Therapy Services at Franciscan Coolspring Health Center Continue Uninterrupted Thanks to Emergency Cooling Rental Solution

MICHIGAN CITY, IN – As the summer of 2025 brought sweltering temperatures to Northern Indiana, the therapy department at Franciscan Coolspring Health Center faced a critical challenge. The facility´s rooftop HVAC unit (RTU), the primary source of air conditioning for the therapy areas, unexpectedly went on the fritz, leaving patients and staff in an uncomfortably warm environment. With patient care and safety being the top priority, a swift and effective solution was needed to continue operations without disruption.

The therapy department at Franciscan Coolspring Health Center is a vital part of the community, offering physical and occupational therapy to patients recovering from injuries and surgeries. The rigorous nature of therapy requires a climate-controlled environment to ensure the comfort and well-being of patients as they work towards their recovery goals. The sudden failure of the RTU threatened to halt these crucial services preventing patients’ quick recovery.

Porta-Air, Inc., a Chicago-area-based company specializing in temporary and emergency climate control solutions, understand the urgency of the situation. Porta-Air, Inc. promptly responded to the health center´s call for assistance. After assessing the needs of the facility, they strategically installed several water-cooled rental air conditioning units throughout the affected therapy areas until the repair of the rooftop unit was complete.

"When you´re dealing with a patient care environment, especially one where physical activity is central to the services provided, maintaining a comfortable temperature is non-negotiable," said a representative from Porta-Air, Inc. "Our water-cooled portable units are an ideal solution for such situations as they are highly efficient and operate quietly, minimizing any disruption to the facility´s normal operations.

The use of water-cooled portable air conditioners was a key element in the rapid and effective response. Unlike traditional air-cooled units that require ducting to exhaust hot air to the outside, water-cooled systems use water to dissipate heat. This makes them particularly well-suited for indoor applications where venting is not practical or easily accessible. The units were discreetly positioned in the therapy gym and other common areas, ensuring that all patient-facing spaces remained cool and comfortable.

The swift action taken by Franciscan Coolspring Health Center, a local Mechanical Contractor, and the team at Porta-Air, Inc. ensured that the therapy department could continue to provide uninterrupted care to its patients. The temporary cooling solution remained in place while the facility´s RTU was being repaired, a testament to the importance of having a reliable emergency preparedness plan in place. This incident serves as a crucial reminder for all healthcare facilities of the importance of having contingency plans for critical infrastructure failures, especially during extreme weather conditions.