Trinity mobile learning spin-out gets off to a clean start

14 Jul 2011

Trinity College-based technology spin-out Glanta has launched its new ‘SureWash’ mobile e-learning station that delivers training and auditing of hand hygiene techniques in hospitals and healthcare environments.

Glanta, which means ‘cleaned’ in the Irish language, is a campus company in Trinity College Dublin.

Its system is designed to improve the quality of hand hygiene technique among healthcare workers. Initially, the system takes users through a step-by-step training video and allows them to practise the technique. A camera is then used to monitor and assess how well healthcare workers actually wash their hands.

Their patented technology, which uses cameras to measure and analyse complex human movement, can be applied to a range of products. Glanta chief executive Sean Bay and Glanta chief technology officer Gerry Lacey, inventor of SureWash, will be marketing the Glanta SureWash system to hospitals and healthcare facilities at home and abroad.

The system compares the user’s hand washing technique against the World Health Organization’s recommendations. Founded in November 2010, Glanta’s SureWash system is a patented technology that has the support of Enterprise Ireland.

Mater deploys SureWash system

The Mater Private Hospital has become the first hospital to adopt the SureWash system, and has begun deploying the system in the hospital’s wards under the supervision of Ann Higgins, infection control nurse, Mater Private Hospital.

“Hand hygiene is a crucially important part of infection control and we have an established rigorous training and assessment programme in place which is mandatory for all our staff.

“Auditing is as important as training to ensure that staff are correctly using the techniques they have been taught. It takes significant time to train, observe and assess all staff in their hand hygiene technique. The beauty of the SureWash system is that it not only provides instant access to training and assessment, but also provides a record of that training so that we can continue to audit and monitor compliance,” Higgins said.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com