Hospitals are complex facilities with multiple moving parts. Labs, medical device reprocessing (MDR) departments, kitchens, administrative offices, ICUs, operating rooms, waiting rooms and more, all serve an important purpose that keeps the hospital functioning.
For a facility that is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, any unplanned outage or downtime has a substantial negative impact. When a flooding event occurs, either weather-based or mechanical, the effects can be swift and devastating.
What are the risks?
When a water event occurs, one immediate risk that needs to be mitigated immediately is mould. Consider that within 48 hours of a water event, mould starts to develop and can spread rapidly. The negative effects of such growth can pose a serious threat, especially in a hospital setting where the population is already in a higher health risk category. Restoration crews have a 48-hour window to dry out affected components through very specific means or they need to be removed and replaced altogether.
Legionnaires’ disease – a severe form of pneumonia – can become a risk in these settings, when stale or stagnant water sits for too long. Water that is not properly drained or removed can quickly become a problem and Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks can become very difficult to control. This demonstrates the critical need for rigorous infection control to safeguard the hospital environment.
In certain markets where space within the hospital is highly sought after, damaging water events can cause cancelled surgeries and procedures as well as overall delays, creating a significant risk to care access. For example, in an ICU where space is limited because the care is so acute, specific, and dedicated, taking out 10 or 15 per cent of bed space means that many people will not receive the care they desperately need.
Protecting patients
One of the standards that restorations crews must follow is the Canadian Standards Association code Z317.13, which provides guidance on preventive measures to protect patients, staff, and visitors from disease transmission and other health problems during construction, renovation, or maintenance of health care facilities.
A focus on containment and controlling access to the flooded and damaged area is also key for protecting patients. Typically, a restoration crew would set up an airtight containment with negative pressure that isolates the work area from occupied areas of the hospital. These containments can be built onsite or constructed of prefabricated panels which are aesthetically pleasing and quick to set up. Other mechanisms used for containment can include prefabricated panels which are also aesthetically pleasing and quick to set up.
Creating a negative air / pressure environment is critical. If the environment on the inside of the containment is under negative pressure, nothing escapes. Pressure is monitored with a manometer that is displayed outside of the containment so that negative pressure can be monitored. In addition to that, exhaust is filtered through a HEPA air filtration device, and an anteroom would be in place before workers enter the impacted space.
These practices of isolating the damaged areas and work sites from the operations and human traffic flow within the hospital keep all potential contaminants within the work site, and all the hospital personnel and visitors safe and unaffected from the restoration work being done behind the containment walls.
Unique challenges of the hospital setting
Restoration work in a hospital environment comes with its own unique set of challenges and considerations. Unlike a typical business, there is no downtime, and the recovery process is taking place as the hospital continues to operate.
The reality is that work is happening in spaces where medical events are occurring, and it is important to remain aware and considerate of the surroundings and not cause additional stress to staff or patients. It is important to think about keeping patients safe and come up with a plan to work while other people are still in the building.
While it is vital to get the facility back up and running as fast as possible, it is equally important to strictly follow proper procedures to ensure the safety of patients and avoid future risks. The best preparation is to have an emergency response plan with a restoration contractor who is professionally trained and certified in this highly specialized work.
Kevin Spiers is Vice President, National Accounts, First Onsite Property Restoration
