6 Ways Specialized HVAC Systems Save Lives in Healthcare

When we think of healthcare facilities, our minds conjure images of dedicated healthcare professionals, advanced medical equipment, and ongoing patient care.

No doubt that the healthcare industry is a crucial part of our society. Twenty-two 22 million Americans work in the healthcare industry. That’s 14% of the entire U.S. workforce! We rightfully celebrate the talent and training of nurses, doctors, lab technicians, therapists, social workers, and administrators. They all contribute to improving medical care and patient outcomes.

But there’s another unsung hero quietly at work behind the scenes, playing a critical role in healthcare settings—the specialized Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system of healthcare facilities.

“HVAC is the unsung hero in healthcare facilities.” – Robert Bartley, Director of Engineering at a leading healthcare system.

6 Ways Specialized HVAC Systems Save Lives in Healthcare

ONE: Controlling infections

After the pandemic, we’re all more aware of how viruses and infections spread than we were before COVID shook the world.

In the world of healthcare, controlling the spread of infections is paramount. Proper HVAC systems play a crucial role in achieving this goal. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), maintaining relative humidity levels between 30-60% significantly reduces the survival and transmission of infectious agents within healthcare facilities.

Thank you, air conditioning!

TWO: Improving recovery rates

Imagine having had a major surgery or recovering from a difficult illness in a hot, sticky, smelly room.

That’s how it used to be. Now we know that patient comfort is essential for recovery, and modern HVAC systems ensure it. Research shows that maintaining a comfortable room temperature between 71-75°F (21-24°C) significantly improves patient comfort and overall satisfaction. Without our specialized HVAC systems, recovery would be slower.

THREE: Preserving medication and equipment

Medications, especially vaccines, must be kept at a certain temperature to retain their potency. Even sensitive medical equipment requires strict temperature control. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides precise temperature guidelines for vaccine storage, and specialized HVAC systems work constantly and quietly in the background to maintain the proper temperature.

FOUR: Ensuring sterility

Surgical suites demand precision and sterility. Operating rooms must maintain specific temperature and humidity levels to ensure the safety of patients and the success of surgical procedures. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends a temperature range of 68-73°F (20-23°C) in surgical suites to minimize infection risk.

HVAC systems put into healthcare facilities can control temperatures in different areas, even keeping hundreds of individual rooms at the patient’s desired level.

FIVE: Filtering the air

Specialized HVAC systems in healthcare facilities often employ air filtration systems that eliminate 99.7% of dust, germs, molds, and pollens. Some systems use ultraviolet lights. Others use a fine mist of hydrogen peroxide. Some use HEPA filters.

HEPA filters are made of glass and carbon-activated materials. They are 99.7% effective in removing small particulate matter.

Many specialized HVAC systems used in healthcare facilities use a combination of all these methods.

Advanced air filtration not only ensures a pleasant environment but also reduces the risk of airborne infections, protecting both patients and healthcare workers.

SIX: Isolating dangerous diseases

COVID is now a part of our collective memory, and we think back to what it was like when people were isolated and quarantined.

Because of the specialized HVAC systems in healthcare facilities, the contagion was controlled in hospitals and medical buildings. Commercial HVAC units play a vital role in maintaining airflow isolation, crucial for the safety of both patients and healthcare staff.

Elite Heating and Air Conditioning Appreciates the Unsung Hero of Healthcare: Specialized HVAC systems!

The next time you step into a medical facility, take a moment to appreciate the amazing HVAC systems that are not just cooling the air but also saving lives and improving the quality of healthcare worldwide.

Know that Elite Heating and Air Conditioning not only appreciates the specialized HVAC systems of healthcare but understands them. We have decades of experience in the installation of these heroic machines, helping the healthcare profession to save lives year after year after year.

Call us.