Lawrence Memorial Hospital Health COVID-19 Response

Much like most hospitals in the country, LMH Health faced major challenges in preparing for the pandemic surge considering the COVID-19 spread across the country. After the pandemic shut down the country, in a matter of days, LMH Health was preparing entire hospital patient units for the potential surge of highly infectious patients at the facility. 

Because of the many years of partnership with this community-based hospital, 5BY5 Engineers was asked to help in this response. The immediate response included converting 2 entire patient units to COVID-19 surge units. 5BY5 Engineers helped with selecting the appropriate areas/ rooms to treat infected patients, as well as strategies on how to set up the associated HVAC systems to prevent infection spread.

In a matter of hours, 5BY5 and LMH Health selected and executed a solution that included 99.9% exhaust of all potential COVID-19 patient rooms, and the negative pressure of such rooms, as well as make-up air in the facility to support the high levels of exhaust. This solution was executed on multiple systems and served multiple patient units. The solution utilized the flexibility of the existing HVAC equipment and the overall construction cost for the hospital was $0.00. The adjustments were made immediately.

In the months following, LMH Health and 5BY5 Engineers developed a long-term plan to convert less critical patient rooms into permanent pandemic surge rooms (meeting AII room requirements). Priorities for this project included flexibility, minimizing inspection spread, and energy efficiency. The solution presented included a new isolation exhaust system and modifications to the existing air distribution system. These rooms have been operational since mid-July 2020.

LOCATION

Lawrence, KS

ENGAGEMENT

• MEP System Engineer

• Commissioning

KEY INDIVIDUALS

• Brock Centlivre: PIC

• Scott Groshans: PM

FACILITY ADMINISTRATOR

Rick Ballinger, Facilities Director

CONTROLS CONTRACTOR

Johnson Controls

MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR

P1 Group

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

P1 Group