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Innovations, news and tips in the field of hospital engineering

"Nothing is too wonderful to be true, if it be consistent with the laws of nature"

MICHAEL FARADAY

Electrical faults in hospitals: causes, problems and solutions

Today we want to address the real problem of electrical faults in hospitals, understanding what they really are, how they occur, what problems they cause, their consequences and how to avoid them.

When we talk about power failures in hospitals, we are referring to any unexpected interruption of the power supply or malfunction of electrical equipment.

In a hospital environment, power failures can have serious consequences, as they can directly affect the lives of patients and the work of healthcare professionals. For this reason, it is essential to understand the causes, the problems caused by electrical faults, to see practical cases in order to become aware of them and to establish measures to prevent them.

Cyber-attacks on healthcare: a growing problem

Are we prepared for an e-pandemic? That is what much of the healthcare sector has been asking itself in recent times due to the increase in cyber-attacks on the healthcare sector.

The digitisation of healthcare systems and the reliance on technology to run hospitals and healthcare facilities have made the healthcare sector an attractive target for cyber criminals.

In recent years, cyber-attacks on Spanish healthcare have increased, affecting hospitals and healthcare centres across the country.

In 2022 more than 500 institutions reported incidents, which, according to data from INCIBE, the National Institute of Cybersecurity, was an increase of 48% compared to 2021.

Five electrical hazards in a hospital: definition and protocol

In this article, we will detail the five main electrical hazards that can occur in a hospital and the protocol for action before, during and after an electrical incident.

The electrical safety of patients, healthcare staff and medical equipment and systems is a crucial issue in healthcare facilities. As we explain in this basic guide, the aim is to avoid problems that could harm the health of patients and the operation of the healthcare centre and medical staff. In other words: to prevent and know how to act in the face of the main electrical risks in a hospital.

Electricity is an integral part of most modern hospitals.

The empathic room: the hospital wellness of the future

We have recently learned the details of a very interesting project by the team of architects from Barcelona PMMT Arquitectura. Specifically, the future Nou Hospital Evangèlic (NHE) social-health centre they are working on will have a new model of double room in the hospitalisation units that improves the well-being of patients: the PMMT Comfort Room, the Empathic Room.

In this way, an empathic hospital room has been designed, seeking to reduce the possibilities of conflict between patient-partners. A space that is perceived as a single room and, at the same time, encourages social interaction.

In this “friendly” room, the patient in the bed furthest away from the window enjoys natural light, has his or her own wardrobe and a curved curtain provides more privacy.

Patient electrical safety: a basic guide

The electrical safety of patients in healthcare centres is a matter of absolute priority, both to avoid problems with electrical current that could harm the health of patients and the operation of the healthcare centre and medical staff.

In this article we will look at some of the crucial elements in ensuring the electrical safety of the patient, such as the standards, the type of electrical system and its elements, and what to do to eliminate and deal with the dangers and risks that exist.

Hospital electrical safety can be defined as the group of preventive actions we take to minimise or eliminate the risk of accidents to patients, medical equipment and infrastructure, and healthcare personnel.

The development and challenges in hospital engineering

In this article, we will learn about the latest and most important developments in hospital engineering, how they are changing the healthcare landscape and what challenges and challenges lie ahead for the industry.

Hospital engineering is a discipline that combines engineering, architecture and medicine. It is a constantly evolving field whose main objective is to improve efficiency and safety, as well as the comfort of patients and medical staff in hospitals. Globally, great advances have been made in this area in recent decades. Let us look at some of them in detail.

TN electrical systems: features, types and TN-S networks in hospital electrical installations

In this article, we would like to address the more technical side of some of the best electrical safety solutions for hospitals and their critical areas. This is the case of TN electrical systems. We will discover what they consist of, what differentiates them from other TT systems and we will delve into the virtues of TN-S networks for electrical installations in hospitals.

Connectors and sockets are key to creating an equipotential bonding to the ground, which helps to avoid touch voltages in critical medical areas.

Therefore, equipotential grounding is an elementary part of safe electrical installation for critical medical environments. These ground connections systems are suitable for surgical units, ICU and in general for critical medical areas.

The SDGs and the health sector: challenges and opportunities

A natural consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic has been that the focus of attention has turned to the health sector, which has been more prominent than ever in recent times. The relevance of SDG 3 on health and wellbeing, which we will discuss in depth below, means that the health sector is in a time of vigilance, but also of opportunities linked to digitalisation, innovation and new technologies.

In short, in this post we want to delve into the relationship between the SDGs and the health sector, learning first-hand what they are and to what extent they influence the current and future health sector landscape.

The importance of colour in hospitals

Chromotherapy is a branch of medical science that deals with healing through colour. It is a concept that is more than proven with facts and, in fact, no building can be fully functional and suitable if it is not designed and decorated in an optimal way.

In this post, we are going to learn more about the importance of colour in hospitals, what are the main tones used depending on the room and what is achieved with each of them.

Switch boxes and medical gas intakes

Within the hospital safety systems and the proper functioning of each health centre, switch boxes and medical gas inlets are two of the fundamental elements for the correct and gradual administration of medical gases.

The reason is twofold: first, to guarantee and ensure the correct supply in the event of a breakdown of one of the lines and for maintenance reasons. And then, so that there is always a line in operation when a part of the lines needs to be repaired or gas cylinders need to be replaced.

