Maintaining the confidence of patients and staff during infectious disease emergencies
A newly published survey in the US reveals that about 50% of respondents are afraid to visit their doctors or a hospital because of the risk of infection.
“36% of respondents are worried as patients or for loved ones who are patients about getting an infection while recovering.”
GHX
Not only do patients worry about the risk of infection, staff do as well. The difficulty of recruiting and retaining front line staff is at an unprecedented high, due in part to elevated fear of infectious disease hazards. Increasingly both patients and personnel are seeking out institutions that unequivocally prioritize their safety.
One of the major learnings from the pandemic is the importance of ventilation in preventing transmission of infectious disease. Improving indoor air quality is a proven, but often overlooked, strategy to minimize risk of airborne hazards to patients, visitors, and staff.
While air exchanges can reduce concentration of harmful organisms, achieving better indoor air quality also requires attention to the direction of air flow and velocity at which the air travels. Better indoor air quality is not only about increasing the number of air changes per hour, but it is equally important and potentially much more energy-efficient to control the direction and velocity of the air. Consistent, vertical flow at appropriate velocity prevents random circulation of infectious particles. This where implementation of Avidicare’s Temperature-controlled AirFlow will be a safety advantage. Built on the success of its operating room systems, the technology is adaptable to all areas where transmission of infectious disease is a risk. It is possible to make high risk areas more resilient and safer for both patients and staff.
Make your institution more resilient against infectious disease hazards and the safest choice for both patients and healthcare workers. Please contact us today to learn more about improving air quality in your institution and how we can help you work toward zero infections.