Empowering Our Heroes

Thanking our Healthcare Heroes and First Responders

Empowering Our Heroes

Kim Raver The “Grey’s Anatomy” star is using her platform to support first responders

Go online to see an exclusive video produced by the American Hospital Association This organization has made it its mission to give first responders the thanks they deserve

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In the effort to prevent the spread of dangerous pathogens, UVC light is easy to use and powerfully effective.

The whole world is painfully aware of the dangers of infectious disease, but one of the most common vectors for the spread of those pathogens is often literally overlooked: the soles of our shoes.

Studies show the densest population of pathogens in a hospital room is the bottom of people’s shoes. “Frontline workers unwittingly end up transmitting pathogens, germs from room to room, patient to patient — even hospital to home,” says Nelson Patterson, CEO of HealthySole, a medical technology and consumer health company.

The risk isn’t limited to hospitals, however.

“When someone coughs or sneezes in a typical grocery aisle, 80 percent of those droplets fall to the floor within 30 seconds.”

New products are being introduced that use Ultraviolet C (UVC) light to assist with infection control — for example, HealthySole’s core product can sanitize the soles of shoes in just eight seconds.

“In just eight seconds that UVC light kills over 99.5 percent of human coronavirus as well as up to 99.99 percent of other diseasecausing pathogens that may be on your shoes,” Nelson explains. UVC light is safe and doesn’t cause superbugs the way powerful antibiotics can because it works by altering the DNA of the pathogen.

Another benefit of using UVC light to kill pathogens is its safety. UVC light doesn’t pose any health risk for humans as long as it is used properly. “UVC light alters the DNA of the pathogen, in essence rendering it incapable of reproducing or infecting,” explains Nelson.

Frontline workers often race against time to fight the spread of disease. With UVC light, all they need is eight seconds.

This has been paid for by HealthySole.

Jeff Somers

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Actor Kim Raver Says Playing a Doctor Gives Her Greater Appreciation for Frontline Workers

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ABC

This Powerful GermFighting Tool Gives Frontline Workers a Leg Up

The ”Grey’s Anatomy” actor is using time away from set to leverage her social media to check in with fans, and raise money for healthcare workers.

As the old joke goes, Kim Raver isn’t a doctor, but she plays one on TV. Raver plays Dr. Teddy Altman on “Grey’s Anatomy,” and she says being part of a medical drama has given her a greater appreciation for the work that healthcare professionals do, and more so than ever during the pandemic.

“For me personally on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ I’ve learned so much about the intricacies and the hours and the relationships and really you know the day-in and dayout of what they do, and it’s just

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incredible. And especially now, I mean the willingness to do a job which was frontline but now even more than before frontline.”

Being on the show also connected Raver personally with medical professionals in the real world, and she says she’s been trying to check in with them and make sure that they’re all okay.

“And definitely I think it’s just much more part of my awareness because it’s sort of my pretend job to understand their real job. And I think then I have just a greater understanding and compassion and gratitude.”

It’s important to Raver to support healthcare workers, but she finds it difficult considering the stay-at-home orders in place.

Chipping in where able So Raver has started to use her platform and her status as a public figure to raise awareness and support the people who need it most. “I usually don’t do that much social media; I do some, but now I feel like even more I want to reach out to my fans and make sure that everyone’s doing okay,” she says.

“I try to do this thing every Monday where I’m bringing either an artist or a chef or a musician and discussing with them. I want to be able to help with what people have to deal with being in quarantine. You know, I worry about people who don’t have enough to eat, I worry about people’s mental health while being quarantined.”

Using her platform Raver is also contributing to organizations that raise funds for people in need, especially those on the frontlines.

“I’m supporting First Responders First, which is a fund for healthcare workers and helps them with supplies and equipment and the resources that they need,” she says.

“I think it’s a combination, you know, trying to entertain for entertainment’s sake, then trying to use my voice and platform to make sure people have food to eat, and then also that there’s money and funds and necessities, like childcare for our first responders.”

And though she admires how much advocates, companies, and the community have done to help, Raver is most humbled by the people putting their lives on the line every day.

“I feel incredibly proud and scared at the same time, but I am blown away by what our healthcare workers are providing for us,” she says. n Lynne Daggett

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Here’s Why Nurses Are Turning to YouTube During the Pandemic

How We Can Support Our Nurses In the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses play a more important role than ever, and it’s our job to give them the support they need.

