Healthcare facilities are experiencing huge changes after the pandemic

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Dubai: “The Gulf”
The pandemic has affected all sectors, especially the healthcare sector. According to a report by IBISWorld, Australia has equipped less than 20% of public hospitals with the specialized intensive care unit needed to deal with critical patients. As for the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, NHS England, it confirmed that 20% of Corona patients in many hospitals contracted the virus while they were in the hospital for treatment for other diseases.
Without a doubt, the pandemic has increased the number of people who are becoming more aware of airborne respiratory diseases, as well as the importance of hospitals and their ability to meet their needs. While the pandemic has posed many challenges to health care facilities, and while some of those challenges are not over yet, some changes seem necessary.

So, what will the state of health care institutions look like in the post-pandemic? What is the best way for hospitals to prepare for a return to the new normal?
Spatial changes and the emergence of telehealth solutions

The increasing reliance on telehealth solutions will accelerate the change in space use. According to a survey by McKinsey, the percentage of US consumer dependence on telehealth solutions increased from 11% in 2019 to 46% during the pandemic. Updox, the telecom company that specializes in virtual care, found that 51% of 2,000 adults in the United States will continue to use telehealth solutions even after the pandemic ends.
The secondary spatial change lies in the expansion of the negative pressure chambers. The construction of these rooms is one of the most prominent methods adopted by health care facilities to transform themselves into spaces prepared for epidemics. And the negative pressure room can keep less amounts of indoor air pressure compared to the surrounding environment, to isolate the virus and reduce the risk of infection.
For example, the General de Latacunga Hospital in Ecuador has a negative pressure room equipped with LG Electronics solutions, which allow effective pressure zone control. The Multi V, a variable air flow (VRF) system, is connected to an Air Handling Unit (AHU), which is equipped with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter that removes 99.97% of all airborne particles of up to 0.3 μm in size. Certified and received the MERV 17 rating, for conforming to international standards. This combination re-conditioning and recirculating the air, ensuring a healthier environment.

Suraj Kumar, Technical Director of LG Electronics for Air Solutions in the Gulf said: “LG Electronics provides optimal HVAC solutions for healthcare facilities that are facing so many challenges at the present time. We believe that our solutions can support facility owners and healthcare professionals on their path to recovery and prepare for the new normal. He added, “We are closely monitoring the new trend of the healthcare sector, in order to be proactive in offering products that guarantee exceptional comfort, provide more energy efficiency and peace of mind.”

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