Regency Specialist Hospital (Regency) is the first private hospital in Malaysia to leverage on robotics technology to eliminate bacteria and viruses, so as to enhance patient and public safety against COVID-19.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the general public has been concerned about safety in hospitals and a number may have delayed their medical consultation and treatments as they are apprehensive about visiting hospitals.
Regency is fully committed to safeguard the health and wellbeing of its patients, visitors, doctors, nurses and staff. The Hospital has diligently adhered to the latest guidelines from the Ministry of Health and implemented strict infection control and precautionary measures to safeguard all parties. While attending to patients, Regency’s doctors, nurses and healthcare personnel wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), which include face masks and/or face shields at all times.
Apart from these measures, Regency has also kept abreast with the latest advancements in health and safety technology. The Hospital has applied an anti-microbial coating on all high- touch areas such as the lift buttons, lift walls and staircase railings. This coating is able to inhibit microbial growth, and with resonance energy it can even inactivate harmful microbials to provide better sanitisation and disinfection.
In addition, Regency is proud to announce that they have deployed a UV- disinfecting Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) called Sunburst UV Bots to combat COVID-19. Regency is the first private hospital in Malaysia to adopt this technology by PBA, a leading regional robotics and automation company headquartered in Singapore.
The Sunburst UV Bots kills 99.99% of viruses and bacteria. Built with an ultraviolet-C light module emitting powerful UV-C rays, these UV Bots can detect, navigate and adapt to changes in their environment, as well as identify the most efficient routes, such as in common areas, corridors, wards, and other facilities in the hospital.
“We care for our patients and visitors’ safety, which is of utmost importance to us. We are committed to ensure a safe environment to reduce risk of potential exposure of any viruses on our patients, doctors and operational staff. Whether it is inside the wards or at common areas in our hospital, our patients and visitors must feel safe,” said Serena Yong, Chief Executive Officer of Regency Specialist Hospital.
Studies have found that the COVID-19 virus can stay active on surfaces and in the air for an extended period of time. These fine droplets of viruses can travel up to 4m and they can be suspended and remain airborne.
“Using robots is definitely more efficient to help disinfect vast areas systematically and automatically. The job can be done quickly; within 10 minutes to disinfect an area of 15 sqm. The entire process is fully automated and no manpower is required; relieving the strain on labour needed to disinfect large areas including our main lobby and all clinic as well as main corridors on the ground floor, whilst also ensuring staff safety. As this is a HMI Group initiative, we will also be implementing this technology across our sister hospital in Melaka, Mahkota Medical Centre,” added Ms Yong.
“As a leading Robotics Tech company in the region, this latest move in Malaysia represents PBA’s latest effort in our comprehensive plan to help neighbouring countries in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. By combining our existing technologies in Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) together with disinfecting technologies, we are able to ensure the safety of frontline workers, patients and the public in healthcare facilities,” said Mr Derrick Yap, Chief Executive Officer of PBA Robotics.
“We are excited to be working with Regency Specialist Hospital and Mahkota Medical Centre to bring our technology to the hospitals. This will help us achieve our goals in combating the virus by rolling out the Sunburst UV Bots to hospitals in Malaysia. We have received overwhelming interest in the UV Bots from companies in various industries and markets, and we are also moving into other sectors across the region,” added Mr Yap.
The many other safety measures that Regency Specialist Hospital has put in place include:
- Regency’s COVID-19 Committee was formed with active participation and guidance from the hospitals’ medical specialists, nurses and other healthcare professionals to ensure that the latest MOH guidelines as well as hospital infection control and safety measures are strictly
- A COVID-19 Screening Centre was set up for all suspected outpatient cases prior to entering the hospital. Before admission, all patients are required to go through COVID-19 tests such as Antigen, Antibody and Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).
- Regency provides COVID-19 screening test and advice on safe opening measures to support all their corporate partners whether it is onsite or at the hospital’s premise to ensure that their workforce is safe to be
- Regency also created two new roles to enhance patient and public safety. Safe Management Officers (SMO) have been deployed to ensure compliance on mask wearing and observing safe distancing, and Regency Care Ambassadors (RCA) were deployed to provide awareness and reminders at the lobby and reception areas to manage temperature screening, QR codes contact tracing and distribution of mask care packs before entry to the
- Hand sanitisers are prominently Enhanced frequency of cleaning of high touch and high traffic areas such as the lobby, main corridors and public toilets have been introduced. There is also dedicated terminal cleaning with increased frequency to disinfect all the ward rooms and all other key clinical and public areas.
Regency’s COVID-19 Committee is led by Dr Chang Hok Keong, Paediatrician & MDAC Hospital Infection Control & Antibiotics Sub-Committee Chairman. Dr Chang commented; “All patients and visitors are important to us and we provide the highest quality of care for all types of healthcare needs. Regency’s team has taken great care to ensure all the safety and precautionary measures are in place.”
