What is the Cost of Backup Power for an Operating Room?
Ensuring patient safety during power failures is essential in surgical settings.
- Smaller surgical centers typically require backup power systems costing between $5,000 and $9,000.
- For larger centers—those with both an operating room and a recovery area—the cost usually ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 per operating room.
Cost of Backup Power for Office-Based Surgery (OBS)
Office-based surgery centers must meet regulatory standards that mandate 2–4 hours of emergency power—requirements set by government bodies or accreditation organizations.
This backup capability ensures that surgeries already underway can either continue safely or that patients can be moved if an outage occurs. While procedures might pause briefly, they can resume quickly once power is restored.
Because OBS suites are compact and generally handle less complex procedures, about 80% of orders fall in the $5,000–$9,000 price range. These systems meet the 2–4 hour accreditation criteria, and more robust systems are available as needed for full operational continuity or in regions with frequent, prolonged blackouts.
Cost of Backup Power for Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs)
Ambulatory surgery centers typically need more powerful backup systems. The most capable systems often exceed $35,000, reflecting their larger scale and demand. However, in most cases, a smaller unit suffices.
Unlike hospitals, ASCs don’t initiate new surgeries during a power outage—they only need enough backup to complete procedures already underway. As a result, many ASCs budget around $5,000–$15,000 per operating room for their backup system.
How to Reduce Backup Power Costs
1. Evaluate Your Equipment Load
In some situations, ASCs may require substantial—and costly—backup systems. But both ASCs and OBS facilities can often lower costs by assessing their actual power usage.
Modern LED lights and monitors are energy-efficient and consume little power. Backup system costs can be reduced by accurately estimating how long equipment is used during procedures. Engineers often overestimate by assuming continuous operation, which leads to oversized, more expensive systems.
For instance, operating tables have high initial power demand but are only used briefly during surgeries. Calculating power needs based on their actual usage time (minutes rather than hours) can significantly reduce system requirements and expenses.
2. Use Battery-Powered Generators as “Bridge” Power
Many ASCs and OBS facilities still rely on older fuel-powered generators. These traditional systems may not kick in immediately, leading to delays—sometimes up to 15 minutes—between a power outage and when backup power becomes available.
In such cases, battery-powered systems equipped with large inverters but only a small battery reserve can act as effective “bridge” power. They engage instantly, keeping an operating room functioning until the main backup generator activates. These smaller systems are also more cost-efficient than replacing the entire backup infrastructure.
Find Out What You’ll Pay for Backup Power
EverSafe designs each backup system to match your unique needs in terms of power requirements and form factor. The fastest way to discover the ideal solution is to contact EverSafe directly to speak with our product experts, engineers, and sales team about quotes and available alarm systems.
Phone: 1-800-765-3237, Monday–Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (EST)