In this post, we are going to find out what they are and what their characteristics are.

Industry 4.0 in the hospital sector

Industry 4.0 represents a before and after in the way of working, in the use of resources and in the optimisation of time. That is why it offers a whole series of benefits to any sector, and especially to the one that concerns us, the healthcare sector, and its relationship with the energy sector.

Why? Because it is a key element in adapting to market trends, boosting competitiveness and addressing the energy transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy. It is also for the management of the electricity system in each hospital.

To find out more about this new Industry 4.0 and its role in healthcare, in this post we look at its current and future role, its characteristics and what it can bring to hospitals.

The Lean Healthcare method in healthcare management

In recent years, organisations in the global healthcare sector have opted to apply the tools of the Lean Management methodology with the aim of improving healthcare processes and the results of their daily operations, both in terms of health and in terms of optimising available resources and capacity by reducing and eliminating waste. In this post, we would like to explain what Lean Healthcare is, what its objectives and benefits are and how it is applied to the healthcare system.

The Lean method consists of the search for continuous improvement in processes in order to achieve the best quality while minimising costs, with the patient as the pivot from which everything else revolves.

The Scrum methodology in the hospital sector

The Scrum methodology ensures that the company focuses on what is most important at all times and as quickly as possible.

When launching a project, any organisation, in our case any healthcare centre, must ensure that the team involved knows its tasks and deadlines. Scrum is a framework that helps us to achieve this and, at the same time, speed up the delivery of value to the client.

Scrum, in practice, encourages teams to learn through experiences, to self-organise while tackling a problem, and to reflect on their victories and defeats in order to continuously improve.

Towards the perfect hospital

Hospitals that do not look like refrigerators or cold and grey mega-constructions, warm, spacious, well-lit healthcare centres with large windows and a welcoming décor, comfortable rooms for both staff and patients and their families, and adequate and renovated hospital equipment.

This is what the public, patients, healthcare professionals and the sector in general have been looking for in recent years. It is the most common request in search of the perfect hospital. That ideal place for which there is still a long way to go…

So how can we achieve the perfect hospital? Or at least, health centres that respond to the requests and needs not only of today, but of the future. These are some of the keys, methods and trends that can be followed, both for hospital equipment and for improving rooms, wards, areas, floors, environments, etc.

Batteries and emergency power supply units in hospitals: what you need to know

For decades, the implementation of technology in the different spheres of human life has transformed the way we consume, relate to each other and live. It has certainly transformed it for the better. After all, a priori, technology makes our lives easier. However, as we use more and more electronic systems in our daily lives, we also become more energy dependent.

That is why, in a field such as healthcare, the use of batteries for emergency supply units in hospitals is essential to guarantee permanent access to the power supply, even in the most complicated situations or in exceptional events that may cause, for example, power cuts.

Today we want to address the importance of batteries and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) for the proper functioning of the healthcare system.

Data networks in hospitals

The daily life of hospitals and any type of health centre is mainly focused on patient medical care. However, beyond people, there are also a series of factors that are part of hospital management and that we cannot ignore.

One of the elements that has gained the most weight recently has been that related to sensitive data that is collected in hospitals and health centres and that, although indirectly, also contributes to good patient care and proper functioning both from a medical and organizational point of view. For example: hospital data networks. Let’s talk about all of this in this article.

Medical gas alarm systems

For more than a century, medical gases have been used in the healthcare sector for many forms of modern diagnosis and treatment, becoming crucial elements in the well-being of the patient and the operation of any hospital facility. Their uses are very diverse: from respiratory support to anaesthetic agents, to diagnose and treat various pathologies, to calibrate medical equipment, etc. These gases, being classified as medicines, must meet the highest standards of safety, quality and efficiency.

In this respect, one of the most important points is their management and control. For this, we have alarm systems for medical gases, capable of alerting of possible failures, indicating what it is and solving problems that could be very serious. Let’s get to know what they are, starting with a little more about medical gases.

Use of blockchain technology in the healthcare system

La red blockchain en el ámbito de la salud tiene numerosas aplicaciones y su uso está generando un gran impacto, incrementado el nivel de confiabilidad y seguridad de la información.

The great advantage of blockchain is that it makes it possible to record a transaction, contract or any other type of action on the internet in a verifiable, unforgeable and transparent way, without the need for a third party to verify its validity.

The blockchain network in the healthcare sector has multiple applications and its use is already having a huge impact.

The most important technology trends in the healthcare sector

Although it is true that the healthcare sector began its digital transformation years ago, since the end of the pandemic and in 2022 the implementation of new and innovative healthcare technologies is making the sector one of the most advanced in the world.

In ETKHO’s new post, we take a look at the main technological trends in healthcare, not just today, but for the short and medium term future.

We can anticipate that sustainability, telemedicine, IoMT, robotics or drones are some of the protagonists. But there is much more.

Sustainability and environmental protection in hospitals

It is everyone’s job to reduce carbon emissions in hospitals and to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare management.

Every 5 June is celebrated worldwide as Environment Day. This date is an excellent opportunity to remember what is at stake, to highlight, to rethink and to act.

In this new Etkho post, we want to talk to you about the adaptation and evolution of hospitals to contribute to the health of the planet. Faced with the climate emergency, the deterioration of ecosystems and atmospheric pollution, the threats to the planet are many.

These elements have a variety of consequences for people all over the world, including the emergence of associated infectious, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as for animals.

