Sloan, the global leader in commercial plumbing systems, published a continuing education course in ARCHITECT’s October edition outlining the  challenges healthcare facilities face and the commercial restroom products and technologies that work to enhance user safety and comfort in those environments.

According to a 2007 report from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was estimated that approximately 1.7 million healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) — infections patients contract while they are receiving care in a healthcare facility — occur in United States hospitals each year, resulting in 99,000 deaths and an estimated $20 billion in healthcare costs.

The course outlines how factors like water and poor hygiene practices are leading causes of HAIs in healthcare facilities and how plumbing fixtures like touch-free faucets and flushometers work to alleviate those concerns by creating a healthier and safer environment.

“Healthcare facilities are very prone to dispersion of disease-spreading organisms,” said Mary Phelps, Sloan manager of strategic accounts. “Our goal is to educate users that touch-free faucets and flushometers as well as sink designs play a leading role in effectively preventing the spread of those germs while also initiating cost savings for hospitals.”

Handles on manual faucets are breeding grounds for germs, as touching the handles after handwashing simply negates the cleansing benefits. But the course portrays that with touch-free faucets, not only do those fixtures lend themselves toward improved sanitation, but also cater to anyone, regardless of age of physical ability.

Another major benefit to sensor-based faucets is water conservation. Per Sloan’s continuing education course, touchless faucets use approximately one less gallon of water per activation than a manual faucet, as they only operate for a pre-set amount of time when the users hands are within range of the sensor.

 “At Sloan, we’re well aware of the hygiene concerns that healthcare facilities are faced with,” said Mark Lawinger, Sloan fixtures product line manager. “We’re working to combat those problems every day with our innovative plumbing products designed for healthcare facilities, including bed pan washers, toilets with bed pan lugs, surgeon stainless steel sinks, clinic service sinks and bariatric water closets and more.”

Visit Sloan’s website for more information on Sloan’s plumbing products designed for healthcare facilities such as touch-free fixtures, including its 0.35 gpm faucet options, designed to serve any commercial restroom environment with intelligent and touch-free applications.