Nurses are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, working under high-pressure conditions and supply shortages, and could be facing burnout.

Mercy Gono, BSN, RN started her YouTube channel during her first years working as a registered nurse, when she felt isolated and unsupported at her first hospital. “I was, at the time, the only black female my age that was ever hired on my unit,” she said. “There was not a lot of diversity, so I don’t think the rest of the people there were used to that. I’m not sure what it was, but I was treated very badly. I used to cry every day.”

The demands of the job left little time for a social life, so Gono turned to the internet for comfort and connections. “I started watching a lot of YouTube and I saw that as an outlet,” she said. “Coupled with my love for teaching, I thought that would be an opportunity to reach out to someone who may be going through something similar.”

Come a long way Gono’s YouTube channel now has over 300,000 subscribers, where she educates viewers on working as a registered nurse. “There’s a lot of misconceptions that nurses just follow doctors’ orders, that we don’t have a head of our own, we don’t critically think, we just do what the doctor says — but that is far from the truth,”

Gono said. “There is a lot of critical thinking and nursing judgment because we’re the ones there with the patients every single day.”

Nurses are currently on the frontlines of the COVID19 pandemic, braving hospitals with a shortage of protective gear. “One of the biggest problems hospitals are having is that they don’t have the proper PPE [personal protective equipment],” Gono said, “so nurses are not only having to take care of those really sick patients, they’re not only having to worry about possibly getting contaminated and taking something home to their families, but they also have to worry about making their own protective gear.”

A demanding job Gono said that nurses’ increased visibility and support from communities is heartening to see during these dark times. “Within the nursing community, nurses always say that we’re heroes, but a pandemic like this really proves that,” she said. “As a human, and a mom, and a wife, it’s scary to be out there on the frontline; but as a nurse, you know that this is ultimately what you signed up for. We do that every day but on a smaller scale, but in times like these, this is when everybody is able to see what we do.” n

Honoring our nurse heroes has a much more profound significance than the American Nurses Association (ANA) anticipated when we extended the traditional National Nurses Week to a month of recognition in May. Whether during a national health emergency or routine daily care, nurses’ vital contributions impact the health and well-being of our communities, which is why ANA selected the theme for May as “Nurses Make a Difference Month.”

Our aim was to promote the value of nurses, raise the visibility of the profession, and spur greater investment in the development and increased capacity of the nursing workforce.

Nurses make an incredible difference in the quality of care by helping change lives, educating communities, advocating for patients’ rights, and offering emotional support.

Nurses excel, lead, and innovate in our communities, clinics, hospitals, and healthcare systems.

Ernest Grant, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, President, American Nurses Association

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Focusing on Mental Health for Nurses During COVID-19 The coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating mental health issues for everyone, especially frontline nurses and healthcare professionals. Dr. Jess Calohan, a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner at Frontier Nursing University, has advice for those who are struggling.

Dr. Jess Calohan, a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, is retired from the U.S. Army after 20 years of service. He’s back to help fellow nurses, and members of the community, manage the mental health crisis happening alongside the COVID-19 pandemic.

Managing mental health Dr. Calohan’s self-care strategies stress that what nurses first need to do is manage their basic needs — eating nutritious food, staying hydrated, and getting a minimum of 4-6 hours sleep at a time.

Telemedicine Dr. Calohan offers telepsychiatry from his remote office in western Washington State.

He says people are embracing telehealth as a new way to get mental healthcare.

The road ahead Dr. Calohan says hospitals and other clinic settings need to do a better job providing for their nurses. He’s hopeful that after the pandemic, telemedicine will still be available and insurance-eligible for patients.

Kristen Castillo

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Are We Doing Enough to Prevent Burnout in Nurses?

Burnout is a condition experienced by up to 70 percent of nurses. The repercussions are far-reaching, impacting the nurse and the patients they care for.

M

uals. Disengagement refers to a lack of interest and productivity.

Nurses may experience feelings that no matter how hard they work, it is never enough.

What is burnout?

Burnout can be defined as an occupational phenomenon resulting in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and disengagement.