How to ensure safety in high-risk laboratories

High-security and/or high-risk laboratories are highly trained facilities equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, which makes them dangerous and high-risk places. It is therefore vital to be aware of safety standards.

In this sense, the implementation of criteria to ensure quality, whether it be obtaining accreditation such as GLP (Good Laboratory Practices), NE 45001 or ISO 9000 certification, clearly demonstrates the correct application of a safety policy.

Implementing a high level of safety and following the recommendations to guarantee safety in high-risk laboratories is non-negotiable.

Therefore, at ETKHO we have prepared a basic guide with the main rules that must be followed in high-risk laboratories, how to act in case of emergency and accident and the levels of biosafety.

All the keys to the correct design of an operating theatre

The correct design of the operating theatre is what will allow hospitals to have the most efficient operating theatres that are adaptable to the unstoppable innovation in health.

Hospitals, as a result of the social, economic and healthcare context we are going through, must optimise their resources more than ever. Efficiency, performance and innovation must go hand in hand in order to reduce healthcare spending without jeopardising increasingly patient-centred care.

Within the improvement of hospital facilities, surgical intervention areas are one of the areas where most elements have to be taken into account, and where at the same time more casuistry and problems can occur. Thus, one of the main tools for improving operating theatres is innovation in their design and conversion into modern units.

To address this issue from all angles, at ETKHO we have dissected the main keys that must be taken into account for the correct design of an operating theatre.

BMS systems for hospitals and their integration with the electrical installation for IT systems in critical hospital areas

Among the amalgam of modern and innovative technological solutions for intelligent buildings, one of the most prominent is the BMS system.

This solution for energy saving and efficient control of safety and comfort in hospitals is one of the best tools available to health centres to avoid energy waste, problems in the electrical installation and serious situations such as those that can occur in critical hospital areas.

Building Management Systems (BMS) are increasingly used in all types of public and private buildings. In our case, especially in hospitals.

Equipment and facilities for haemodynamics operating theatre

Over the last two decades, the development of cath-lab rooms in hospitals has gone hand in hand with the profound transformation and innovation in hospital equipment, safety conditions and process improvement.

A profound transformation in which interventional procedures have become major players.

As new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities have appeared in this type of hospital, the level of training of medical staff, as well as the human, technical and equipment requirements, have been modified.

Find out from ETKHO what haemodynamics operating theatres consist of and what systems and elements they should contain as a basic foundation for their optimal functioning.

The hybrid operating room: design, equipment and benefits

The hybrid operating room is a great advance in the field of surgery, since, in general terms, it allows multidisciplinary work by specialists from different areas and helps to perform complex surgeries faster, easier, safer and less invasively. But what exactly is a hybrid operating room?

It is a surgical room that is equipped with advanced medical imaging/radiodiagnosis devices, allowing different diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to be carried out simultaneously.

A hybrid operating room allows the insertion of catheters or endoscopes through small holes with which to view smaller anatomical regions, greatly facilitating the surgery process.

Electrical safety in the ICU and resuscitation areas

Hospital units, especially ICUs, are contexts with high risks of electrical failures if they do not have an adequate electrical safety system.

Today, most medical devices are electronic, so they are powered by power supplies and the electrical grid. If an electrical safety failure occurs, the risk of patient injury is high. Especially, in areas such as the ICU or other critical areas in health centers.

The ICU is the intensive care unit of a hospital, that is, the area of a hospital center where the most seriously ill patients who require continuous and specific surveillance and attention are admitted.

By critical areas we understand those areas of the hospitals where health care is produced in which the risk is high. In addition to the ICU, for example, we find operating rooms, emergencies, clean rooms, isolation rooms, ICU…

To maintain hospital electrical safety in these areas, there are various elements that protect and guarantee the electrical supply. We are talking about, for example, IT power systems, uninterruptible power supplies or ground connections, among others.

Telemedicine: Paradigm shift after the pandemic

Telemedicine, after the coronavirus, has positioned itself as an essential element in the health industry.

One of the main consequences of Covid-19 is the great advance that telemedicine has experienced globally. Whether they are more advanced countries accustomed to the use of new health technologies, or those that had not opted for telemedicine, remote health care has increased during the pandemic and lockdowns.

Although it is true that more telephone medicine has been done than telemedicine itself, many barriers planned for the coming years have been broken in just a few months. In addition, much of the fear of the dehumanization of health technology has been eliminated.

Thus, the different health administrations are beginning to generalize teleconsultations and other resources of the digitalization of health.

The effectiveness of home health care, regardless of the face-to-face hospital infrastructure, in case of having telematic means to be able to monitor the patient, has become the present and the future of health.

The future of quantum technology applied to medicine

Quantum computing is presented as one of the greatest allies of health for the coming years.

Quantum computing has positioned itself as the protagonist of the next great revolution in the medical sector. The advantages of this technology are endless in many fields, but especially in what affects the health sector. Fundamentally, thanks to the processes of quantum computing technologies, problems that used to take days, months, or entire years to solve will now only be a matter of seconds.

The union of quantum physics and quantum technology uses nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and especially quantum computing to process large volumes of data, create simulations, develop custom drugs, manipulate organs at the molecular level…

What applications in medicine does quantum technology have? What is it based on? What can the future hold for us? In this article, we are going to analyze in detail the new paradigm of quantum technology in the health field.

