Bon Secours becomes first health system in Greenville to deploy LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots
June 17, 2020
As healthcare facilities look to curb the potential spread of COVID-19 and further protect patients and staff, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System has taken a leap into the future with a LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robot. It destroys hard-to-kill viruses as well as other bacteria and superbugs in hard-to-clean places. In fact, the LightStrike robot is proven to deactivate Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, in two minutes.
LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots use pulsed xenon, an environmentally-friendly inert gas, to create intense bursts of ultraviolet (UV) light that quickly destroys bacteria, viruses, mold, fungus and spores on hospital surfaces. The robot works quickly, disinfecting a typical patient or procedure room in just 10-15 minutes without warm-up or cool-down time, so facilities are able to disinfect dozens of rooms per day (per robot).
“Our goal is to provide the safest possible healing environment for our patients. Bon Secours already has a comprehensive infection prevention program in place and we are very excited about adding these robots to our infection prevention bundle, which also includes hand hygiene, antibiotic stewardship and education. LightStrike room disinfection is an additional step we are taking to enhance the safety of our patients, which is our focus and priority,” said Bon Secours St. Francis Health System President Matt Caldwell.
Bon Secours has become the first in Upstate South Carolina to utilize the technology, deploying one robot at St. Francis Downtown and a second robot at St. Francis Eastside. Operated by hospital staff, it can be used in any department and in any unit within a healthcare facility, including isolation rooms, operating rooms, general patient care rooms, contact precaution areas, emergency rooms, restrooms and public spaces.
Recognizing superbugs are becoming increasingly resistant to cleaning chemicals, antibiotics and even some hand sanitizers, Bon Secours joins other hospitals in turning to new technology to enhance their existing infection control practices and reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). These infections are caused by microorganisms such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) that often lurk on high-touch surfaces in healthcare facilities.
Peer-reviewed studies have shown significant reductions in C. diff, MRSA, VRE and/or Surgical Site Infection (SSI) rates after integrating Xenex’s infection prevention programs and using LightStrike robots to supplement their environmental disinfection efforts.
About Bon Secours St. Francis Health System
Bon Secours St. Francis Health System is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health, one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The ministry’s quality, compassionate care is provided by more than 60,000 associates serving communities in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia, as well as throughout Ireland. Bon Secours – Greenville provides compassionate medical care to thousands of area residents through Bon Secours St. Francis Downtown and Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside, as well as a network of primary and specialty care practices, and ambulatory care sites across the Greenville region. Consistent with its commitment to serve each patient with dignity, Bon Secours Mercy Health provides nearly $2 million per day in community benefit. The mission of Bon Secours St. Francis Health System is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. For more information, visit BonSecours.com.
About Xenex
Xenex is a world leader in UV technology-based infection prevention strategies and solutions. Xenex’s mission is to save lives and reduce suffering by destroying the deadly microorganisms that cause hospital acquired infections. Xenex is backed by well-known investors that include EW Healthcare Partners, Piper Jaffray, Malin Corporation, Battery Ventures, Targeted Technology Fund II, Tectonic Ventures and RK Ventures. For more information, visit xenex.com.