Emotional exhaustion is a chronic condition resulting from the high stress levels and excessive demands of providing patient care. Depersonalization is a feeling of detachment from one’s work. For nurses experiencing depersonalization, it becomes easier to refer to patients by their diagnoses rather than as individ-

Reasons for burnout Common causes of burnout include high workload, technology challenges, incongruence of personal values with job requirements, lack of control in the workplace, lack of recognition, and lack of community.

Burnout can be addressed and even prevented. However, it requires a multi-pronged approach. Schools of nursing and nursing faculty can help prevent nurse burnout by recognizing the factors associated with burnout, de-stigmatizing burnout so nurses are comfortable seeking assistance, and providing sup-

uch has been said recently regarding the impact of burnout on nursing and nurses. The percentage of nurses experiencing burnout ranges from an estimated 33 to 70 percent.

port and techniques to improve self-care by nurses. Facilities can promote the development and continuation of support systems.

Impact of burnout Nurses who experience burnout are also more likely to leave their current position. This turnover increases the cost to facilities, who must hire and onboard new nurses at a cost that averages up to $88,000 (or 1.3 times their salary) for each nurse.

The empty positions left by the nurses who leave result in a loss of ability to manage patients safely.

Hospital profits and the ability to purchase new equipment can drastically be impacted as a result of unaddressed nursing burnout. n Robin Hertel, EdS, MSN, RN, CMSRN, President, Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN)

How Nursing Education Advances in the Face of America’s Nursing Shortage Simulation and online nursing education is helping train new nurses as America faces a nursing shortage, says Dr. Beverly Malone from the National League for Nursing.

Nurses have never been in greater demand all over the world, yet last year the American Association of Colleges of Nursing predicted that America is on the brink of a nursing shortage. Dr. Beverly Malone, CEO of the National League for Nursing (NLN), said that there were two reasons for the shortage: not enough teaching faculty, and not enough clinical placements.

“Nursing is competing with our physician colleagues,” Dr. Malone said. “We’re all trying to get into the hospitals at the same time, and there is just not enough to go around.” One way the NLN is providing education to nurses is through simulation.

A new simulation “Simulation has been with us a lot longer than we even realize,” Dr. Malone said, “but we didn’t have the mannequin, we didn’t have the electronics that go with it, the sophistication that goes with it, until recently.”

Thanks to sophisticated mannequins and electronics, simulation today more closely resembles the experience of treating a patient. Simulation technology is continuing to progress to account for the diversity of patients that nurses are likely to treat.

Education access Electronics and robotics are changing not only nursing education but also the work of nursing in hospitals, said Dr. Malone. “Robotics helps to reduce some of the repetitive work that nurses tend to do. Not when I’m talking about the caring, not when I’m talking about the opportunity to

sit down with a patient and their family and talk through whatever’s going on, but more like, ‘take those medications down that hall.’”

Online education is helping to make nursing education more accessible. “Online education has really liberated so many of our potential nurses to accessing education,” Dr. Malone said. “They tend to be mostly women with families they have to take care of, whether that’s parents or children or a combination of both, who can’t get out of their neighborhoods.”

The most important element to nursing education, however, is personal relationships and mentoring. “When you’re a nurse giving care to patients, they deserve to receive the best of you,” Dr. Malone said. “My opinion is that that only comes through excellent mentoring.” n Ross Elliott

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What’s It Like to Be a Frontline Worker During COVID? A frontline worker and a soon-to-be frontline worker discuss the impact of COVID-19 on their professions.

What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?

Jesus Garcia: I firmly believe a positive attitude can be transferred between people. Nursing gives me the opportunity to positively affect people’s lives when they need it most. If I can shine my light to help another

person who needs it more, then I would just be doing something I’m naturally passionate about for a living.

That is why I chose to pursue nursing as a career.

Bilal Khan: After college, I wanted to pursue a finance career but switched careers to medicine after some time as a volunteer firefighter reminded me how much I loved to help other people.

In business, if you’re good at something, you don’t teach other people how to do it

Jesus Garcia Nursing Student, Chamberlain University

Bilal Khan, M.D. Graduate of AUA College of Medicine

because that is your value. In medicine, it is the opposite: You are valued based on how much you can teach other people how to do what you do.

more proud to be a nursing student and know that I will one day be embarking on a career journey that is noble and essential for society.

How has the reality of the pandemic shaped your perception of your career path (if at all)?

