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  Case study: Arkansas hospital increases energy efficiency by diagnosing cooling tower issues and treating its entire mechanical system. Healthcare facilities require a substantial amount of energy to operate. In fact, the average hospital consumes approximately 250 percent more energy than a comparably sized commercial building, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. As hospitals…

  Expert Jennifer Mahan discusses the vulnerabilities healthcare facilities face during disasters and the infrastructure strategies that keep operations running. Hospitals are vital pillars of societal infrastructure, however, even they can’t resist the growing intensity of extreme weather events. These events test and put strain on their operability, making it especially difficult to function when…

Managing IAQ in Healthcare Facilities During Wildfires Wildfires are becoming more prevalent across the country. Facilities must be prepared to handle their effects on air quality. As climate change continues to exacerbate droughts and increase temperature, wildfires are becoming more destructive. Since the beginning of the year, 20,915 wildfires have burned over 1.7 million acres…

Design Standards as Strategic Assets Done correctly, standards benefit healthcare environments, staff, patients and families. As healthcare systems evolve, design standards have become a common tool for maintaining consistency across facilities. They support brand expression, streamline decision-making and help manage complexity across multiple sites. Standardized materials, furniture, layouts and specifications allow teams to move faster…

Rising Violence is Exposing Gaps in Hospital Security Security experts outline how healthcare facilities can move beyond traditional security to more proactive and coordinated systems. Workplace violence in healthcare is a huge issue affecting U.S. health systems. According to an American Health Association (AHA) report, incidents of violence have significantly increased in the U.S. over…

William Keys encourages facilities managers, whether new or experienced, to take chances and challenge themselves. In fact, taking a risk on a job years ago led Keys to a rewarding career in facilities management, and he still pushes himself to face the unknown and keep learning. Keys currently serves as a regional facilities manager at…