An increasing number of people are reaching retirement age, which has implications for the healthcare provision of communities like Ocean City, New Jersey. Based on the latest census, the median age in Ocean City is 56.9 years, and 34.2% of the population is 65 years and above. This aging population means more requirements for assisted living, home healthcare, and long-term care facilities, all of which require properly installed and functioning medical gas systems. Oxygen therapy, surgical operations, and in-room respiratory care will increasingly be needed in assisted living settings, making medical gas installation more important than ever before. Medical gas installation experts must ensure that piping, alarms, and gas delivery systems are NFPA 99 safe to avoid problems like leaks, pressure drops, or contamination.
Oxygen therapy, chronic respiratory diseases, such as COPD, heart disease, and pneumonia, are common among a large portion of the senior citizens in Ocean City, which means that oxygen therapy is required in assisted living homes. Before, portable oxygen tanks were the go-to solution, but today, integrated medical gas systems offer a better and safer option. The advantages of the dedicated in-room oxygen supply systems: Does away with the large and clunky oxygen tanks that had to be carried around. Guarantees constant oxygen delivery without the possibility of the tank running empty. Reduces the potential for lifting and carrying injuries to workers and residents.
Unlike assisted living facilities, which are often smaller and less industrial in layout than hospitals, certified medical gas installers must contend with limited space and restrictions on where they can lay piping and install delivery systems.
Certified medical gas installers must adapt designs to:
As healthcare costs rise, many assisted living facilities are shifting from the residential care model to medical centers. There are two main reasons for this: More minor surgical procedures carried out on the premises. Skilled nursing around the clock demands the use of medical gases like oxygen, nitrous oxide, and medical air. Suction and gas-powered ventilation are necessary for emergency response capabilities. Thus, medical gas systems must develop to enable proper healthcare requirements in the non-hospital environment as technology progresses.
To guarantee that the facilities are suitable and to operate smoothly, medical gas installers concentrate on:
If proper medical gas installation is not done, assisted living centers are likely to have poor operation, legal consequences, and even health issues.
Although assisted living homes are not full-scale hospitals, they are still subject to certain national safety standards. Among the requirements are:
To this end, there are a number of measures that certified medical gas installers undertake:
In facilities that are gradually getting older and requiring refurbishment, the medical gas systems must be upgraded not only for better efficiency but also for the safety of the patients.
In Ocean City, the number of senior citizens is rising and so is the need for modern assisted living facilities and sophisticated medical gas systems ensuring the safety and optimal care for their patients. The need for oxygen therapy, on-site medical treatments, and compliance with the rules therefore cannot be overemphasized in the need for medical gas installation for the patient’s safety and overall efficiency of healthcare.
Certified medical gas installers make sure that facilities are equipped with safe, compliant and sustainable gas delivery systems as they see fit for the future. As technology improves and the requirement for respiratory care intensifies, the importance of a correctly designed and preserved medical gas infrastructure will be critical in defining the future of assisted living and senior healthcare.
