PacB Group // The Many Reasons Why Back-Up Power is Vital for Hospitals

Articles

The Many Reasons Why Back-Up Power is Vital for Hospitals

While it may be vital to keep the wheels of industry turning despite load shedding, accidental outages and other failures in the supply of electricity, only in relatively few instances do such disruptions actually pose a threat to life. A notable exception to this, and one that has the potential to put many of the nation’s citizens at risk, occurs when healthcare services are endangered by interruptions to the municipal electricity supply. Consequently, the ready availability of a reliable source of back-up power for each and every one of the hospitals and clinics in South Africa is crucial.

As the role of technology in medicine has advanced, the extent to which patient care has become reliant upon a continuous supply of electricity has increased in parallel. In a typical cardiac or intensive care unit, for example, each patient undergoes continuous monitoring of their vital signs by equipment designed to raise an alarm in the event that any of these signs should deviate sufficiently from the established norm. Frequently, a patient’s life can depend upon the speed with which medical staff can take remedial action. No electricity means no alarm and is just one example of why adequate back-up power for our hospitals is so important.

On those same wards, there will often be patients that have suffered serious injuries that have left them wholly dependent upon electrically operated life-support equipment as a means to aid their recovery. Without that ongoing mechanical support, each of them could be dead in a matter of minutes. If that seems dramatic, imagine what might be the fate of a patient who is undergoing open-heart surgery. In such cases, their continued existence is dependent upon the smooth operation of the bypass equipment needed to take over the circulation of their blood.

There are, of course, a number of other valid reasons to provide back-up power for hospitals even though not all of these may actually pose a direct threat to a patient’s life. Even routine diagnostic services, such as radiology and blood tests, where these may be carried out by an on-site pathology department, would not be possible without electricity. Interruption of these services can lead to lengthy waiting lists and unavoidable delays in providing any treatment that might be indicated as well, which could lead, of course, to some very frustrated patients.

In-patient care must also extend to providing food and comfort. However, kitchens, air conditioners, lighting and laundry services all require electricity. Consequently, if the mains supply should fail, without a reliable back-up power source, even day-to-day living for both the patients and the staff in our hospitals, could quickly become a great deal less pleasant.

In practice, the most reliable solution will be to install an emergency generator. The capacity of the unit and whether just one unit is sufficient will depend upon the size of the establishment and the extent of the ancillary services undertaken on-site. Armed with sufficient information regarding peak and operating loads, it is a relatively simple task to establish the precise requirements. Simple, that is, to someone with the knowledge to undertake the need assessment and to perform the necessary calculations.

When considering back-up power solutions for hospitals, it is fairly unlikely that these rather specialised, non-medical abilities will be found among the staff of the average healthcare establishment so, in most cases, it will be essential for management to seek some guidance from an expert. Based in Pretoria, the PacB Group is a designer, supplier and installer of gensets and control panels for emergency and routine use, and has gained a reputation for excellence both in South Africa and in many other countries on the African continent.

Whether addressing the need for back-up power for hospitals, hotels, schools, heavy industry, or for sustainable energy sources, the PacB Group offers cost-effective solutions to match client’s unique needs.