Every year, hospital-acquired infections affect around 2 million patients in the United States alone, leading to approximately 90,000 deaths and costing between $28 and $45 billion. Healthcare facilities are supposed to be a refuge and resource for the ill, but the unfortunate truth is that patients and visitors can become more sick after exposure to viruses and bacteria in a hospital setting. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that, on any given day, least 1 in 31 hospital patients has a healthcare-associated infection.
The risks associated with HAI were highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic as healthcare systems worked to contain the highly contagious virus within their walls as they treated infected patients. Hospitals across the country ramped up infection control efforts and implemented new policies and procedures to limit the spread of COVID between patients, visitors and staff.
However, there is one area that remains a weak point for many healthcare facilities, namely the monitoring of airborne infection control conditions. While hospitals are required to run regular airborne infection control reports, these typically only measure the “critical areas” of a building—which likely amount to 15-20% of the facility
Life Balance Technologies seeks to address these gaps with a revolutionary software solution, called KPac, that helps healthcare systems more effectively understand their infection control standards and possible risks—saving money and saving lives down the road.
It all starts with the map. KPac creates a virtual map of a building’s life safety drawings, which are essentially floor plans that identify life safety and emergency features and are required in almost every public building. Air balance contractors can enter measurements for critical rooms and areas into the virtual map. Once a technician enters data, contractors will receive immediate feedback about whether the room “passes” or “fails” the required standards. This allows technicians to begin balancing rooms faster and eliminates time lags which can lead to increased airborne infection risk. Once the testing and the balancing is complete, KPac generates a report, which includes a detailed result from each room as well as the whole building. The report can be used internally or for periodic compliance filings with accreditation agencies. Life Balance holds the data securely and updates the drawings to account for any structural or regulatory changes
Life Balance has already integrated the software in four hospitals outside of Texas and is looking to onboard Houston-area and Austin-area healthcare facilities as soon as possible.
Life Balance Technologies helps hospitals and other companies easily analyze air quality conditions and effectively manage their HVAC systems. By streamlining the process for compliance, auditing, and reporting, we help reduce costs and save lives.