5 Healthcare trends in 2022

Hospital engineering, electrical safety, the consumerization of health, mobility and telemedicine are some of the challenges that will mark the future of global health this year.

Like every beginning of the year, it is always interesting to analyse the trends that we will find in the health field. With our sights set on this 2022, at Ethko we have detected some of the main items or elements that will be decisive in hospital centers. From the outset, we cannot ignore the pandemic, which although it no longer causes the same havoc as in 2020 and early 2021, we do have to take into account that the transition from pandemic to endemic will take place.

There will be new treatments and vaccines on the market and in the sector to deal with Covid-19. In this regard, the reinforcement of primary care is a yes or yes that, however, produces more uncertainty than anything else. We already know that this virus has become persistent in thousands of people, something to keep in mind. European funds for health, the impact of mental health… The topics will be many and varied.

However, we can talk about the 5 main trends that will mark the path of health in 2022.

Ranking of the best hospitals

The covid-19 pandemic has pushed Spanish healthcare to the limit, and practically all of the countries most affected by SARS-CoV-2. The successive waves of coronavirus have put Primary Care, hospitals and, in short, the entire healthcare structure in check and to the test.

Therefore, since the beginning of 2020, hospitals have had the opportunity to show their strengths and weaknesses, their degree of hospital excellence and the impact on the well-being of the patient. And how the money in taxes and contributions affect those who pay for their own health. Centers to save lives, centers to vaccinate, 2020 and 2021 have been a before and after in all hospitals in Spain.

Therefore, it is important to know how the best hospitals in Spain are estimated each year, whether public or private, specialized in one area or another.

Alarm repeaters

Current alarm repeaters, in addition to their basic and logical use, which is to ‘snitch’ about an error or possible problem situation, have evolved to help medical personnel act. And it is that health workers have often considered this alarm as a necessary ‘nuisance’, seeing its required maintenance as a nuisance.

The fact is that, with some frequency, medical personnel have not known how to act in the face of these alarms. Or they simply did not know the risk situation that was taking place, especially in the alarms related to electrical safety.

But today, alarm repeaters not only provide additional information to medical personnel, but indicate what to do at all times to remedy the situation, or who to call. With them, touch screens also stand out on technical panels, for example in operating rooms, which allows the graphic display of the alarm with icons and colors.

Current outlook of hospital energy cost and consumption

Improving efficiency in energy consumption in hospitals has many advantages and is a crucial aspect for the future of these health centers in the coming years.

The price of electricity is shooting up 25% in energy costs for hospitals. That is the reality that health centers are experiencing due to the global energy crisis, which is increasing the price of electricity to unapproachable limits for many people and companies.

According to the Spanish media Redacción Médica, hospital centers are going through very hard times and uncertainty due to the year-on-year increase in the price of electricity of 25 percent. According to Sedisa, 100,000 euros the monthly bill for electricity consumption of an average hospital. Hospitals spend more and more energy because they take on more and more activities, and also the VAT they pay and pay is 21%: there is no reduced price for these rates.

As they explain, part of the country’s health centers do not have the price of electricity closed. This causes that there is a real increase on what they pay in each invoice. Especially taking into account that the energy consumption of hospitals is around 3% of the country’s total.

Robotics in hospitals

Through Artificial Intelligence (AI), robots in the medical field are transforming the way surgeries are performed, the way patients are cleaned, cared for or disinfected.

Robotics for patient care and assistance in hospitals, to optimise all processes involving healthcare professionals and for the surgical operations themselves, is the present and the future of hospital technology.

Health centres nowadays have the option of having robots in practically any room, whether in the operating and surgical areas, waiting rooms, patient rooms, cleaning areas…

The adaptation of Artificial Intelligence and robotic surgery to the clinical industry is an unstoppable phenomenon. These devices, in the medical field, are transforming the way surgeries are performed, cleaned, cared for or disinfected. These robots, during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been deployed throughout hospitals and clinics, delivering excellent performance.

Trends and conclusions in hospital engineering currently

Last October, the 38th Hospital Engineering Congress / 9th IFHE-EU Congress was held in Gijón (Spain). During the two and a half days that the event lasted, several of the most important professionals in the health sector in this area met.

On this occasion, the main novelties, trends and elements of analysis were the innovation of technology, such as 3D printing, Big Data, equipment management … There were also novelties in electromedicine equipment, new architectural projects and especially everything related to the role of hospital engineering in the Covid-19 pandemic.

In Etkho we have summarized the main points that were discussed and the conclusions that were reached in this congress.

Biophilic design in hospitals: the importance of natural light in the health of patients

The truth is that a change is taking place in the design of sanitary facilities. Functionality, without taking a back seat, has given way to the patient and their well-being. To achieve this, one of the most useful and simple measures with a better cost-benefit ratio is the biophilic design.

A well-distributed environment with fresh air, with a good proportion of openings to the outside and good natural lighting, provides improvements in the health of patients and healthcare personnel. From reducing hospitalization time to reducing patient mortality, reducing pain, reducing stress… It is proven that the connection with nature alleviates anxiety and optimizes the experiences of users, family members and health workers in health environments. It is betting on the motto “home away from home”.

The augmented reality in operating rooms

Augmented reality is revolutionizing the areas of medicine and surgery, especially for its innovative and supportive role in operating rooms.

In recent times, there has been a lot of talk about the possibilities of artificial intelligence and the most cutting-edge technological innovations applied to the healthcare environment.

