The Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas Engineering team recently implemented a creative solution that uses air scrubbers in creating negative pressure rooms.
Air scrubbers enhance air quality through HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtration, which filters out 99.97% of the 0.3-micron particles in the air that pass through the filter, according to Mike Parks, Texas Health Dallas plant supervisor.
To create a negative pressure room using an air scrubber, the HEPA filtration units must be vented to the outside, to the corridor or to the return air.
Engineering devised a solution: Duct the scrubbed, clean exhaust air to the outside of the building via the window by using temporary duct work and a custom-made window plate. The window plate enables both scrubbing of the room air and venting it out of the building.
Along with the window plate innovation, Engineering had to procure additional air scrubbers. The units quickly became scarce nationwide at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike said.
Engineering worked closely with Supply Chain Management to procure more than 100 units to rent from three separate companies. The hospital engaged contractors to mass produce custom window plates.
“Currently we have almost 50 scrubbers deployed in the main building and have the ability to deploy scrubbers to more than double this amount,” Mike said.
“As well as supporting the air cleaning process, venting the air to the outside creates a negative air pressure relationship to adjoining areas. This increases protection from airborne contamination for those outside the specific room where the scrubber is deployed,” Mike said.
While negative air pressure rooms are not required for treating a patient with COVID-19, they may be necessary for patients with other diseases such as tuberculosis and measles, said Sharon Williamson, Texas Health senior director of infection prevention.
“The spirit of innovation at Texas Health Dallas will help build patient safety when negative pressure rooms are needed,” Sharon said.
“The cooperation and teamwork between Engineering, Supply Chain and the staff on the medical units, as well as the contractors and vendors, has been phenomenal,” said Charlie Shoup, senior director of support services at Texas Health Dallas.
Pictured above right: Plant mechanics Kenny Aphayarath and Alie Brima install an air scrubber exhaust window plate in a patient room at Texas Health Dallas.
By Andy Wilson • Posted April 24, 2020