“All of the patient rooms in the new unit are positive-pressure controlled.”
When the immune system is compromised, patients are vulnerable to dangerous infections. This is a reality faced by many cancer patients, such as those who are recovering from a stem cell transplant.
The Ron and Nancy Clark Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies Unit, which opened in October 2020, is a specially designed environment where air pressure can be controlled to better protect immune-compromised patients.
“All of the patient rooms in the new unit are positive-pressure controlled,” explains Hematology Charge Nurse Tara Behie. “Clean, filtered air is pumped into the rooms and the positive pressure forces the air to flow out of the room. This way, no contaminated air comes in.”
Before the new unit opened, patients recovering from a stem cell transplant might be unable to leave their room for weeks because of their compromised immune system.
“Because the new unit is pressure controlled as a whole, patients can walk the hallways of the unit to support physical and mental health,” says Tara. “They can work with physiotherapists outside of their rooms and they can meet with loved ones in the family room. This opens up a whole world of possibilities for patients.”
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