Monongahela Valley Hospital Uses Ultraviolet Disinfection to Keep Patients Safe

When Monongahela Valley Hospital earned The Leap Frog Group's "A" rating for patient safety earlier this month, one of the hospital's newest weapons to keep germs at bay was not even in use yet. This week, MVH is once again on the cutting edge of innovation with the introduction of an advanced ultraviolet disinfection system to keep its patients, employees and physicians safe. The UVDI-360 Room Sanitizer uses ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) technology to inactivate persistent and dangerous germs. The system destroys more than 35 health care-associated infection causing pathogens, including coronavirus and C. difficile, in 10 minutes.

"This system is designed to supplement our manual surface disinfection practices with EPA-registered disinfectants," explained Penny Wright, RN, BSN, CIC, MVH's director of infection prevention. "It provides 360 degrees of surface coverage to offer another layer of assurance that our patient rooms are germ-free."

When the UVDI-360 sanitizer is placed in a room, its ultraviolet lamps deliver a programmed dose of UV-C light that destroy microorganisms by inactivating their DNA. The UV device is used after completion of the manual cleaning by the hospital's Environmental Services staff.

The funds used to purchase the sanitizing system came from the Washington County Commissioners through the federal CARES Act.

"Mon-Valley Hospital has done an incredible job of servicing Washington County during this extremely difficult and challenging time," Said County Commissioner Nick Sherman.

"The investment in this technology is just another step that Monongahela Valley Hospital has taken to help ensure that our patients, visitors, employees and physicians are safe," said Ms. Wright.