BK: You sign up to try and protect lives, but you never consider having to risk your own life to do it. This is the first time we’ve had to risk our lives to save others and it really tested our passion to save lives and think of others before ourselves. In reality, that is the foundation of any noble healthcare provider. n

JG: The reality of this pandemic has made me appreciate nurses and healthcare workers more than I already did. I can honestly say it makes me

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This Umbrella Organization Is Leading the Charge on Innovating the PA Education Field The pandemic has upended traditional models of education and knowledge transmission.

Physician assistant (PA) faculty and students around the country are responding with creativity and resilience to the disruptions to education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the vast majority of clinical rotations suspended either at educational institutions or clinical sites, students

are completing online modules and virtual cases to acquire the clinical learning competencies they need to graduate and join the thousands of PAs in every specialty and setting, including on the frontlines of the pandemic.

All hands on deck Many faculty are also themselves on the clinical front lines, with more than 85 percent practicing in

some capacity, even as they are also working tirelessly to adapt PA education to a new normal that will likely change many aspects of education permanently. Students are also participating in clinical studies of virus transmission and working with local health departments to help staff information lines, experiences that form the basis of new public health electives.

Turning the tides The Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), the national organization representing the 254 accredited PA programs in the country, has pivoted its services to help member programs tackle the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. A major role is bringing the PA educator community together to share ideas and resources — more than 600 faculty attended two online discussion forums on how programs and students are adapting.

PAEA has also developed a webinar series, curated dozens of resources to help faculty move education online, and successfully advocated for inclusion of PA programs in federal funding packages. Perhaps the association’s most important role is simply to provide the support of a united community at a time when wellness and resilience are more important than ever.

As the president and CEO said in a recent email to all programs, “We’re with you every step of the way.” n Steven Lane, Sr. Director, Comms, PAEA

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A

ccording to Harold Wolf III, president and CEO of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), a mission-driven non-profit, global advisor, and thought leader that’s focused on reforming the global health ecosystem through information and technology, “2020 is the year of the disruptor.”

The disruption involves how technology will be implemented in healthcare. There are two models of care: a classic medical model of clinics and hospitals, and, a new approach, a health model that involves devices that people wear and apps that they use on their phones, such as smart watches and activity trackers.

Embracing technology According to Wolf, healthcare is at a tipping point globally.

While these technologies have

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2020 Is and Will Be the Year of Disruption for Healthcare Healthcare is going through its largest change ever, and we’re going to see big developments in the next few years, according to a leader in health information.

come in small increments in the past, now they’ll be arriving faster and in bigger ways.

“I think you’re going to see some of the more prominent disruptors like Google and Amazon and the efforts that they’re making,” he says.

“They’re coming into the market, beginning to announce their pilots as well as their actual programs. And we would expect to see that accelerate over the next year.

Wolf says this is inevitable, positive change that will help

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personalize healthcare for patients. He compares these disruptors to the way that electronic medical reports were a disruptor years ago. He says that patients and providers can adapt to these changes.

Closing gaps Consumers are ready for a personalized approach to their health. A survey found 7 in 10 consumers say technology will help them stay healthy and personally manage their health.

Now the healthcare industry is preparing to meet that demand by filling a few gaps, looking at how patients can utilize their health benefits.

It is also focused on creating better telehealth capabilities, such as improved access to health information on patients’ devices like a phone or computer.

Wolf says Kaiser Permanente is a great example of a provider using tech well. For example, the company sends lab results directly to the

patient and uses email and video to communicate with patients too.

The biggest industry gap involves connectivity and the flow of data and access to information. For example, a patient may have information from multiple doctors, as well as health apps, so the question becomes how can a patient or provider get and manage all that data?

“We close that gap through interoperability, which is the way that systems talk to each other,” says Wolf, noting these connectivity gaps are closing quickly because industry experts are working rapidly to improve access to information.

Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and staff, will need training to understand and implement these new technologies. This is the future of healthcare and now’s the time to prepare. n Kristen Castillo

Decline in Volunteer Firefighters Impacts Communities Nationwide Now more than ever, would-be firefighters need more incentives in order to help keep communities safe and thriving.

F

or years the dramatic decline in the number of volunteer firefighters, particularly young ones, has been threatening the ability of small departments to provide an essential public service.

