St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center in Phoenix, Arizona, recently went without air conditioning for several days, forcing the transfer of nearly 100 patients to other facilities, according to AZ Family. A nurse at the hospital, speaking anonymously, said the facility has had ongoing issues with its HVAC system for years and that no contingency plan was in place for a system breakdown. As a result, patients, including children with mental illnesses, were left in dangerously hot conditions for over 24 hours.

St. Luke’s has acknowledged the issue, stating that a new chiller has arrived and is working to cool the facility.

But on Aug. 13, St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center was ordered by state officials to suspend operations and halt patient care due to numerous complaints about the facility’s conditions, according to 12News. The suspension follows the relocation of patients after the air conditioning failed, leaving the building with dangerously high temperatures. The Arizona Department of Health Services conducted multiple inspections, uncovering deficiencies, including non-functioning HVAC systems, unsanitary kitchen conditions and staff shortages, according to court documents.

St. Luke’s submitted a corrective action plan, but the facility continued to provide care in unsafe conditions, with temperatures ranging from 66 to 91 degrees, far outside the required 70 to 75-degree range, according to the documents. The facility also failed to provide necessary documentation and maintain basic operational standards, including fire safety inspections and adequate staffing levels, according to the documents, adding the violations pose a direct risk to patient safety, leading to the emergency suspension of the hospital’s license.

HVAC systems are critical to healthcare facilities functioning properly and providing a safe environment for occupants, especially during the summer heat.  Proper maintenance is essential for ensuring that HVAC systems do not break down.

Maintenance is directed by usage and application, Dennis Stinson, vice president of sales at Fujitsu General America, Inc., told Healthcare Facilities Today.

“Equipment should be serviced twice a year during the crossover period between heating and cooling seasons,” Stinson says. “Regular service intervals will maintain equipment efficiency and extend the HVAC system’s life cycle.”

Controlling the internal facility temperatures also can benefit occupants’ well-being.

“Viewing the HVAC system holistically is essential for creating an indoor climate management strategy,” Jennifer Montville, director of marketing at DriSteem, told Healthcare Facilities Today. “Understanding how humidity interacts with temperature and ventilation is fundamental to optimizing indoor air quality and overall occupant well-being.”

Jeff Wardon, Jr., is the assistant editor for the facilities market.