One of the elements called to play a key role is Augmented Reality (AR), which has already meant a stark change in terms of possibilities, safety and efficacy in operating rooms.

Hospital safety equipment maintenance protocol

The maintenance management of safety medical equipment in hospitals contributes to providing better and greater productivity of services and equipment.

The quality of the healthcare environment is often determined based on this management, determining the final expenses and costs of the hospital safety equipment, the quality of patient care and the confidence of the healthcare professional.

For this reason, the professionals who are in charge of the management of the medical team have to make sure that this type of device is up-to-date, works correctly and can extend its useful life to the maximum without giving up its optimal functioning.

How to get it? Through the implementation of maintenance protocols for security equipment in hospitals.

Prevention of occupational hazards in hospitals

It is essential to guarantee the prevention of occupational risks to all workers in health centers.

The famous popular saying “in the blacksmith’s house, a wooden knife” can well be applied to the prevention of occupational hazards in hospitals. The reason? That historically occupational health has not been especially considered in centers that, precisely, look after the health of people and patients.

A contradiction that in recent years, fortunately, has undergone an important paradigm shift. The job security of health workers begins to gain more and more strength. Especially, after situations as serious as those we have experienced with the coronavirus pandemic. But there is a lot of work to be done.

Hospitals are those large work centers whose activity encompasses the diagnosis, treatment and care of the sick. But, and sometimes even more important, with lives at stake, it is essential to value the work of professionals.

8 ETKHO solutions for electrical safety in operating rooms

Electrical safety in medical centers, especially in critical hospital areas, is a matter that must be considered with the utmost seriousness.

Having a well-designed and complete electrical system is equivalent to taking all possible precautions beforehand and, therefore, facing the potential complications related to hospital electrical safety.

Not surprisingly, hospital units are contexts with high risks of electrical failures if they do not have an adequate electrical safety system. We are talking about failures that are not only limited to material equipment, but can cause damage and human loss.

At ETKHO, as experts in hospital electrical safety, we are specialized in the manufacture of electrical safety equipment and services for hospitals and operating rooms.

Automatic switching systems

These devices are crucial for the proper functioning of the electrical network in hospital areas, especially when faults may arise.

In recent times, the continuity of service in low voltage electrical installations has become essential. Especially in the hospital setting. This requirement is essential to create facilities that, economically and functionally, are efficient.

The reason? The reduction to the minimum of the problems derived from electrical failures thanks to a system that, automatically, is capable of switching the power supply from the main line to an emergency one.

Automatic switching incorporates sequences that automatically control system components without operator intervention.

Operation of a surgery control room: key safety devices in supervision

The isolation watchdog and multi-repeater, together with the alarm repeaters, are fundamental elements in the security, control and supervision of operating rooms.

Safety in surgery and operating room control is one of the pillars for the proper functioning of the interventions, as well as to guarantee their success.

It is just as important that medical personnel know the characteristics, risks and security solutions as well as having the best devices and elements so that nothing interrupts an operation / intervention.

Technology for the disinfection of COVID-19 in critical hospital areas

The coronavirus pandemic has driven innovation and improved disinfection in all hospital areas.

One of the immediate consequences of COVID-19 has been the intensification of cleaning and disinfection measures in hospitals, especially in critical areas.

Cleaning and disinfecting the surfaces of health centers has been and continues to be a great effort. Especially considering that virus germs can survive in any area of a hospital.

Health certifications in hospitals

El diseño hospitalario, en los últimos años, está evolucionando a gran velocidad, incorporando paulatinamente elementos y conceptos que responden a las necesidades de pacientes, familias y personal sanitario.

No en vano, cada vez somos más conscientes del brutal efecto de los hospitales sobre el planeta a nivel de huella de carbono, consumo de energía, la producción de dioxinas carcinogénicas por la incineración de los desechos hospitalarios, etc.

Así, los centros de salud son instalaciones que, en aras de proveer atención de salud con calidad y calidez, no pueden dejar de lado las connotaciones técnicas, tecnológicas, administrativas y éticas que este asunto lleva aparejadas.

Hospital design: building the healthcare centers of the future

Hospital design, in recent years, has been evolving at high speed, gradually incorporating elements and concepts that respond to the needs of patients, families and healthcare personnel.

Not surprisingly, we are increasingly aware of the brutal effect of hospitals on the planet in terms of carbon footprint, energy consumption, the production of carcinogenic dioxins due to the incineration of hospital waste, etc.

Thus, health centers are facilities that, in order to provide quality and warm health care, cannot ignore the technical, technological, administrative and ethical connotations that this matter carries with it.

Isolation transformers for medical use

Medical-grade electrical transformers prevent system failures and protect patients and healthcare personnel from electrical shock.

Circuits that cannot withstand direct current load need protection. The isolation transformer provides that protection, increasing or declining the alternating currents before they reach the main equipment to which it is connected.

Therefore, isolation transformers separate a part of an electrical circuit from the main powers, guaranteeing the proper functioning of the unit. We are talking about transformers that are similar to any other type, but found in applications that have sensitive circuits.

The transformers for clinical use are manufactured to guarantee the maximum safety of hospital patients, managing to isolate the external electrical supply from the power supply of the different elements and machines used in medicine.

Hospital engineering for the design of the hospitals of the future

The work of hospital engineers is essential to introduce new technologies and materials in hospitals.

