SCG Foundation has donated two innovative equipment to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus using a controlled air pressure system that can protect medical professionals from the risk of contracting the disease. The equipment consist of the Negative Pressure Mobile Isolation Unit that can prevent the spread of the virus and suitable for use in emergency rooms (COVID ICUs or PUI wards) and the Negative / Positive Pressure Isolation Chamber that allows safe testing for both the medical team and patients. The innovative equipment can be installed quickly and cater to medical needs similar to permanent structures and are also equipped with a filter system that can effectively prevent the spread of viruses, with Rajavithi Hospital being the first hospital to implement this system.
Dr. Somkiat Lalitwongsa, Director of Rajavithi Hospital has revealed that, “As of today, Rajavithi Hospital is considered the center of the Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health, in taking care of COVID-19 patients. Moreover, we are constantly taking in patients in other departments who require treatment or emergency surgeries, with a large number arriving due to emergencies and are unable to fully explain their medical history. Thus, the hospital must separate these patients and wait for their test results in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
With the Negative Pressure Mobile Isolation Unit and the Negative / Positive Pressure Isolation Chamber which we have developed together with SCG, we can establish a system that fully “separates and contains diseases” quickly and effectively, which is highly advantageous in preventing the spread of disease to medical professionals and other patients. Thus, this is good news and we would like to thank the engineering team at SCG who has worked with the medical team at Rajavithi Hospital to successfully develop innovation that is greatly needed during this crisis in such a short period of time.”
Mr. Suracha Udomsak, Vice President, Chemicals Business, SCG, responsible for innovation and technology, said, “SCG has developed the Mobile Isolation Unit innovation in cooperation with doctors from three hospitals to ensure that the equipment truly caters to the needs of doctors. We are confident that the innovative equipment will help lower risks while boosting the confidence for the medical team while performing their duties. The controlled air pressure system can effectively prevent the spread of diseases, as all air that is going in and out must pass through the pressure-controlled system and the HEPA air filter, thus, the filtered air is clean and safe both inside and outside the area. Moreover, every piece of the structure is durable. We use plastic as the main component because the material is strong and lightweight at the same time while it can also be easily installed and transported. The innovative equipment is another alternative for hospitals which can protect their hardworking medical professionals who are in turn protecting us from the virus. SCG Foundation and SCG is donating this equipment to Rajavithi Hospital as the first hospital to implement this innovation.”
The Mobile Isolation Unit that can prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus includes:
- Negative Pressure Isolation Room: This special supplementary equipment has been designed to fit emergency rooms, ICUs, or even patient rooms, in order to let doctors and nurses immediately treat patients with severe symptoms without the need to move the patient or other life support equipment. The room is operated under negative pressure to prevent the virus from spreading outside, while air that flows out of the room will go through a pressure-controlled system and a HEPA air filter. Moreover, the room has two separate areas: the outer part and the inner part, which is the patient area and is equipped with a double door and two-way zipper to facilitate medical professionals when entering and exiting the room. The air pressure is controlled in order to prevent the spread of the virus, and after conducting medical procedures, the medical professional can use the outer area to change their clothing and dispose of infected waste. The structure of the room is made of strong metal and covered with canvas and PVC plastic, with the installation and removal process requiring only 30 minutes. The size of the room can also be adjusted to fit the space.
- Negative / Positive Pressure Isolation Chamber: This equipment allows doctors and nurses to conduct swabs without direct contact with patients. Designed in a vertical cylinder shape, the chamber comes with an entrance that can be zipped open and close for ease of usage. There is a slot in the front which is covered with clear plastic to allow doctors and nurses to see and communicate with patients. Inside the chamber, the air pressure can be either negative or positive, as airflow into or out of the room will pass through a pressure-controlled system and a HEPA air filter to ensure that the air is clean and safe both inside and outside of the chamber. The structure of the room is made of aluminum alloy and PVC canvas.
Apart from these two innovations that can ensure the safety for doctors and nurses while performing their duties in emergency room and swab rooms, SCG has also donated other mobile equipment that can prevent the spread of the virus, from the Negative Pressure Isolation Capsule that can prevent the spread of the virus during patient transportation, the Small Isolation Capsule for CT scan that can prevent the spread of the virus during patient transportation to the CT scan, to the DENT Guard that can lower the risk of the medical team from coming into contact with liquid droplets that can possibly lead to infections while treating patients.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chaovalit Ekkabut, Managing Director of SCG Foundation, said, “SCG Foundation understands the severity of the spread of the COVID-19 as we have seen a large number of patients contracting the disease during the past few weeks. We are deeply concerned for the safety of Thai people, therefore, we would like to be part of the “Care Together” project to help the people of Thailand pass through this crisis by donating 50 million baht to develop innovative equipment that can prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and ensure the safety of medical professionals while performing their duties as well as prevent the spread of the virus among patients and the general public. We have already provided assistance to Rajavithi Hospital and Ramathibodi Hospital, with further plans to send more equipment to large hospitals that handle a huge number of patients.”
SCG’s Mobile Isolation Unit innovation has been developed with the determination of the SCG team in order to provide safety and prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus from patients to medical professionals while facilitating and boosting the confidence of doctors and nurses to allow them to continue their fight against the COVID-19 virus with safety and to pass through this crisis together.
However, many hospitals nationwide are still in need of Negative Pressure Isolation Rooms and Negative / Positive Pressure Isolation Chambers. Funds may be donated through the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand in order to provide equipment to hospitals in need. Those interested may seek more information at the call center at 02-586-2888.
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