Doylestown Hospital Unveils New Tool to Enhance Patient Safety
Doylestown Hospitals newest weapon against hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) looks a little like R2-D2 from Star Wars. The new Xenex disinfecting system uses ultraviolet (UV-C) light that is 20,000 times more powerful than the sun to zap nasty organisms that cause infections like the flu, norovirus, MRSA and Clostridium difficile. In minutes, the device can disinfect a patient room, patient bathroom or operating room by pulsing the light, which washes over the surfaces where germs reside.
Doylestown Hospital is the third hospital in Pennsylvania to implement the Xenex system. About 100 hospitals nationwide are using the system, aimed at reducing rates of infection and saving costs. And its safe. Because the light is extremely intense, the machine operates on its own once its set up in a room. A sign placed outside the door warns people not to enter, and a motion sensor automatically shuts off the machine if someone should enter.
The Xenex system is an added layer of protection being used in addition to the hospitals current stringent sanitation methods. Environmental services personnel will use the Xenex machine after doing their usual thorough disinfection of patient rooms following patient discharge, or after a days procedures in the OR.
Source: Xenex Healthcare ServicesÂ
Show, Tell, Teach: Elevating EVS Training Through Cognitive Science and Performance Coaching
April 25th 2025Training EVS workers for hygiene excellence demands more than manuals—it requires active engagement, motor skills coaching, and teach-back techniques to reduce HAIs and improve patient outcomes.
The Rise of Disposable Products in Health Care Cleaning and Linens
April 25th 2025Health care-associated infections are driving a shift toward disposable microfiber cloths, mop pads, and curtains—offering infection prevention, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency in one-time-use solutions.
Vet IP Roundtable 2: Infection Control and Biosecurity Challenges in Veterinary Care
March 31st 2025Veterinary IPs highlight critical gaps in cleaning protocols, training, and biosecurity, stressing the urgent need for standardized, animal-specific infection prevention practices across diverse care settings.
Invisible, Indispensable: The Vital Role of AHRQ in Infection Prevention
March 25th 2025With health care systems under strain and infection preventionists being laid off nationwide, a little-known federal agency stands as a last line of defense against preventable patient harm. Yet the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is now facing devastating cuts—threatening decades of progress in patient safety.
