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Remotes and the infection-control factor The Healthy Facilities Institute recently recommended sealed remote controls (pillow speakers) for patient rooms to enable better cleaning of high-touch points to prevent the harboring and spreading of infectious organisms. These remote controls — on the market and compatible with more than 200 brands of TVs — are in use by many healthcare organizations. "Items frequently touched by guests or patients should be regularly cleaned and disinfected or replaced by guest room at- tendants or environmental service professionals, and tradition- al remote controls are notoriously hard to clean and sanitize," said Allen Rathey, president of The Healthy Facilities Institute. "A simple solution is the newer sealed remote now widely available and used in hotel chains to include Best Western International, as well as in the facilities of major healthcare providers." The sealed, smooth and liquid-impervious "touch mem- brane" can be sprayed and left wet with a disinfectant to enable complete cleaning and disinfection not possible with tradition- al porous remote surfaces and devices damaged by moisture. Coming up next A general consensus is that in the future, more hospitals will likely turn to smart TVs for streamlining care utilizing net- worked, interactive technologies. "The main changes we are seeing coming to healthcare TVs are the incorporation of networked media delivery fea- tures currently found in consumer televisions," said Stephen Malone, senior technology consultant of audiovisual systems at Sparling Inc. Heidi Burgdorf, marketing manager of Television Solutions at TeleHealth, said smart TVs are ideal for supporting stream- lining workfl ows and pushing patient-specifi c content. "Each TV is addressable," Burgdorf said. "Hospital mes- sages can be sent directly to the patient and then critical infor- mation can be sent back from the patient, no matter what the patient is doing. The TV can even be turned on automatically to ensure pertinent information gets delivered. Interactive software integrates easily with the smart TV." Beyond the patient room, television standards are being developed internationally. "UL is harmonizing with these international standards to ensure the level of safety will remain the same," said John Drengenberg, UL engineer. "The equipment will not change drastically, but the testing will be modifi ed in such ways that it can be used in foreign countries outside of the United States." Many historians believe that some of the main ideas, intent and science behind TVs emerged when Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison wanted to invent a device so users could see the person they were talking to on the phone. Worried that someone would take the idea, in 1880, Bell placed a sealed box containing a "photophone" with the Smithsonian. Technology has come a long way since the "photophone," which has been incorporated in today's TVs and other media devices. While television technology continues to advance, the purpose of TV remains the same as it was in its early days — to bring in the outside world from the comfort of our environment. Maxxon offers complete flooring solutions ideal to meet the demands and concerns of a modern healthcare facility, such as: MOISTURE – Protect your flooring investment from moisture with Maxxon DPM or Maxxon MVP. SOUND CONTROL – Where quiet areas are important for healing and privacy, Acousti-Mat Superior Sound Control Systems offer comprehensive sound control. DURABILITY – Topped with Level-Right Self-Leveling Underlayment, Maxxon provides a strong, smooth floor system able to receive virtually any finished floor good. PEACE OF MIND – GREENGUARD Gold Certified Maxxon products are safe for all environments, even the most critical. © 2014 Maxxon ® Corporation, all rights reserved. Learn more: 800-356-7887 info@maxxon.com t www.Maxxon.com FLOORS MATTER FROM THE HUSTLE OF THE ER TO THE QUIET OF THE NICU, MCDM AG.COM | M A RCH /A PR IL 2015 | Medical Construction & Design 45