Page 25 - Robeson Living Fall 2019

SeHealth employees and Tru-D representatives watch through a window as a Tru-D robot performs an ultraviolet
disinfection cycle in a patient room.

The machines use short-wavelength ultraviolet light and a plained how housekeepers can simply open all the drawers
360-degree sensor to kill microorganisms such as bacteria, and doors in the room to make sure the disinfecting UV
viruses and protozoa. During the disinfection cycle, Tru- light is reflected to every part of the room. Once the room
D’s microprocessors and instrument-grade sensors measure and the robot are arranged, the housekeeper leaves the
the amount of UVC energy that is reflected back to the robot room and the outer door is closed and marked off, so the
to destroy pathogens throughout an entire room from one machine can safely begin its work. The robot stays in one
position. It does not replace standard cleaning protocols. place while it works, using sensors to monitor its progress.
If the door is opened while the robot is still running, the
“This is going to help eliminate infections in our facility,” machine powers down immediately.
said SeHealth Infection Control Coordinator Sherry Ed-
wards. “Regular cleaning protocols and antimicrobial drugs “I like Tru-D because there are some areas we aren’t able
are good tools, but this is an extra layer of precaution we to clean, places we can’t touch, and it gets back in those
are adding to our toolkit that is going to help even more.” areas for us,” Locklear said. “It takes a little more time to
finish a room when you add this, but it makes it cleaner
Edwards said she researched several different vendors and and safer for patients.”
models before settling on the Tru-D SmartUVC system be-
cause of its ability to measure and adjust the UVC dosage it SeHealth Director of Environmental Services Donna Had-
emits as it disinfects each room. ders said her department is very excited to be using the
new robots.
On Tuesday, SRMC Housekeeper Olivia Locklear demon-
strated one of the new robots to a group of SeHealth em- “It’s good for our patients,” Hadders said. “That’s what
ployees in a vacant patient room in the bed tower. She ex- we’re most excited about.”

Robeson Living ~ Fall 2019 Page 25