PRODUCT & SERVICE LINE REPORTS
programs to make implementation easier, including data log- ging, trending, water quality monitoring, temperature control, automatic flushing, etc. As we collect data, it will increase our understanding about our buildings and continue to tailor prod- ucts, services, and maintenance to proactively mitigate risk.”
Ozonation Ozonation of water in municipal supplies is becoming more common because it is more efficient and has fewer toxic byproducts than other methods like chlorination. Jonathan Wilder is the Managing Director
for Quality Processing Resource Group, LLC, a provider of infection prevention and other procedural products and services. “This is a question of scale. On a municipal level, ozonation appears to be slowly overtak- ing chlorination to avoid formation of poten- tially toxic byproducts like trihalomethane compounds. Also, ozone is more effective per ppm than chlorine. Less is always more. On a building scale, specifi- cally a healthcare facility, the only place that disinfection is typically done is in critical water systems, which, having no copper plumbing in them, have an ultraviolet lamp to disinfect the water. In utility water systems, copper in the plumbing leaches out very slowly to effectively disinfect the water without side effects. Critical water systems cannot have copper in them because it will be attacked by the much-purer critical water and the plumbing system will be damaged in relatively short order.
Jonathan Wilder Water quality is essential to the CS/SPD department, as
the vital processes of cleaning and sterilizing are completely dependent upon the management and assurance of uncon- taminated air, water, and steam.”
Wilder continued, “Quality Processing Resource Group primarily assists in the areas of steam and water purity. We help our clients get steam for sterilization to a good state (dry, air-free, and without superheat or excessive contami- nants) and water to comply with the requirements of AAMI TIR34 for its purity. Any attempt to decrease HAIs has to take a systems approach. We can get steam and water right so that processing is done by the numbers, but if there is a breakdown due to human or mechanical imperfection in how the instruments are treated between the last patient and the next patient, none of this infrastructure work will matter.
Every step matters. And they all influence each other. Making healthcare safer for the patients takes a concerted effort to maintain top-quality resources and performance on the part of all involved departments, from the OR to EVS.”
Let’s get digital
Rada is a company that has long specialized in providing plumbing solutions and ensuring clean waterways; they have also taken a digital approach in controlling the water within health facilities. According to Stuart Skinner, Marketing Manager, Rada, “we believe that digital water delivery is at the heart of driving safety, infection control and sustainability improvements, and our new range of Rada Digital Faucets have been designed and engineered to specifically address these challenges. Every element of the faucet has been scrutinized to improve
infection control. The faucet has touchless operation but with- out internal solenoid diaphragms notorious for being prone to bacterial growth. The exterior surface has been designed to minimize joints, removing areas where bacteria can build up and making cleaning easier.
The faucets are fully digital, with capabilities for multiple
outlets to be networked and operated via a building manage- ment system. To minimize water and energy wastage, the faucets can be pre-programmed with optimum temperature, flow rate and run times and set to automatically duty flush only as and when required based usage data from each outlet.
Rada Digital Faucet
Electronically kept data provides clear evidence of compli- ance with water management plans, meaning that clinical staff time can be spent on delivering best patient care. As we look to the future, enhancing safety and quality in
the health and care system will be fundamental for support- ing the overall health of the global population. For us, the direction of travel is continuous improvement and driving innovations in water delivery technology that support greener, safer healthcare.” HPN
References:
Wilder collecting steam condensate for
non-condesible gas steam quality measurements
1
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/uv- lights-and-lamps-ultraviolet-c-radiation-disinfection-and-coronavirus
2 ASHRAE (2003). HVAC Design Manual for Hospitals and Clinics. Atlanta, American Society of Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Engineers.
3 Kowalski, W., D. Saputa, D. Jones. (2021). “Achieving MERV-13: UV-C Can Help Less Ef- ficient HVAC Filters Get There.” HPAC Engineering 93(6): 38-44.
46 December 2022 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS •
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