Hospital engineers are professionals whose recognition is usually not related to their importance in clinical management. These professionals play a key role in achieving centres that are more sustainable and adapted to the new social and health realities.

Nobody is aware that the future of hospitals lies in the development of the concept of smart hospitals. And it is in this evolution where efficiency, safety and well-being of the patient come into play as absolute priorities.

Machine learning in hospitals: what it is, applications and advantages

The healthcare system is one of the fields in which Machine Learning technologies can be further developed. The ability of machines to learn has established itself as a key factor behind countless aspects of everyday life. In this regard, machine learning seems like the branch of artificial intelligence that has the most power of influence. Its main mission is to create an AI with the ability to learn automatically thanks to the accumulation of data.

The healthcare sector has been working for years to get the most out of great machine learning. And it is that this technological advance plays a determining role in the development of medical procedures or data management. A sector that is transforming by leaps and bounds thanks to machine learning that, among other things, allows patients to predict, treat and diagnose diseases.

Design and organization of critical hospital areas

Patients, services, specialties, types of units, medical equipment … In the design and organization of critical hospital areas, a whole series of aspects must be assessed to guarantee the safety and proper functioning of the health center.

There are infinite options to define the different types of health centers: depending on their size, the services they provide,… However, in a generic way, we can define a hospital as a building where functions related to people’s health are carried out , in addition to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Each hospital has its peculiarities. However, there are some basic aspects about the design and organization of critical hospital areas that are important to assess.

Electrical safety regulations in hospitals: what they are for and why comply with them

Electrical safety in hospitals is a matter of absolute priority to avoid problems with electric current that could harm the operation of the health center and the health of patients. In this article we reflect on these standards, what they are like, what they are for and why it is important to comply with them.

Do not forget that most medical devices are electronic and are powered by power sources and the electrical network. Therefore, if an electrical safety failure occurs, the risk of injury to the patient is high.

Hospital ground panels and electrical outlets: what they are, what they are for and benefits

In hospitals and health centers, each machine has its mission or objective. In the case of hospital ground panels and electrical outlets, they help prevent and avoid contact voltages within critical medical areas. The possibility of electrical shocks caused by poor equipment grounding is one of the great risks faced by patients and healthcare personnel.

For this reason, it is essential to have adequate health technology, especially with the devices that guarantee the perfect functioning of electromedicine.

Hospital earth panels and electrical outlets are essential to help prevent contact voltages within hospitals and, especially, in operating rooms, ICUs or, in general, critical hospital areas.

New technological advances in medicine

Thanks to technology, medicine is becoming more efficient every day and allows us to take better care of people’s health. At the same time, advances in technology make life easier for medical professionals, reducing waiting lists or human error. Artificial intelligence, big data, mobile applications for health … new technological advances in medicine have arrived to improve our lives and the health of all people.

Technology evolves and advances so fast that humanity will always lag behind. We have not finished implementing new technological advances in medicine, when new revolutionary trends are already emerging.

Motor arm systems for critical areas and operating rooms

The main objective of tools for the health sector is usually to facilitate the work of doctors and the medical team and, of course, reduce human error. In this sense, an example of technology in hospitals are motor arm systems, especially in critical areas and operating rooms.

One of the most common medical instruments in hospitals are motor arm systems or articulated arm systems, whose advantages and benefits are multiple.

This system is an instrument made with innovative technology to facilitate surgical interventions and, at the same time, help in the recovery and well-being process of patients who have undergone surgery.

Extreme climatic conditions in a hospital: basic aspects and good practices

Although hospitals are safe places, they can also be affected by the weather. In most cases, the main consequence of extreme weather conditions such as a cold and snowy storm is usually the increase in patients, which can collapse a hospital if it is not prepared for it. However, there are certain basic measures to help ensure the operation of a hospital in times of extreme weather conditions.

The world said goodbye to 2020 with some relief for turning its back on the “year of the pandemic”, but in Spain 2021 it surprised us with a storm baptized as Filomena that has left historical snowfalls. Today we want to talk about how to prepare for extreme weather conditions in a hospital.

Hospital modernization: electrical safety to guarantee the use of technology

In medical consultations it is increasingly rare, or almost impossible, to see the doctor writing a prescription by hand. Now doctors use the computer and, in most cases, we don’t even need them to print the prescription.

Thanks to technology, the information goes directly to the health card that we present at the pharmacy to receive the prescribed medicine. This is just one example of how technology has modernized the healthcare sector in recent decades, which means greater efficiency in this service but also implies a greater need for electrical safety.

Electrical supply in hospitals: essential areas and possibilities for improvement

A hospital has patients and needs, among many other resources, doctors, medicines, machinery and, of course, a good electricity supply. Although today technology and electricity are present in all areas and sections of a hospital or healthcare center, the most common is that hospital electrical safety systems are especially focused on the most critical areas. However, there are other areas where the possibilities for improvement are obvious.

Although when we talk about hospitals, the first thing that appears in our mind are the doctors, there are essential aspects that go beyond the human team of a health center. We are talking about the importance of electricity supply in hospitals.

Sustainability in hospitals: beyond the efficient use of electric power supply

Sustainability has become one of the great challenges for society and, of course, also for hospitals. In Spain, many hospitals and health centers were built decades ago and now need to be renovated to be more sustainable, both in terms of the efficient use of the electricity supply and the facilities themselves. All this with a clear objective: to achieve energy savings and reduce emissions and the environmental footprint.

