--- title: Three Best Practices for In-Hospital Portable Suction description: To ensure your facility is ready for such emergencies, here are three best practices for portable hosptial suction. image: https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/Blog/rsz_gettyimages-464675988.png --- [![dark-header.jpg](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hub/212347/file-1107077240.jpg?width=940&name=file-1107077240.jpg "dark-header.jpg")](https://www.sscor.com/) ## **Thank you for visiting the SSCOR Blog.** Whether you're in a Hospital or EMS setting, this is the place for you. We'll share information on current industry news, tips, as well as the latest and greatest in SSCOR products. Our hope is that this blog is not only informative but a collaborative and open forum for you to share your thoughts on developing opportunities and challenges within your profession. Subscribe. Share your thoughts. Enjoy. -SSCOR Team   # [Three Best Practices for In-Hospital Portable Suction](https://blog.sscor.com/three-best-practices-for-in-hospital-portable-suction) Posted by [Sam D. Say](https://blog.sscor.com/author/sam-d-say) Jul 3, 2017 4:30:00 AM 3 min read - [![LinkedIn Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2628248555-png/images/icons/linkedin-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/three-best-practices-for-in-hospital-portable-suction#) 0 - [![Facebook Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2623658044-png/images/icons/fb-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/three-best-practices-for-in-hospital-portable-suction#) 0 ![Three Best Practices for In-Hospital Portable Suction](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/rsz_gettyimages-464675988.png?width=700&name=rsz_gettyimages-464675988.png "Three Best Practices for In-Hospital Portable Suction") For those working in the hospital setting, you may give your portable suction units little thought. Most hospital workers depend on wall-mounted units, which are plumbed and ready to go. You may go years without needing a portable unit. But when you DO need it, there had better be one available.   So, to ensure your facility is ready for such emergencies, here are three best practices for in-hospital portable suction.   ## 1. How Many Units? One of the fundamental aspects of readiness is [preplanning](https://blog.sscor.com/the-importance-of-portable-suction-in-hospital-supply-planning). And when it comes to in-hospital portable suction, foreseeing your needs is the first step in preparation. When deciding how many units your hospital needs, here are a few considerations:   - **Size of the facility.** Larger hospitals will have lengthier transport times when moving patients from one unit to another. - **Number of beds.** The smaller the hospital, the fewer portable suction units needed. - **Number of patients treated per year (for emergency rooms)**. For high-volume ERs, you may want to station a portable suction unit in each pod/section. - **Where will the units go?** Strategically place the units where they will be easy to locate, easy to grab, and close by. Locations should include: - Near each code cart - On every floor - Near the exit to the parking area - In each department - Where/how NOT to place the portable suction machine:   [![SSCOR Duet portable hospital suction with built-in battery protection](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/f5c69a04-3ccf-489f-ade0-568b00dbfb77.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/f5c69a04-3ccf-489f-ade0-568b00dbfb77)   ## 2. Maintaining Your Units Someone must be charged with [maintaining](https://blog.sscor.com/three-best-practices-for-portable-suction-machine-maintenance) the portable suction units in your facility. They should be included in daily maintenance routines, such as checking out the code carts. Daily maintenance should include:   - Turning on the unit - Checking battery life - Checking suction pressure - Replacing low/dead batteries - Ensuring all accessories are in place, such as: - Catheters - Tubing - Batteries - Know where backups are stored - Cleanliness. Be sure the unit is disinfected after each use - Training: - Ensure all personnel are familiar with the unit’s functionality and accessories - Personnel are comfortable operating the portable suction - Encourage all to take part in maintaining the units - Incorporate the suction unit into mega-code scenarios - Include suction as part of ACLS and BLS recertification training Another important aspect of maintenance is to include the portable suction unit as part of the code cart. If you are called to respond to a patient down, be they in a hallway or the parking lot, be sure that the portable suction unit is part of your response.   ## 3. Don't Forget the Power To ensure your portable suction unit is ready and able to perform, you must have adequate power. Most portable units rely on rechargeable [batteries](https://www.sscor.com/S-SCORT_VX2_Option_portable_ems_suction.html). But these batteries must be maintained and must be exchanged for new when they no longer hold a charge. There are alternative power sources available. Some can even run on [defibrillator](https://www.sscor.com/S-SCORT_II_suction_unit.html) batteries. In the event of a mass casualty or a natural disaster, you may need portable suction units that can utilize [alkaline](https://www.sscor.com/dcell_suction_hospital_aspirator.html) batteries. When planning for special events, be sure your portable suction units are part of the plan!   In-hospital portable suction units are a vital aspect of patient care, even if they aren't part of the front-line assemblage. It is imperative that your facility has enough units to meet its needs, the units are properly maintained, and that adequate power sources are available during critical events. Consider each of these factors when deciding on replacement units, to ensure your facility meets all its portable suction unit needs.   [![emergency_preparedness_professionals_guide_sscor](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/8787d9e8-b947-460e-af31-06a4f563eaee.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/8787d9e8-b947-460e-af31-06a4f563eaee) Topics: [Portable suction for hospitals](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/portable-suction-for-hospitals) ![Author Photo](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SDS2-648378-edited.jpg?width=70&name=SDS2-648378-edited.jpg) ## AboutSam D. Say Sam D. Say is owner and CEO of SSCOR, Inc., a medical device manufacturer specializing in emergency battery operated portable suction devices for the hospital and pre-hospital settings. Mr. Say has been involved in developing product for healthcare providers for over 35 years. His passions include contributing to the management of the patient airway and providing solutions that save lives in difficult conditions. 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