INFECTION CONTROL 2020
Design and innovative technology Continued from page 24 The facility was designed and built with 80 per cent single patient rooms, each with its own three piece patient washroom. Room sign monitors are located outside the entrance to patient rooms – these monitors are integrated with the patient chart and continuously update in digital pictures the contact precautions that are in place and the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that should be worn by staff and visitors. PPE is available in a purpose-built wall unit easily accessible at the room entrance. In total, HRH has 83 negative pressure rooms with ante rooms, throughout the facility in both inpatient and ambulatory procedure areas. These rooms are centrally monitored and digitally alarmed for accuracy and maintenance of proper negative pressure levels. In addition, the facility was built with a forward view to the likely presence of increased pandemics, ensuring an HVAC system that allows for the
THE DESIGN OF THE NEW HOSPITAL BUILDING CAME ON THE HEELS OF THE SARS OUTBREAK OF 2003, URGING DESIGNERS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE MANY LESSONS LEARNED FROM THAT EXPERIENCE. immediate reprogramming of a significant number of additional negative pressure spaces including: • 36 rooms in the Emergency Department’s Acute and Sub-Acute zones • 2 ER trauma rooms that are full surgical suites • A 48 bed critical care unit in pods of 12 rooms • One 32 bed inpatient respiratory unit “The hospital’s ventilation system supports entirely fresh air– there is no-recirculated air in this building,” adds Collins. “We designed the facility such that we can isolate inpatient treatment ar-
Arielle Zomer is the manager of public affairs at Humber River Hospital.
eas from the emergency department and outpatient treatment areas, while still enabling patients to be assessed and treated in designated areas,” says Collins. “Outpatient clinics have negative pressure rooms should a patient visiting the hospital need to be treated, and most treatment spaces in these areas are single rooms.” The design of the new hospital building came on the heels of the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak of 2003, urging designers to take into account the many lessons learned from that experience. Through this knowledge, the designers were able
to create infrastructure that is wellequipped to help prevent against the spread of infectious diseases and handle potential future viral outbreaks. In addition to considering pandemic needs, the facility design also took into consideration Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) practices. If a major CBRN event occurred, the HRH ambulance garage that today accommodates up to eight vehicles, can be quickly be converted to a mass pandemic intake ready area complete with showers. Wastewater from these shower systems are kept separate from the water system that sustains the rest of the hospital. In minor contamination cases, a separate Hazmat Room accommodates a patient shower station, and assessment is available from the ambulance garage. “We built the hospital with containment in mind to provide the best resources and tools to prevent the spread of infections for patients and visitors,” H adds Collins. ■
