MEMPHIS, Tenn., Sept. 10, 2008 — As a surgeon and clinical instructor, Dr. Jeffery Deal, MD, FACS, DTMH, knew firsthand about the growing number of patients contracting … and dying from … Hospital Acquired Infections. He was also keenly aware that infections are quickly spreading beyond the healthcare system into schools, gyms, prisons and retirement homes.
A 2004 study supervised by Dr. Deal tracked 13,510 admissions at an accredited 450-bed regional hospital. Almost fifteen percent, 2,012 patients, acquired an infection. The average length of stay for infected patients increased 9.25 days, and direct hospital costs increased $13,118,000 — over $29,000 per bed per year.
The CDC concedes that over two million people in the US will acquire an infection while in a hospital this year, and that more than 100,000 infected patients will die as a result. That's more deaths than are caused by murder, breast cancer and AIDS … combined.
As infection rates continue to climb, industry experts predict a rash of lawsuits. "The common belief that 'infections are unavoidable' has shielded hospitals and doctors from liability for decades. But not in the future," states Dr. Betsy McCaughy, author of "Unnecessary Deaths: The Human and Financial Costs of Hospital Infections," 3rd edition.
Dr. Deal knew that reducing the biological pool of pathogens would reduce hospital infection. "Our goal was to find a disinfection method that was fast, safe and thorough; used no chemicals; and was automated to eliminate human error and reduce costs." After years of clinical trials, Dr. Deal applied for the first of two patents for the TRU-D Total Room Ultraviolet Disinfector. "Our research team developed a fail-safe disinfection method using germ-lethal doses of reflected UV germicidal energy to destroy virus, bacteria and spores within both line-of-site and primary shadow behind bed rails, door knobs and IV poles. TRU-D disinfected every pathogen on every surface, every time," said Deal.
Clinical trials demonstrated that TRU-D destroyed the biological contaminates that cause MRSA, C. diff, VRE, E. coli, acinetobactor, and a host other infectious diseases. An unexpected benefit of TRU-D is that the air within the treated space is disinfected by default, preventing airborne pathogens from later re-colonizing sterile surfaces.
Dr. Deal licensed the worldwide distribution rights for the patented TRU-D Rapid Room Sterilizer to Lumalier Corporation of Memphis, Tennessee, a leader in Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation since 1963. Chuck Dunn, President of Lumalier, believes the timing for TRU-D is perfect. "While infection rates are rising at alarming rates, expanded Medicare rules will hold hospitals accountable and liable for acquired infections, costing millions of dollars in non-reimbursed funds. The requirement to publish individual hospital infection rates will expose quality of care issues to the public and provide a real choice to patients."
For more information about the Tru-D Rapid Room Sterilizer, call David Skelton @ 800-774-5799, or go to http://www.lumalier.com.
# # #