ZANESVILLE, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genesis HealthCare System launched a germ-killing robot this week in recognition of International Infection Prevention Week. It is the first hospital in southeastern Ohio to tap into a technology that uses Full Spectrum™ pulsed xenon UV light to quickly destroy bacteria, viruses, mold and other pathogens. The Xenex robot is effective against even the most dangerous pathogens, including Clostridium difficile (C.diff), norovirus, influenza, Ebola and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, better known as MRSA.
“We want to do everything within our means to provide a clean and safe environment at our facilities and reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections,” said Matthew Perry, president and CEO of Genesis HealthCare System. “One infection is one too many, so we are using the Xenex LightStrike™ robot to help us achieve our goal of zero infections. This investment is important and underscores our commitment to patient care and the communities we serve.”
“Genesis has long been recognized as the southeastern Ohio leader in medical technology and specialized care, so it’s only fitting that we should employ the same level of technological innovation when it comes to removing the pathogens that can cause these infections,” explained Daniel Scheerer, M.D., Chief Medical Affairs Officer for Genesis.
As health care facilities look for new and innovative ways to battle deadly pathogens and multi-drug resistant organisms that cause hospital acquired infections (HAI), Genesis HealthCare System is demonstrating its commitment to patient safety by deploying a robot that destroys hard-to-kill bugs in hard-to-clean places.
The robot is capable of disinfecting a typical patient or procedure room in five minute cycles without warm-up or cool-down time. The robot will be used at Genesis Hospital in operating rooms, critical care units, the emergency department and others.
A very important step in breaking the chain of infection is destroying the pathogens that can cause them before they cause an infection. The Xenex pulsed xenon ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection solution has been credited by health care facilities across the U.S. for helping them reduce their infection rates significantly. To date, 20 peer-reviewed studies showing the effectiveness of pulsed xenon UV in reducing pathogens from the environment have been published, including multiple studies that reported significant decreases in patient infection rates (50-100 percent reductions) at hospitals when the pulsed xenon UV technology was used.
About Genesis HealthCare System
Genesis is an integrated health care delivery system based in Southeastern Ohio. The system includes Genesis Hospital, a not-for-profit hospital in Zanesville; Centers of Excellence for Cancer Care, Heart & Vascular, Women’s, Emergency & Trauma, Neurosciences & Orthopedics; an extensive network of more than 300 physicians; and multiple outpatient care centers throughout the region. For more information, visit genesishcs.org.
