Health Facilities Management’s 2016 Hospital Construction Survey, which was conducted in cooperation with the American Society for Healthcare Engineering.

Jamie Morgan, Health Facilities Management
The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) published a new standard as part of a suite of health care quality standards included in the "United States Pharmacopeia-National Formulary."

Anne Cosgrove, Facility Executive
Facility improvement projects have the potential to improve the quality of operations as well as the bottom line.

Michael Casey, Fox News
Scientists have for the first time sequenced the genome of New York City bed bugs, a project that could one day offer a way to contain one of the world’s most hated insects.

Shannon Barnet, Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality
Of the World Health Organization's Five Moments for Hand Hygiene, compliance tends to be lowest on the final step, according to a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

Infection Control Today
The Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, Inc. (SGNA) announces the release of two new practice documents focused on infection prevention.

Kelly M. Pyrek, Infection Control Today
Researchers are advising healthcare professionals to consider the size of their hands when it comes to using alcohol-based hand sanitizer, to ensure adequate coverage by the product.

Beth Burmahl, Hospitals & Health Networks
There was a time when hospital executives and board members could ignore the what-fors and how-tos of maintaining a clean, safe and inviting facility.

Daniel Victor, New York Times
Companies pondering the incentives for increased gender diversity in their executive ranks may need to look no further than the bottom line.

Victor Lipman, Forbes
Hint: It’s not faulty strategy.

AHE is gathering input from environmental services departments across the country to identify baseline staffing productivity standards. The results of this data gathering will be used in building staffing models and providing metrics for environmental services directors. You can be a key player in identifying and establishing these important staffing criteria for our industry.

Plan your education for 2016. Visit AHE’s brand-new 2016 ENGAGE site to learn more about educational courses, podcasts, webinars, and events.

This program not only provides guidance on efficient, effective and value-added environmentally sustainable healthcare operations, but also provides it in such a way that is achievable within all budgets. It is part of the AHE’s overall sustainability initiative, which includes ongoing development of sustainability programs, publications and educational opportunities.

EXCHANGE 2016 will be held on September 25-28, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. This year, EXCHANGE attendees can look forward to:
Infection Prevention Certificate of Mastery Preconference Program for Environmental Services Leaders Preconference Workshop
CHEST Preconference Workshop
Micro Sessions
Healthcare Marketplace

The AHE awards and recognition program acknowledges and elevates professionals who have demonstrated the highest level of excellence and leadership. Award recipients are those who work towards advocating and educating themselves on best practices and standards, developing new leaders within a hospital or healthcare facility, and promoting the environmental services profession.
Applications Due June 17, 2016.

If interested in contributing to EXPLORE by authoring a best-practices article, email Russell Underwood, EXPLORE editor, for more information. The magazine covers all aspects relevant to health care environmental services professionals.

Gabriel Boardman, EXPLORE magazine
The future of health care textiles and their effect on the patient experience.

Gail Fraine, RN, MMHC, BSN, CIC, EXPLORE magazine
Simple ways to encourage collaboration to prevent disease transmissions.