![]() ![]() Loss of contact: When the power goes out, patients may lose access to the signaling system to ask for help from the medical staff.With many of these machines, minutes can mean the difference between life and death. Potential loss of life: If a backup generator doesn’t kick in right away when a natural disaster or other circumstances knocks out the power, those lifesaving machines can go down, and they may not easily start up again - even after the power comes back, or the generator finally starts working.When hospitals lack a plan for dealing with power outages, it can result in various consequences. Some patients even reported respiratory problems due to device failure. An extended blackout makes it impossible for some facilities to sterilize their equipment or refrigerate and cook in their cafeterias.ĭuring the 2003 outage, doctors couldn’t view X-rays digitally or register and transport patients. ![]() While hospitals have generators, hospitals experience electrical problems with their HVAC units and water pressure if this equipment fails. Around 75 New York hospitals had no electricity, with the longest outage lasting over two hours. In 2003, a widespread blackout affected the northeastern United States, leaving over 45 million people across eight states without power. But the consequences of hospital power outages go beyond the loss of life. Hospital downtime is unacceptable when electrically-powered machines are keeping people alive. The batteries in a UPS unit can also keep the power on for a while if the generator fails or takes longer than normal to resume the electrical load.You don’t have to be in hospital management to know how vital it is to keep a hospital running during a natural disaster. These units keep the power on while the generator is starting, ensuring an uninterrupted power supply. A UPS kicks in automatically when it detects a power outage. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)Īlong with backup generators, many healthcare facilities also use uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units. In turn, it can affect patients’ quality of care. Even though the generator restarts the power within a few seconds it can have devasting consequences on some healthcare equipment. The downside to relying on a backup generator is the start-up time. These generators must meet specific guidelines which includes maintenance and testing requirements. Backup Generatorsīackup generators are a common choice for hospitals and other types of healthcare facilities. Here’s a look at both emergency power supply options for healthcare institutions. One is a backup power generator, and the other is an uninterruptible power supply unit (UPS). There are two types of backup power supplies for healthcare facilities. Depending on the type of power outage, medical equipment can even be damaged.īackup Power Supply Options for Healthcare Power outages can be caused by blackouts, brownouts, power surges and spikes. Electronic patient data can also be lost when the power supply is disrupted. ![]() A power outage affects everything from surgical equipment, ventilators, respirators, testing equipment, to the heating and cooling system. To prevent loss of life and ensure the electricity stays on during a blackout or other type of power outage, having an emergency power supply for healthcare facilities is crucial to ensure the health and safety of everyone.Ĭauses for Disruption in a Hospital Power SupplyĪ steady power supply is non-negotiable in healthcare facilities like hospitals. In 2005, approximately 215 hospital and nursing home patients died after Hurricane Katrina partly due to generators failing to work in healthcare institutions. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy forced an estimated 1000 people in New York and New Jersey to be evacuated to different healthcare institutions when hospitals’ emergency power supply systems failed. However, Consumer Reports states this isn’t always the case. Without a backup power supply, it can mean the difference between life and death in hospitals and other types of healthcare facilities.Ī backup power supply for healthcare facilities is essential in the event of an emergency. Electricity is a large part of our lives, and a backup power supply is crucial for several industries, especially healthcare facilities. ![]()
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