Heaven knows how demanding the job of medical professionals is. Even before the unforeseen coronavirus pandemic, such a high volume of patients needed to be accommodated and treated. Luckily technology exists to allow for smooth and prompt deliveries in medical centers.
The pressures of the pandemic on the hospital systems are evident. At its height, the demand for COVID testing at hospitals delayed testing for STIs, respiratory diseases, and other infections. In 2021, ninety-nine percent of American hospitals reported acquisition challenges. Many organic materials are temperature-sensitive, leading to up to sixteen percent of a hospital’s pharmaceutical inventory being wasted. Fortunately, pneumatic tube systems exist to alleviate much of that stress.
Pneumatic tube systems use carriers filled with pressurized air to transport medication and organic materials across every floor and wing of a hospital. Sensors ensure each runner reaches its proper destination and individual carriers get to other stations by changing lines by automated Transfer Units.
There are even more improvements to this technology. Particle filters clean pollen and dust from the tubes, multi-carrier carousels provide queues to eliminate wait times, and RFID transponders track carriers through the almost intravenous system. Additionally, station security allows only authorized personnel to access materials, and delivery stations slow runners for smooth arrivals. Therefore, there are many reasons to use a pneumatic tube system in a medical facility.
Source: Swisslog Healthcare