The air filtration system is part of the heating and cooling process along with humidification or dehumidification. Any aspect of any of these systems could fail requiring immediate and ongoing plans for care of patients. Communications interruptions impact everyone in health care. Hospitals have developed a process for communication among patient care areas and other critical areas of the hospital. Certainly when communications are disrupted, rumors gain a real foothold .
Hospitals designate certain priority telephones .
If a u tility in your work area is compromised , know how to notify the support department immediately so restitution of service is begun as quickly as possible. Look for current inspection stickers on medical equipment, all organizations are required to ensure medical equipment used in providing patient care has had safety checks completed, usually by an Engineering or Biomedical department. If you are in an area using any of these systems, be sure you follow directions if these utilities are interrupted. This is a part of the utility system that can fail. While it is inefficient and inconvenient, and can slow down patient care processes to some degree, it is not usually the magnitude of a major environmental or electrical failure.