TGH Environmental Services Team Using UV Light Technology to Fight the Spread of COVID-19

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Tampa General Hospital Environmental Services (EVS) is working around the clock alongside our clinical teams to disinfect and decontaminate the hospital.

Tasked with a critical job in preventing COVID-19, these essential team members are keeping our patients, physicians, team members, and visitors safe using the latest sanitation procedures.

Glenda Wright, Director of Environmental Services at Tampa General Hospital, explains how her and her team are sanitizing the hospital using up-to-date technology called Tru-D SmartUVC.

“Tampa General Hospital uses Tru-D as a supplemental disinfection mechanism,” explains Wright. “After a room has been manually cleaned and disinfected by an EVS aide using appropriate CDC and EPA approved chemicals, a Tru-D UV trained EVS Aide will then place a UVC disinfection robot into an unclean room and run a cleaning cycle.”

During a cleaning cycle, a UVC disinfection robot deconstructs DNA of deadly pathogens and common health care associated infections using UVC wavelengths. UVC wavelengths are capable of inactivating microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, making this technology an effective, environmentally-friendly, and chemical-free way to prevent deadly microorganisms from replicating.

Tampa General Hospital has over 280 EVS aides working around the clock to keep all facilities clean and safe.

“For every potential COVID-19 room cleaning, an EVS team lead will go into the room alongside the assigned EVS team member to provide physical and emotional support,” says Wright. “We do this so that our team members know they are not alone and to ensure all of the appropriate steps and functions are being followed. Our goal is to reassure confidence in their ability to perform the necessary cleaning to eradicate this disease from the physical environment.”

Tampa General Hospital continues to take aggressive steps toward ensuring that we are ahead of all emerging pathogens, chemicals, and technological changes during COVID-19.

“Our team members are aware of the evolving pandemic and our approach surrounding how we deal with it from an environmental protection perspective,” says Wright. “As with any new pathogen or organism introduced into the health care community, we all must be compassionate and understanding as we combat it together.”

Do you have questions about disinfection at Tampa General? Calls our TGH COVID Helpline, (813) 844-8084.