Opelousas General Health System Invests in UVC Disinfection Technology

Opelousas General Health System (OGHS) has added Tru-D, a germ-eliminating UVC disinfection robot, to its already stringent list of disinfection protocols aimed at providing patients and staff the cleanest health care environment possible. The Tru-D robot uses ultraviolet light with a germicidal wavelength to kill unwanted, harmful germs and pathogens.

This cutting-edge technology is another example of how OGHS is raising the bar when it comes to the level of care it provides to all patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative for hospitals to ensure that its health care facility is as clean and germ-free as possible to prevent deadly infections from harming patients.

Tru-D allows hospital staff to easily and confidently disinfect patient rooms. The UVC disinfection robot deconstructs the DNA of deadly pathogens and common health care-associated infection culprits that may compromise patient outcomes.

“By investing in two Tru-D disinfection robots,, we are giving patients and staff peace of mind that we are taking added steps to protect each person who walks through our doors from germs and pathogens,” said Ken Cochran, President & CEO of Opelousas General Health System. “We continue to look for innovative ways to provide top-notch patient care, and having Tru-D in our arsenal of cleaning and disinfection protocols is a testament to our commitment to being a premier health care facility for those in our community.”

“Funding this purchase was an easy decision for the OGHS Foundation Board”, said Gina Tuttle”, OGHS Foundation Board Chair. “It falls right into our mission of enhancing lives and supporting healthcare in our community.”

Currently, OGHS is using Tru-D in operating rooms, cath labs, isolation discharges as well as with all COVID-19 discharges. While there is not enough data to show that Tru-D is effective against COVID-19, in the past, Tru-D has been shown to be very effective against other coronaviruses.

Tru-D, which works by generating UVC light energy, is the only portable UVC disinfection system on the market with patented Sensor360 technology. The device’s sensors calculate the amount of UVC energy needed to disinfect a room while compensating for room variables such as size, shape, surface reflectivity and contents. The device then delivers one, lethal dose of UVC energy from one location in the room, eliminating lingering pathogens in the space.

“Tru-D does not replace the tremendous job that our environmental services team does to clean and disinfect our hospital,” said Shelton Anthony, Director of Environmental Services. “Rather, this technology is a complement to our existing processes and will kill any germs that can be left behind from manual cleaning.”

Tru-D was the first UVC disinfection device that was brought to market in 2007. Today, there are hundreds of Tru-D devices in operation throughout the U.S. OGHS joins a prestigious list of hospitals and health care systems that have invested in this technology including Duke university, the University of Wisconsin, BayCare Health System, Vanderbilt University and many other health care facilities.

“By adding Tru-D to existing cleaning and disinfection protocols, hospitals are taking a proactive approach to eliminating unwanted germs and pathogens that can stalk health care facilities,” Chuck Dunn, president of Tru-D SmartUVC, said. “Tru-D reduces the risk of human error in the disinfection process and instills confidence in clinicians and patients alike that the facility is as clean and germ-free as possible.”

After an environmental services professional cleans a room using traditional cleaning protocols, Tru-D is rolled in to complete the disinfection process. The robot is operated by a remote control outside the room and features an application that tracks infection control data while simultaneously uploading the information to the hospital’s web portal. The robot can disinfect a room from one position, eliminating the need to move it to multiple places in the room. Once disinfection is complete, Tru-D notifies the operator via audio and/or text message that the process has finished, and Tru-D can be moved to the next room.

Tru-D was the only UVC disinfection device chosen for the first and only randomized clinical trial on UVC disinfection. The CDC-funded Benefits of Enhanced Terminal Room-Disinfection (BETR-D) study showed that enhanced terminal room disinfection strategies using Tru-D decreased the relative risk of colonization and infection of target multidrug-resistant organisms among patients admitted to the same room by a cumulative 30% in a hospital setting with 93% compliance of standard disinfection protocols. Individual hospital results may vary.

For more information, visit Tru-D.com.

About Opelousas General Health System: Since 1957, Opelousas General Health System has been dedicated to the provision of quality health care through its strong commitment and high standards. Central to the success of OGHS's commitment for excellence is the presence of an outstanding and highly qualified staff of physicians, nurses, technologists and other personnel who provide professional treatment in a caring environment. Serving as the region's referral medical center, OGHS is a 197-bed, full service medical center, and the area's most comprehensive community health care facility offering a wide range of medical specialties and state-of-the-art technology. Visit us at www.opelousasgeneral.com

About Tru-D: Only Tru-D delivers an automated, measured dose of UVC light to consistently disinfect a room during one cycle. Operating from one position in the room, Tru-D ensures significant pathogen reduction in direct and shadowed areas. Validated by more than 20 independent studies, Tru-D’s automated, measured dosing capabilities and real-time, usage-tracking features make it one of the most advanced UVC disinfection systems available.