In its ongoing mission to provide world-class healthcare to the residents of Santa Clarita Valley, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital recently purchased high technology equipment designed to optimally disinfect surfaces and help prevent hospital-acquired infections.

The new, state-of-the-art equipment, which uses ultraviolet light technology, is manufactured by UVDI (Ultraviolet Devices Inc.), a local company in Valencia. The V-360 Degree Room Sanitizer is used in all open heart surgery cases at Henry Mayo, along with isolation rooms and other areas of the hospital, to keep patients in the cleanest environment possible.

“We are among the first hospitals in the region to have this technology,” according to Mike Parker, director of Environmental Services at Henry Mayo. “Through this technology, we are providing quality healthcare and optimum safety to our patients to ensure the cleanest possible germ-free environment.”

The portable machine, which can be operated by remote control, uses advanced germicidal UV technology to disinfect surfaces and remove pathogens. The UV lamps in the machine emit a measured dose of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation by ionizing low pressure mercury vapor. This, in turn, destroys the DNA of single cell organisms within minutes. Motion detectors in the machine will shut it down automatically if someone enters the room while it is engaged.

“Many hospitals have been adopting the V-360 to help fight the serious threat the HAIs pose,” said Peter Veloz, chief executive officer, UVDI. “Our UV disinfection finishes the job that traditional cleaning methods can’t get to. We are able to reduce c. diff spores by 99.9% in 10 minutes, which is the most difficult pathogen to remove. This translates to a safer environment for patients.

“We are drawing on our 20 years of UV expertise to bring the power of UV disinfection to hospitals like Henry Mayo. Our mission was to make the V-360 the most effective and affordable UV disinfection available so that hospitals can be cleaner and safer throughout.”

About Henry Mayo

Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital is a 238- bed not-for-profit acute care hospital serving the Santa Clarita Valley since 1975. Services include trauma, emergency, intensive care, neonatal intensive care unit, maternity, surgery, nursing, wound care, behavioral health, and acute rehab, as well as cancer, cardiology, imaging, lab, digestive, respiratory services and physical and occupational therapies. Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital is located at 23845 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355-2083. For more information, visit www.henrymayo.com or call 661-253-8000.