Several years ago the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported a majority of volunteer firefighters in the United States are over the age of 50. And while the number of on-call firefighters is decreasing, the demand for fire and rescue services is increasing — especially for EMS. Some volunteer fire service statistics •As of February 2020 NFPA says there are an estimated 29,705 U.S. fire departments and 19,112 of them are all volunteer.

•National Volunteer Fire

Council (NVFC) and NFPA report there are approximately 1,115,000 firefighters across the country and 745,000 (or 67 percent) are volunteers.

•NVFC and NFPA also state the time donated by volunteer firefighters saves communities across the country an estimated $46.9 billion per year.

Recruitment obstacles Back in 1980, a firefighter needed only 36 hours of training. Today, that number has grown to hundreds of hours to obtain firefighter certification depending on the state. Earning the certification can take up to a year for someone working a regular job and taking the training in the evenings.

Because fire departments have expanded the scope of their duties to include answering emergency medical calls, many firefighters also are emergency medical technicians, which requires

another 100 to 250-plus hours of training.

In addition, the estimated cost to train and equip a firefighter can exceed $20,000, so it is a major investment for both volunteer firefighters as well as for communities.

But, without volunteers, the fire departments can’t offer the fire and rescue protection to residents they are commissioned to offer. Aside from the safety repercussions, insurance service office ratings can cause home insurance rates for homeowners to go up several hundred dollars a year in communities without a fire department or volunteer fire department.

Get involved Something the COVID-19 outbreak and recent riots have demonstrated to the public is during an emergency or disaster there may be a delay before public safety officials

can arrive on scene so people should learn some basic preparedness, medical and response skills.

Some programs and resources for civilians, civic clubs, businesses, and faithbased organizations include: •Fire Corps: A national initiative to recruit community members into local fire and EMS departments to perform non-emergency roles allowing department members to focus on training and emergency response while at the same time increasing the services and programs the department can offer. Fire Corps is a component of the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizen Corps initiative and is administered on a national level by the NVFC. For more information, visit www.firecorps.org.

•Community Emergency Response Team (CERT): CERT educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the

hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.

• Fire is Everyone’s Fight®: A national initiative of the U.S. Fire Administration to reduce home fire injuries, deaths and property loss by changing how people think about fire and fire prevention. Learn how to help your fire department increase community awareness at www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/fief/. n Janet Liebsch, Executive VP and Disaster Specialist, U.S. First Responders Association

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Female Firefighters and Medics Are Growing and Fighting Stereotypes To encourage and pave the way for more women to enter into these fields, their role models, parents, and communities should make them feel empowered as early as possible.

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hen you picture a firefighter or emergency medical services (EMS) provider, what image comes to mind? For most people, the answer would be a man in turnout gear or an EMS uniform. Yet a growing number of women are breaking this stereotype and proving they have what it takes to serve their communities.

Swelling the ranks Although still few in numbers, women are out there breaking the gender barriers. About 8 percent of firefighters today are women, and that number is higher (11 percent) when

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looking at just the volunteer fire service. On the EMS side, 23 percent of medics and 28 percent of EMTs are women.

Women can do these jobs and have proven themselves to be as capable as men. But in an occupation that has long been dominated by males, how do more women break through?

For many women who are presently in the fire service, they were empowered at some point in their lives and encouraged to shoot for the stars.

A head start Growing up, I had two wonderful parents and a big sister who all encouraged me, at an early age, to try for anything I wanted. While all children

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need encouragement, to even out the future playing field for little girls it is good to start confidence building through empowerment at an early age.

At a time when many fire and EMS departments need more recruits, it makes sense to look to women. After all, women make up half of the U.S. population, providing a big pool of potential new candidates. Women have shown they can physically do these jobs, but they can also offer other advantages. They bring new viewpoints, experiences, and skills to the table that can enhance the capabilities of the department.

As we look toward the future of the fire service, it

is important that we start changing attitudes and perceptions among the next generation as to who can be a firefighter or EMS provider.

Girls fire service camps are a great way to build confidence and empowerment in a safe and positive environment.

There are also local junior firefighter programs, which give youth a taste of what it is like to be a firefighter or EMS provider, while fostering teamwork, responsibility, and leadership among members. These opportunities are beneficial in building confidence and self-esteem regardless of whether they continue in the fire service as adults.

Having a positive role model is another key to getting more women to join the fire service. Women need to see someone who looks like them doing that same job.

