critical areas archivos - ETKHO Hospital Engineering

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.