Six Steps to Green Cleaning in 
Healthcare Facilities
By Chad MacDonald
The green, eco-friendly model has transformed from a movement on the margins to a true market force across a wide variety of industries. The healthcare industry is no exception. Sustainable building practices and LEED certifications are increasingly becoming the standard for the medical and healthcare industry. As the green movement gains widespread traction, healthcare decision makers are dealing with medical staff and patients that are demanding healthier environments in which to work and receive treatment. For healthcare administrators, adopting green practices is an essential step toward providing better care for patients, improving work environments for staff and reducing operational costs over the long-term life of the facility.
Designed to Survive
Designers of Tampa General Hospital’s new emergency and trauma center factored in impacts of hurricanes, other unforeseen events
By Robert Berry
When Tampa General Hospital, the only level-one trauma center in west central Florida, began planning for the construction of its new Emergency and Trauma Center, the design process included creating an emergency department that would be functional in the event of a large-scale disaster. In recent years, Mother Nature has reminded everyone about the critical need for emergency centers to be able to react quickly in the face of a natural disaster and support the community. Given TGH’s location on Davis Islands, taking the probability of a hurricane into account was imperative when designing this facility. Being able to defend in place and provide continued treatment to previously admitted patients, while addressing the needs of the influx of those needing medical attention due to a large-scale disaster, is critical to the ability for Tampa Bay area.
Geothermal a Go-Go
Construction at Sherman Health’s replacement hospital nears final stages
Mechanical, Inc., the contractor tasked with building the system, faced several challenges during construction, but perhaps the biggest hurdle was tackling a project that had only been completed once before at a hospital. “One of the biggest challenges we encountered with this project,” said Selena Worster, Mechanical, Inc. project manager for the geothermal lake, “was the fact that we’d never installed a geothermal lake loop system before. So we consulted Loop Group, the Fort Wayne, Ind., manufacturer of the heat exchanger components, and they provided us with guidance on how they have installed systems. Our field crew applied that information to this project — it was a pretty steep learning curve for the first three or four days.”
