Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 25th April 2024 Issue no. 1111
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Self-cleaning surfaces create cleaner healthcare facilities and improve patient experience
Cleanliness is a challenge for all facilities but especially so for healthcare establishments. Hospitals, physicians' offices, dental offices and surgery centres are under tremendous pressure to maintain a high level of cleanliness to help ensure the health of their patients.
NanoTouch Materials, in Forest, Virginia, has used new advances in nanotechnology to create NanoSeptic self-cleaning surfaces, enabling healthcare facilities to achieve a higher level of cleanliness. NanoSeptic skins and mats turn dirty high traffic touchpoints, such as reception counters, door handles, and over-the-bed tray tables into continuously self-cleaning surfaces.
"When we were conducting research, we knew we wanted to use technology rather than toxins," says Mark Sisson, co-founder of NanoTouch Materials. "Not only do the surfaces work 24/7, but they contain no chemicals, diluted poisons or heavy metals.
"We wanted the products to work in a powerful way, but we also wanted them to be green and not contribute to antimicrobial resistance."
Using a combination of proprietary material science, the NanoSeptic surface incorporates a mineral nanocrystal which is charged by visible light and creates an oxidation reaction stronger than bleach. And while NanoSeptic products use some pretty amazing science, one of the biggest benefits is not what the surface does, but how seeing the surfaces make people feel.
Lauren Bennett, director of operations for Central VA Family Physicians, says: "Our patients love the NanoSeptic touch points and other self-cleaning products in our facility. Now we can have these products professionally maintained and replaced for as little as $1 per day per facility. That's an amazingly low price to pay for the peace of mind this service provides for our patients and staff."
This psychological aspect involving people's perception of 'clean' was shown to be very powerful. In a study conducted by Montage Marketing, which surveyed people in a facility where visible self-cleaning surfaces were used, the responses indicated overwhelmingly that a 'halo effect' was created. This meant that when people saw these surfaces they assumed the rest of the facility was cleaner. Hospital administrators will appreciate how this might affect review scores in addition to patient experience, improving the perception of a facility and the perception of the healthcare being provided. In fact, healthcare facilities are embracing self-cleaning surfaces because patients are asking for them.
Another satisfied client is Jess Baidwan, CEH, division head Southern Ute Indian Tribe, who says: "Not only are we providing a cleaner healthcare environment for our medical and dental clinic patients, we're providing piece of mind.
"The NanoSeptic products provide visual confirmation that we're doing everything possible to protect their health and wellbeing."
Additional self-cleaning products included reusable tissue box covers, mouse pads, reception counter mats, and placemats that provide a cleaner resting area for personal effects and medical equipment. And the newest product the team is about to launch is a clear self-cleaning film for kiosks and tablets. A recent study found that kiosks had 100 times more CFUs (bacterial colony forming units) than a toilet seat.
10th May 2018