An appropriate operating room environment can have benefits that make significant and strategic contributions to a hospital, according to an article on the Executive Insight website.
When operating rooms have correct levels of HVAC, they help hospitals shield themselves from regulatory penalties, decrease risk of infection, reduce readmission rates and lower energy costs.
Minimum standards for operating room performance are discussed in some detail in the Facility Guidelines Institute's Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities (Chapter 1.2 of the 2014 Edition).
Identifying proper ventilation rates, proper humidity ranges, and the maintenance of specified temperatures are the three key components of optimal OR-related HVAC.
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