Why Early Water Detection Matters in Healthcare Facilities

Key Takeaways:

• Healthcare facilities should follow a stop, protect and notify response strategy to limit water damage and protect people, equipment and supplies.
• Real-time monitoring technologies, including leak detection, automatic shutoff valves and environmental sensors, can help identify hidden moisture issues before they cause significant damage.
• Healthcare facility managers should vet restoration partners based on healthcare experience, infection control training, response capabilities, certifications and communication plans.

When a water issue is identified, time is of the essence. The immediate focus should be what he refers to as stop, protect, notify: stop the water source, protect people, critical equipment and supplies, and notify the appropriate facilities personnel and restoration vendor partner, says Steve Willis, chief commercial officer with MOORING Commercial Disaster Restoration.

Once immediate actions are taken, priority should shift to assessing the damage, removing standing water and starting the drying process, notes Steve Leasure, vice president of operations with Rainbow Restoration, a Neighborly company. Within 24 hours, continue monitoring moisture and establish a clear restoration plan. 

“Water damage is a major concern for healthcare facilities because even a small leak can quickly affect walls, floors and other areas,” Leasure says. “The key is catching it early and responding quickly.”  

Monitoring and partnership 

Hidden issues can sneak up. The most common of these include water in the walls or ceilings, moisture in the air and minor hidden plumbing problems. While visual assessments are useful, they are a snapshot in time and can miss slow-changing issues.  

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Real-time technology bridges the gap between physical rounds before they trigger structural or mold damage. Common, real-time monitoring strategies include leak detection and environmental sensors, automatic shutoff valves, water flow monitoring, and temperature and humidity sensors.  

But facilities managers and their teams often are busy with issues already identified as needing help. Having a water remediation and restoration partner they can trust can provide peace of mind if or when they need help. 

Willis says that a good water restoration partner for a healthcare facility should be able to restore damaged spaces quickly, follow industry standards and work inside occupied infection-sensitive areas without creating new risks. 

When vetting potential partners, Willis says managers should ask about: 

• healthcare references 
• infection control risk assessment training 
• standards, certifications and required state licensing 
• experience working with environmental consultants 
• response time commitments 
• capacity during regional/national events 
• adequate equipment inventory 
• worker screening and training 
• insurance coverage 
• contract terms 
• communication plan. 

“Many times, facility managers are caught off guard (by water damage) because these usually aren't dramatic flood events but slow or indirect issues,” Willis says.  

Since water damage in healthcare facilities can be more than an inconvenience and can open the doors for additional health issues of a population already potentially at risk, planning from all parties is critical. Through engaging stakeholders, understanding potential problem areas and documenting measures to address water issues, managers can be proactive, should the need arise. 

Valerie Dennis Craven is a freelance writer in Plymouth, Minnesota. 

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