To guarantee the sustainability of the system and reduce its social and environmental impact, the only alternative is to be more efficient in the use of resources and energy. For this reason, it is vitally important that hospitals and health centers think about long-term sustainable development.

Telemedicine: present and future of technology for health

During the pandemic caused by the coronavirus, there was a collapse of health centers. At that time, face-to-face healthcare was limited to extremely serious or urgent cases. This situation highlighted the need to promote telemedicine, an option that, thanks to technology, opens up new options for medical care and telematic monitoring both in health centers and hospitals.

A study carried out by ESADE and the Barcelona Health Hub shows that during the pandemic almost 100% of scheduled medical visits were carried out via telemedicine. In fact, in April 2020, 85% of outpatient consultations in many hospitals were done by phone.

SCADA system in hospitals: what is it and how does it work?

The implementation of technology and the digital transformation of the hospital sector is a priority issue for the management of any hospital or healthcare center. The optimization of tasks related to the health field, not only makes hospital management much more efficient, but also facilitates the work of employees at the same time that it contributes to guaranteeing patient safety. To achieve this automated and hospital management, the SCADA system is used in hospitals.

What is the SCADA system? Never have five letters defined the future of hospital management so well. SCADA stands for Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition, which already gives us certain clues of its usefulness.

Patient safety: prevent error and reduce risks with hospital engineering

We can all learn from mistakes, but there are many mistakes that are fatal and must be avoided, especially when it comes to medical and health care. 4 out of 10 patients worldwide suffer damage in primary and outpatient healthcare.

80% of these damages can be prevented. In this context, patient safety is presented as a discipline in which all types of hospitals and health centers work. At the end of the day, caring and healing is its reason for being. However, little is said about how hospital electrical safety can help ensure the well-being of patients.

ETKHO Hospital Engineering: your best allies in hospital electrical safety

September is, par excellence, the month of new beginnings, challenges, changes … For this reason, we have launched a new brochure with information about our electrical safety equipment and services for critical and hospital areas. At ETKHO we are aware that this September hospitals are beginning to prepare for a possible second wave of coronavirus, in addition to colds, flu, etc.

In this sense, it is time for health centers and hospitals to work so that their electrical safety is fully prepared for the avalanche of new patients expected in emergency rooms and, in general, in health centers during the fall.

Trends in the hospitals of the future: more technology to improve care and efficiency

We live immersed in a technological revolution that seems to have no end. We have barely adapted to a new technology when a new one rears its head. In the health area, the adoption of new technologies is increasingly present in all types of healthcare centers with a clear objective: to offer the best service to patients. In this context, we can glimpse certain trends and new technologies that will be present in the hospitals of the future.

If we think about the hospitals of the future, we all have a mental map of how they should be: safe, modern, specialized, efficient, … These are characteristics to which all healthcare centers aspire and serve as a guide for the work of researchers and experts .

Management of the electrical system in hospitals: requirements and recommendations

A power outage is an unforeseen event that must be avoided in hospitals. In these environments, and especially in critical areas such as the Intensive Care Unit, power failure can put patients’ lives at risk.

Therefore, as experts in electrical safety, in this article we want to address a series of requirements and recommendations for the management of the electrical system in hospitals. We will also address the issue of hospital energy efficiency, which helps to improve the performance of medical equipment while reducing consumption and thus the environmental impact of hospitals.

The coronavirus in ICUs in Latin America

Since the coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan in late December 2019, more than 20 million people have been infected worldwide, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are the most affected both in number of cases and deaths.

Among the main difficulties in containing the virus is the fact that the health system in Latin American countries is much more complex and has more deficiencies than in Europe or Asia, especially in Intensive Care Units (ICU). In many cases, these critical areas of hospitals are unprepared to deal with a health crisis that has hit the entire world.

Operating room lighting: features, lamps and electrical safety

In hospitals there are multiple risk areas. But perhaps the most tense and critical moments are lived in the operating rooms, scalpel in hand, under the light of powerful lighting and trying to save the life of the patient on the stretcher.

With this backdrop, it is essential to guarantee optimal lighting in the operating room, as it is one of the fundamental elements for doctors to be able to carry out their work in a medical setting with guarantees. From ETKHO, with this article we want to highlight the importance of lighting in the operating room, its characteristics, types of surgical lamps and electrical safety systems.

Uninterruptible Power Systems: utility and benefits in the area of health

There are a number of high-risk areas in hospitals, also known as critical hospital areas. In these areas (operating rooms, emergencies, etc.) there is a significant bacterial burden and there are patients who need, more than anyone else, a safe environment free of any type of risk to their health and their own lives. In this article we want to talk to you about Uninterruptible Power Systems (UPS), their functionalities and benefits.

The demand for electricity is present in all areas of our lives, especially since technology is part of our daily lives. And this energy dependence can also be extrapolated to the health or hospital sector.

Ground connections in critical hospital areas

To understand what ground connections or earthing isolated power systems, it is important to know that all electrical power searches for any ground in order to close the circuit.

In this way, energy generally takes the shortest path and the one that represents the least resistance. Sometimes that short path can be through the human being.

Therefore, imagine that a patient is anesthetized and becomes the path to earth, the consequences can be lethal, because he will be unable to perform self-preservation actions or make decisions.