Allies and comrades Are you empowering the females in your life? Are you willing to be a champion for all girls and women? With your help in those areas, more women will be able to walk through wide-open doors of fire departments, feel accepted, and never look back! n Judy Thill, Fire Chief, City of Inver Grove Heights, to MN; Director, National Volunteer Fire Council

Communication Is Key to Connecting First Responders in Crisis Situations When extreme conditions disrupt traditional communications, first responders need technology designed to withstand catastrophe.

tem that enables communication between fixed base stations and “land mobile stations” (i.e., stations that can move around).

While broadbandand LTE offers robust data and speed, in emergencies, communication is the most important factor for first responders. When emergencies strike, we rely on our first responders — police, firefighters, emergency medical services (EMS), and transit agencies — to be able to coordinate in order to protect lives and property and render assistance as needed.

Unfortunately, the technology that enables our first responders to communicate under the most catastrophic conditions doesn’t receive much attention.

Following the wires One disadvantage to traditional LMR systems is that it is a narrowband communications technology that cannot provide much in the way of data services. As a result, some cities and states have explored wireless broadband technologies such as LTE as a replacement for LMR in order to provide police and emergency services with powerful software tools that rely on rich data.

But Martin sees a better solution. “The future is about using narrowband technologies and broadband technologies in hybrid solutions, where broadband is complementary to LMR,” he says.

“Using LMR complemented with broadband for non-vital applications, because what first responders need during an emergency above all else is a secure voice channel. Broadband brings new features and more data communications capabilities, but the problem is the business model. Any first responder needs the network to remain available all the time.”

During an emergency, reliable communication is essential, and LMR is poised to be the cornerstone of that reliability. n

What comes first “For first responders, what matters is that they are able to communicate with each other,” says Jose M. Martin, CEO of PowerTrunkInc., a leading provider of LMR systems. “When there are extreme conditions or circumstances such as blackouts or other catastrophes that cause other telecommunications networks to go down, first responders need communication tools designed to remain available even under the most extreme circumstances.”

For many first responders around the country, the mission-critical communication tool they use is land-mobile radio (LMR). LMR is a wireless sys-

For First Responders, Suiting Up Means Staying Safe President and CEO of first responder uniform manufacturer Elbeco Inc, David Lurio provides insight into the stark present and innovative future of medical gear.

Why are comfortable and functional uniforms so important for first responders?

A first responder’s mission involves long days and nights in a variety of climates punctuated by sudden calls to action which induce elevated adrenaline and physical fatigue.

What developments have been made in the past couple of years in the uniform space?

There have been significant advancements in the development of uniforms, including lighter weight, stretch, and quick-drying fabrics enhanced with nanotechnologies which repel fluids and blood-borne pathogens, wick perspiration away from the body, and provide UV protection against the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.

What new innovations do you see being made in the next few years for uniforms?

We envision innovations in fabric “intelligence” which will monitor a first responder’s location and body function metrics; incorporate communication and video functionality; and provide protection against fire, ballistic, and stab penetration.

Jeff Somers

When the world stops, you keep going.

Thank you.

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THE POWER TO PREVENT & CONTROL SHOEBORNE PATHOGENS Today’s frontline healthcare challenges just got tougher with the COVID-19 epidemic.

Protecting doctors, nurses, and first responders has brought a heightened focus on infection prevention and control.

That’s why the HealthySole® PLUS should be the hospital’s best new friend in the fight to provide infection-free healthcare while protecting all workers, by stopping the spread of shoeborne pathogens with the power of UVC. A CDC-published study showed that the COVID-19 virus was cultured 100% of the time on floors in restricted, non-patient care areas while 50% of the healthcare workers had shoes positive for COVID19. The takeaway: hospitals need to examine how best to decontaminate footwear in the hospital setting. 1 In just 8-seconds of powerfully focused UVC disinfecting light, the HealthySole® PLUS can neutralize over 99.5% of human coronavirus2 and up to 99.99% of pathogens known to cause healthcare acquired infections (HAIs)3.

Reduce the risk of infection spread from room-to-room, patient-to-patient, and hospital-to-home.

HealthySole your footwear. Stop giving pathogens a free ride.

1: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0885_article 2: https://www.healthysoleplus.com/publications (Crem Co Laboratories) 3: https://www.healthysoleplus.com/publications (MicroChem Laboratories)

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