This episode is part of our in-depth coverage of the Healthcare Infection Transmission Systems (HITS) Consortium 2019 conference in Buffalo, NY that took place August 6-8th. Check out all our shows from HITS 2019.
Seth Godin
“Don’t find customers for your products, find products for your customers.”
That’s one of my favorite quotes and it’s exactly what Proximity did when they looked across the 1,500 healthcare facilities they were already serving with wall-mounted workstations and medication storage carts. They saw a ton of high-touch surfaces that were not being cleaned regularly and that were likely contributing to the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HAI). This observation led them to launch their UV-CLEAN line of products that automate the sterilization of high-touch surfaces like keyboards in the hospital. It’s an automated disinfection device that uses UV-C energy to inactivate microorganisms at the genetic level by scrambling their cellular DNA.
For the curious, here’s what that looks like (things get real for this little guy at the 13-second mark):
On this episode, we talk with Steve Reinecke and Jeremy Goza of Proximity. They explain the risks these high-touch surfaces pose to hospital staff and patients, and explain the mechanics behind that risk. It’s an interesting approach that stands to raise the baseline for disinfection, and reduce the spread of HAIs. All while nobody’s looking.
Steve Reinecke
VP of Business Development and Senior Care, Proximity
Steve oversees Proximity’s International sales and consults with Proximity on USA business development. Steve has over 25 years in the Healthcare and Healthcare IT industry. Steve is a Medical Technologist, a Certified Professional of Health Information Management Systems (CPHIMS) and a long term member of HIMSS.
Before working with Proximity Steve held senior global leadership positions with Ergotron for 18 years. Steve has traveled to over 30 countries creating partnerships and business opportunities as well as speaking at numerous events on how to succeed in getting information into caregivers hands and bringing information to the point-of-care.
Jeremy Goza
CEO, Proximity
Taking the reins from his father, Jeremy joined Proximity in 2004. He oversees all aspects of the day-to-day operations and drives the company’s overall strategy and vision for the future.
He began his career with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), and worked with Fortune 500 Telecom clients on various IT process improvement projects, as well as system implementation projects in management roles. One noteworthy project his team accomplished was the implementation of a system-wide telephone number forecasting tool, as well as testing and quality control of the client’s DSL ordering system. During his stint there, he rose to a managerial position in the communications and high tech operating group.
Jeremy holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Emory University in Atlanta. He is a member of HIMSS.
About Proximity Systems, Inc.
The leading provider of wall-mounted workstations, secure medication storage stations and UVC self-disinfection technology and devices, Proximity Systems serves more than 1,500 healthcare facilities nationwide. For more than 25 years, Proximity has maintained its commitment to build products in the United States. Go to www.proximitysystems.com for more information. Contact sales@proximitysystems.com or call 800.437.8111 to schedule a product demonstration.
Evaluating a ‘no-touch’ UVC Radiation Device on High Touch Surfaces
This episode is sponsored by the Healthcare Infection Transmission System (HITS) Consortium. For the second year in a row, The #HCBiz Show had the honor and privilege of being a media partner for the annual HITS Conference. Last year we were in Nashville – check out the episodes we recorded there. This year, we attended HITS 2019 in Buffalo, NY.
Thank you to Christine Greene, Kelly Reynolds, Savannah Hatt, John LaRochelle, and Michael Diamond, along with the entire HITS Consortium for the work you’re doing to protect our families and our communities. The battle against healthcare-associated infections can only be won through collaboration, and from what I’ve seen in working with you all for the past few years, HITS is bringing the best ideas and brightest minds together to do just that.
About Healthcare Infections Transmission System (HITS) Consortium
The Healthcare Infection Transmission System (HITS) Consortium is a not-for-profit organization serving the field of infection control and prevention. HITS takes a holistic perspective to targeting healthcare-associated infections by including multiple disciplines in the conversation, including infection prevention, environmental services, construction and renovation, facilities management and engineering along with research scientists and industry experts. HITS focuses on the major avenues for pathogen transmission in hospitals: hands, surfaces, water and air. HITS provides the necessary, cross-disciplinary platform to share knowledge and engage in research regarding the prevention of healthcare-associated infections and promotion of overall hospital health.
The Annual HITS Conference
The Healthcare Infections Transmission System (HITS) Consortium looks to promote public health by reducing healthcare-associated infections through the integration of best infection prevention practices. HITS will focus on the major pathogen transmission systems in the healthcare setting specifically; surfaces, person to person, water and air. Join us for this one-of-a-kind, multimodal event where researchers and experts from across disciplines will work toward identifying research gaps and applying data-driven methods in the field. Meet, greet and share ideas with the individuals and organizations who are growing and sustaining the industry, as we explore creative and innovative solutions to this global problem.
How is HITS different?
Our conference theme is Catalyst for Change. Fittingly, HITS will take a holistic perspective to targeting healthcare-associated infections. The conference looks to focus on “hospital health.” By including multiple disciplines in the conversation, HITS looks to remove silos and encourage a systems approach, aligning with infection prevention.
Listen to the full interview right here:
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Music by StudioEtar