Hospital Employment Climbs 0.22 Percent in October
from AHA News Now
Employment at the nation's hospitals rose 0.22 percent in October to a seasonally adjusted 4,686,500 people, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. That's 10,100 more than in September and 136,800 more than a year ago. Without the seasonal adjustment, which removes the effect of fluctuations due to seasonal events, hospitals employed 4,689,700 people in October, 10,800 more than in September and 137,700 more than a year ago. More

Liability Costs Tied to 'Never Events'
from Nurse.com
A study by the insurance company Aon Corporation reports hospital-acquired conditions accounted for 12.2 percent of total legal liability costs incurred by healthcare facilities in 2007. According to Aon's "2008 Hospital Professional Liability and Physician Liability Benchmark Analysis," one out of six claims against healthcare facilities was tied to hospital-acquired infections, injuries, pressure ulcers, and objects left in patients' bodies after surgery last year. More

Survey Reveals Nearly Half of Adults Won’t Get a Flu Shot
from Infection Control Today
According to a new survey from Consumer Reports Health, just 52 percent of Americans plan to get the flu vaccine this year, despite its being the best option for prevention. The Consumer Reports Health survey uncovered a long list of poor excuses for not getting the vaccine, including 5 percent of people who say they would rather get sick than go to work. The vaccine is available for free for many (65 percent of those who have already been vaccinated reported no out-of-pocket expense for the vaccine), and at nominal cost for others, and requires very little time. More

Inspector Tony J. Fitzgerald Receives ASHES Award
from HLAC News
HLAC Inspector Tony J. Fitzgerald, III, CHESP is the recipient of the 2008 Phoenix Award, presented by The American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES). The Phoenix Award is ASHES highest honor, recognizing an individual who has made a lasting impact in the ASHES organization through his or her outstanding contributions to the growth and professionalism of health care environmental services and textile care services. More

Orkin Offers Free ASHES Memberships to Gold Medal Protection Customers
from ASHES
With budgets tightening in a tough economy, it always helps to get something valuable at no cost, right? Longtime ASHES Platinum partner, Orkin Commercial Services, is offering Environmental Services professionals an opportunity to advance their learning and their progress toward the IOM's Six Aims with a complimentary ASHES membership. More

Scotland: Inspections to Fight Superbugs
from Public Service
Every hospital in Scotland will be subject to random inspections as part of the Scottish government’s push to improve cleaning standards and infection control practices within the NHS. The move follows an independent review of cleaning standards within the NHS, which found that cleaning procedures were not being carried out correctly in some areas. Dust levels and unclean surfaces were found at several sites. More

In Flu Season, Sanitizers and Washing Go Hand-in-Hand
from Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Using alcohol-based hand sanitizers and wearing a surgical mask will cut your chance of catching the flu by 50 percent — as well as make you look like the strange guy in the office. So while the University of Michigan School of Public Health says the sanitizer-mask combo is a good approach to cold and flu prevention, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a more realistic approach. More

Reduce bed turnover time Learn how Premise helped a 1,000 bed hospital reduce its bed turnover time from eight hours to 30 minutes, while cutting related phone calls from 12 to just one. More

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