29, 2012, nowhere was the terror more palpable than in the darkened hallways and stairways of NYU Langone Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital. Consumer Reports points out some notable hospital power failures and highlights why many failures happen, “When Superstorm Sandy knocked out power throughout coastal New Jersey and New York on Oct. Though no hospital thinks it will happen to them, as we have seen, it happens more often than it should. Imagine the chaos if a hospital loses power – lights out, medical devices not working, elevators not operating – it would be very frightening for everyone involved including medical professionals, hospital staff and patients. City residents rely on hospitals to be there when they need them, regardless of what other crisis may be happening in the surrounding city or state. But additionally, if power is lost and a sufficient backup power supply is not in place, critical life saving devices and technologies could become compromised and the health of patients risked.įor many, if a citywide power crisis occurs or some other natural disaster in which they lose power to their homes, they will look to hospitals to be a place of safety and refuge. Data could be lost or compromised and mission-critical operations interrupted. For the healthcare industry, just like any other industry, if power is interrupted or down for a prolonged period of time, critical operations and data are compromised. While backup power is very important for a myriad of industries, in the healthcare industry, it can be the difference between life and death. 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.There are arguably few places in which reliable and sufficient backup power is more important than the healthcare industry. 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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