Insights from AJ Manufacturing, Manufacturers of HEPA Fan Filter Units, Ceiling Systems, and More
In September of 2019, the CDC hosted a presentation by Sue Collier, Clinical Development Content Lead at the American Hospital Association/Health & Research Trust and Barbara S. Edson, the Executive Director of the Virtual Care Center at UNC Health Care. The presentation, titled “Building a Business Case for Infection Prevention,” could not have been more timely, given that the first known cases of COVID-19 would begin appearing in a mere two months.
This presentation, divided into two sections, suggests the prioritization of infection prevention as a key driver at healthcare facilities and offers guidance about developing an informed case for business leaders, so that the right infection prevention equipment, protocols, and data can be implemented by healthcare leadership. Now, in 2023, it appears that this prioritization took care of itself to a large extent, given that nearly every industry – not just healthcare – experienced the business losses that came with a worst-case infection scenario: a pandemic.
It is important to note, however, that leaders in healthcare have been fighting for agreed-upon standards for longer than the last decade. This is because the losses that healthcare facilities face have always been monumental, outside of more recent circumstances. In their presentation, Collier and Edson cite the following statistic: “Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) cost between $28 and $45 billion annually, resulting in 100,000 deaths in the U.S.”
Given that most hospital facilities are now prioritizing HVAC recommissioning as a top-three priority, according to the 2023 hospital construction survey from the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE), “the business case for infection prevention” has far more evidence and traction behind it than ever for hospital leadership.
But many questions still remain. What technology delivers the best infection prevention methods? Fortunately, AJ Manufacturing – manufacturer of ceiling systems, as well as HEPA fan filter units, and many more custom HVAC products – has been delivering infection prevention solutions on a large scale for over 40 years. Our team is confident that a deep investment in air distribution products from AJ Manufacturing can provide significant health and business benefits for hospital facilities.
How Our Ceiling Systems – Delivered by the Manufacturer of Fan Filter Units and More – Provide Infection Mitigation for Hospitals
While we are well known for our HEPA filter unit products, we also offer three signature ceiling systems, which we now build at AJ Ceilings, a separate facility built to ensure these systems get the utmost customization and concentrated attention from our engineering team.
Our three signature ceiling systems, the SS-CARES, the SSORS, and our Suspended Ceiling System Grids are highly customizable air distribution systems to provide the highest level of indoor air quality where you need it most. For example, our SS-CARES and SSORS have been designed specifically for operating rooms where patients are vulnerable to infection without the right mitigation processes. The role of our ceiling systems is to deliver precise, regular, controlled curtains of air directly where you need them, so that key actions can be performed (such as surgery or laboratory testing) while limiting the risk of infection or contamination.
According to the British Medical Journal, surgical-site infections are the most common cause of hospital-associated infections. AJ Manufacturing is leading the custom HVAC industry with solutions that mitigate infection, so healthcare facilities can provide superior care for their patients, as well as protect their assets as a business entity.
Whether you’ve relied on AJ Manufacturing for HEPA fan filter units in the past or your facility is just beginning to explore new air distribution products for your cleanroom or any other commercial space, we look forward to benefiting your business and contributing to your high standard of care with our state-of-the-art custom HVAC products.
A Study Pointing to the Efficacy of Custom HVAC and Fan Filter Unit Manufacturers
A recent U.S. study at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital sought to understand what mitigation technologies would best prevent a flu infection from spreading throughout the facility. The study’s team released live flu virus into the air distribution system, allowing it to move freely into other rooms. Preventative measures, including UVC light, HEPA filter units, and bipolar ionization were used to reduce the viral load. The results? The study concluded that filters (both pre-filters and final filters) were exceptionally effective at reducing the virus to insignificant levels. AJ Manufacturing was glad to hear it. Why? Despite the latest technologies capitalizing on a newfound interest in indoor air quality and infection prevention, our time-tested, effectively engineered products, including HEPA filter units, continue to provide their most essential service: extraordinary protection.
Looking for Ceiling Systems to Protect Your Business? Partner with AJ, Manufacturer of HEPA Fan Filter Units and Many More Custom HVAC Products
If your facility is ready to revamp its HVAC system to ensure your assets and teams are safe, AJ Manufacturing offers a wide variety of solutions, including our ceiling systems, which can be modified, customized, and individualized to your requirements.
Don’t settle for anything less than a trusted partner with a trusted solution when it comes to infection prevention. Your healthcare business simply can’t afford the losses incurred when patients are vulnerable to hospital-associated infections. Fortunately, you now have a powerful layer of protection with AJ Manufacturing.
Get in touch with us online or give us a call at (816) 231-5522. To get an estimate for your custom HVAC project, contact Amy VanWagner, National Sales Manager, at amyvanwagner@ajmfg.us.