Baptist Easley Hospital Adopts Tru-D SmartUVC Germicidal System

Baptist Easley Hospital is the first hospital in upstate South Carolina to integrate an advanced, automated, no-touch environmental disinfection system into its daily cleaning protocols. Officials say the high-tech unit, Tru-D SmartUVC, adds an important layer of protection in patient rooms and operating suites against multidrug-resistant pathogens that cause infections. And better patient outcomes are important to Baptist Easley, whose stated mission is to "Preserve, Promote, and Enhance the Health of Those We Serve."

Healthcare facilities are faced with the constant challenge of eliminating germs that have become increasingly resistant to antibiotic therapies. Tru-D generates a specific dose of ultraviolet-C energy to eliminate germs found on surfaces. And, eliminating environmental contamination on surfaces helps reduce patients' risk of developing health care-associated infection. 

"Pathogens like MRSA and Clostridium difficile, which can survive for days on hospital surfaces if missed by conventional cleaning processes, will be virtually eliminated after Tru-D has been engaged and allowed to cycle through a room," says Julie Chastain, Easley's infection prevention manager. "Our commitment to achieving the best patient outcomes in our community is unwavering. We want our patients to have the safest hospital experience we can provide."

The Tru-D SmartUVC instrument was purchased with funds donated by board member Tom O'Hanlan and matched by the Greenville Hospital System. "Tru-D will decrease the risk to our patients," says O'Hanlan. "It will be used on a regular and proactive basis in the surgical suites..." to help reduce hospital-acquired infections like Clostridium difficile and MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus).  According to O'Hanlan, Tru-D generates UV-C light that attacks the organism's DNA, "It (Tru-D) is 20 times more effective than standard disinfection procedures."

Using sophisticated SmartUVC technology, Tru-D's patented sensors monitor the reflected ultraviolet light delivered to all the targeted surfaces in a room to determine when a pathogen lethal dose has been delivered for reliable disinfection of the targeted space. "Tru-D's advanced, environmentally friendly germicidal disinfection system has moved disinfection of rooms and equipment to a much higher level than can be achieved through manual, chemical cleaning alone," says Tru-D spokesman Chuck Dunn.

This technological advancement places Baptist Easley Hospital on the leading edge of medical care in the Carolinas. According to a company spokesman, Tru-D SmartUVC technology is the only ultraviolet disinfection device supported by multiple, independent peer-reviewed studies that provide hospitals with confidence to invest in advanced environmental disinfection. Tru-D with SmartUVC will ensure ongoing improvements in patient safety and quality of care.

Baptist Easley Hospital is an acute-care facility in upstate South Carolina. It became the first hospital ever to achieve top 10 percent in patient satisfaction, physician satisfaction, and staff satisfaction, and is the only hospital in the country to receive the acclaimed "Fire Starter" award three times from national healthcare service consulting firm, the Studer Group.

Tru-D is an automated cleaning system that uses SmartUVC to accurately measure and deliver the lethal UV dose required to break apart the DNA of bacteria, virus and spores and render them harmless. Clinical research has shown more than a 99.9 percent reduction of C.diff spores using Tru-D's Sensor360 technology. The automated system is engineered to silently disinfect line-of-sight and shadowed surfaces from a single placement within a room, overcoming human error such as missed and difficult-to-reach surfaces, improper chemical applications, and unreliable "blind-dose guessing" associated with less advanced offerings.