Smart operating rooms

Technology has currently enabled advancement in all areas of life, the health sector is no exception, and smart operating rooms are part of such advancement.

Concepts such as telehealth and telemedicine have turned health services around. But in this article we want to talk to you in detail about intelligent operating rooms, so we invite you to read the article to the end.

First of all, you have to be clear about what an intelligent operating room is. It is a fully functional surgical room, where the distribution of medical equipment and facilities is established taking into account intelligent tools.

Equipment and installation of IT systems in hospitals

Hospital electrical safety is a topic that can’t be taken for granted. It is important to know what IT systems are and how they can be used in hospitals.

IT systems are distinguished by the fact that all active components are grounded through a high impedance.

The reason why a high impedance is applied is due to metrological aspects, in order not to jeopardize the electrical safety, in this case hospitals.

Therefore, the grounding of the electrical installation masses can be done either together or individually.

Insulation monitors: what they are and their benefits

It is important to keep in mind that electrical insulation is essential in electrical facilities. Today we are going to talk about insulation monitors as an important element in electrical safety, especially in the hospital sector.

First of all it must be understood that insulation monitors are devices which supervise the insulation resistance in IT systems.

They also monitor the leakage or differential current, both in grounded systems such as TB and TT. Therefore, it is the two alarms of the insulation monitors that allow to know the condition of the equipment before a ground failure takes place.

It is therefore an essential element to prevent shortages in the electrical system of a hospital.

Keep ICU running properly

In these coronavirus times, hospitals must ensure the proper functioning of ICU, ensuring that health care teams don’t fail, and that patients can count on the health service in absolute safety.

At ETKHO we specialize in the manufacture of electrical safety equipment, and we provide services for critical hospital areas, the ones that should be in optimal condition in the current situation.

You can count on specialists in high quality services and technological products, guaranteeing a good operation of the IT electrical systems of the critical areas or units.

COVID-19 patient ventilators

Among the indispensable tools or devices for health today we find the ventilation devices for COVID-19 patients.

This has motivated us to write about what they are, how they work, what kind of ventilators are available. Moreover, we think it is convenient to talk to you about electrical safety in order to guarantee the good working of health centres.

They are simply mechanical ventilators for patients with breathing difficulties. A respirator is a machine that is electrically powered, that is why it is important to have good electrical safety to ensure that hospital facilities in critical areas can respond effectively to the electrical demand for these devices.

guía práctica estado del sistema eléctrico de unidad hospitalaria

Practical guide to know the status of the electrical system of a hospital unit

This article is intended to provide you a list of aspects to check the condition of the electrical installations in the hospital unit, therefore we offer it as a practical and quick guide to determine the status of the electrical system in a hospital.

We address hospital units since we know that they are environments with high risks of electrical failures when they do not have an appropriate electrical safety system.
In these situations, failures do not limit their consequences to damages to electrical equipment, but they can extend to human losses.

You certainly want the hospital unit under your care to operate optimally and safely.

Tips for designing a hospital electrical system

Lo primero que hay que reconocer es que cada hospital tiene una realidad distinta. Es cierto que todos cuentan con departamentos iguales, prestan servicios de salud, entre otras similitudes. Pero nos referimos a que cada hospital tiene una distribución distinta de sus áreas, dimensiones diferentes, algunos tienen más equipos en el quirófano que otros.

Por tanto, pretender crear un sistema eléctrico estándar ya es un error. Se debe comenzar con una evaluación de la unidad hospitalaria. Así que el primero de los consejos para el diseño de un sistema eléctrico en hospitales es evaluar las necesidades de cada área del hospital, identificando los riesgos eléctricos de las mismas.

Find out what a hospital electrical substation looks like

La seguridad eléctrica en el quirófano es un aspecto que debe ser considerado con máxima seriedad. Las precauciones, mediante un sistema eléctrico bien diseñado, permite afrontar las potenciales complicaciones que se relacionan con la electricidad.

Es por ello que aspectos como la continuidad de flujos de energía tienen vital importancia para mantener adecuadamente la red de flujos eléctricos y proteger al paciente, personal médico, equipos e instalaciones. Hay que tener en cuenta que cada uno de los equipos destinados a mantener la seguridad eléctrica, deben destinarse exclusivamente a proveer la alimentación de los equipos del área del quirófano.

Electrical safety in surgery

ETKHO at the World Fair in the Health Sector ARAB HEALTH 2020 Booth S1 G50

This edition of the ARAB HEALTH 2020, will take place from January 27 to 30, at the Dubai World Trade Center and the Conrad Dubai Hotel, and will participate more than 4,250 companies from more than 64 countries.

ETKHO will be present to show the latest technologies, products and services in electrical safety for hospital facilities. This edition is the first one in which it will be participating.

Keys for the optimization of electrical safety in hospitals

It’s helpful to know the keys for the optimization of electrical safety in hospitals, only then can you know what are the aspects to be taken into account when making sure you have the ideal conditions to reduce and eliminate risks.

Safety comes first, it is what is said in all work areas where the life of each worker is to be preserved. However, in the hospital context it represents an obligation also with patients.

How to avoid risks in hospital electrical installations

Risks in hospital electrical installations can lead to very serious situations. That is why care must be taken and a perfect electrical safety should be provided.

There are certain considerations that must be taken into account to know how to avoid risks in hospital electrical installations, so that accidents can be prevented.

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Innovations, news and tips in the field of hospital engineering