As architects, real estate professionals, and facility managers, within the healthcare marketplace, one of the gravest concerns currently facing your clients is the increasing rate of Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs). The Centers for Disease Control indicate that annually 1.7 million patients contract an HAI which lead to 99,000 deaths each year. HAIs are now the 4th leading cause of death in the United States, greater than breast cancer, aids and automobile accidents combined. Moreover, these rates do not include the number of medical-field staff members that become sick while simply doing their jobs. With announcements as recently as last week regarding "Superbugs", severe weather across the nation extending the flu season, and the impact associated with the aging of America, the healthcare industry is once again bracing for impact.
As providers of services to the various healthcare settings; acute care hospitals, short and long term care facilities, walk-in clinics and many more, you are well aware the air we breathe can never be too clean. Understanding this, American Green Technology, a leading company in sustainable products , recently introduced its newest product, the Arcalux Health Risk Management System, which is set to completely change the battle against airborne HAIs as we know it, making it safer for patients and healthcare employees alike, as it lights and purifies each space where it is installed.
The Arcalux HRMS is designed to purify the air, at the room level, where it is most needed, and offers a 99.85% effective pathogen kill rate for all viruses, fungi, and bacteria which can cause these deadly HAIs. In essence, the 6" tall device offers constant airborne HAI protection, 24-hours a day, every day, using around 100 watts of energy, which is comparable to the energy required to light a single light bulb.
The housing includes room lighting that replaces 2x4 fluorescent fixtures seamlessly. Designed with a dual purpose, this innovative lighting fixture not only illuminates the room, but also purifies the air.
"By working with American Green Technology, we are dedicated to offering products that enhance the way we support our clients in every industry—whether it's manufacturing, educational or a hospital—and also to reducing energy use and expensive maintenance costs," said James Feeney, managing director of Improved Illumination, a leading Boston based lighting solutions provider. "The beauty of this system is that it is cost effective, easy to install, inexpensive to maintain and above all - can save lives. If the HRMS eliminates one HAI like MRSA or C. difficile, then it's worth the investment to any hospital, outpatient clinic, dental office, or nursing home."
The Arcalux HRMS, which replaces an existing florescent lighting fixture or can be installed in the ceiling as an additional fixture, was invented by Mark Welker. Welker, a seasoned, award-winning designer who has developed equipment for a myriad of industries, ranging from everyday products for the home to heavy duty machinery for the oil field production industry, states that the Arcalux HRMS is his most rewarding invention to date.
"In today's world, this product hits three of our most prominent issues including energy use, pollution, and the quality of healthcare," saidWelker who, during his more than 25 years of experience, has secured multiple patents worldwide.
While cleaning surfaces, washing hands and using universal precautions are part of the standard protocol used in healthcare settings, to date, there has been no way to purify the air in a healthcare facility with a 99% assurance. Spray disinfectants can leave residue, do not promise to kill airborne germs and fungi and can even be harmful to some patients with respiratory illnesses. Additionally, pathogens that cause infections are increasingly becoming resistant to the traditional disinfectants used, rendering them useless in the fight to stop the spread of infection. As hospital waiting areas become standing-room only during flu season, and multiple patient occupancy rooms become the norm, the risk of contracting an HAI multiplies with every sneeze. The HVAC system passes pathogens through the air and staff members become unwitting carriers transporting airborne bacteria as they travel from room to room.
"At AGT, we pride ourselves in being at the leading-edge of product innovation. The Arcalux HRMS is an example of our drive to provide technology that addresses the issues of our time, while keeping in mind the concerns for our future." said Meredith Jimenez, corporate communications director of American Green Technology. "Keeping informed of the needs of today's industries, we have listened to our partners and customers to provide them with the solutions they need to help them work better. We look forward to offering more ground-breaking technology to truly transform our lives to meet the demands of tomorrow."
For more on the Arcalux HRMS, log onto www.arcaluxhrms.com, contact Improved Illumination at [email protected], visit Improved Illumination at the MedEd Facilities event (Booth # 520).