The winner of the听MedTech 50听ranking for 2021听has displayed 鈥榚xceptional results鈥� at听Alder Hey Children鈥檚 Hospital.听
Liverpool-based Hy-genie is the听startup听behind an IoT-powered听听which听tracks and records usage of sanitation stations听across hospitals to prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections.听
The technology was created by Richard Cooke, former director of infection prevention and control at Alder Hey, who came out of retirement in 2017 to found听Hy-genie.听
The firm is now led by听Gavin Delaney, who brings a background in early-stage businesses and tech transfer into the NHS from the private sector.听
The firm鈥檚 full product, Hy-genie, contains three combined听technologies: a wall-mounted gel dispensing system which counts the number of uses, accompanying badges for health workers which identify who has used the dispenser and a 鈥榟ub鈥� which collects and collates all that data.听
A 鈥榣ite鈥� version includes just the first and last of these technologies.听The goal with either version is to use data to prevent the spread of infections, not to penalise staff.听
A pilot study at Alder Hey demonstrated a 15% improvement in hand hygiene when using Hy-genie Lite.听
鈥淭he pilot went even better than I expected and produced some quite exceptional results,鈥澨鼶elaney told听老九品茶Cloud.听
鈥淭he study at Alder Hey produced over 35,000 data points and the system was proved to be accurate to > 99%.听
鈥淭he trial resulted in an increase in hand hygiene events of 15%;听in other words,听individuals washed or gelled their hands 15% more often just by the system being deployed.鈥�听
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There was no individual feedback听during the trial, as it used the Lite version of the product.听The study has moved onto the next stage,听with听the full system rolled out and individual feedback generated for each user.听
“In the last 12 months we have designed a system that is accurate, delivers robust data and is underpinned by robust academic research positioning it well for adoption in UK hospitals,鈥� said Delaney.听
鈥淲e will shortly be deploying the system in the ICU at Alder Hey.听We have three additional trusts lined up and hope to be able to release more details on that shortly.”听
In the last year, Hy-genie has听formed an academic team committed to evidencing the accuracy and effectiveness of the system.听
鈥淚n the last 12 months we have published听seven听peer reviewed academic papers on听hand听hygiene, the problems, market solutions, competitors and health economics,鈥� explained Delaney.听听
鈥淲e have a further study about to be published,听two听under consideration and听three听more planned in the next听nine听months.鈥�听
The COVID-19 pandemic is a clear validation of such a technology 鈥� but the circumstances have also made deployment听into听new institutions somewhat difficult.听
鈥淲hilst the awareness of the importance of good hand hygiene has been raised,听it has obviously been a very difficult time for all healthcare settings,鈥� said Delaney.听鈥淩educed access and the increased workload听has听meant that we have very much relied on our supporters and collaborators to move the business forward.鈥�听
Hy-genie is one of many听startups听based at Nova in Liverpool, an organisation which helps fledgling entrepreneurs build their tech ideas into businesses via investment and practical support.听
鈥淚 would like to thank both the team at听Hygenie听but also our colleagues at Alder Hey,听particularly those in the听innovation听department who have been pivotal in helping us get this important work done these last 12 months,鈥� Delaney said.听
鈥淲e are delighted to have won this year’s competition,听building on the sucess of the last 12 months. As CEO it is fantastic to see the work of the whole team, our partners, shareholders and technicians recognised by both a vote of their peers as well as the expert panel.鈥�
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