LA GRANDE — Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics is relying on its standards and innovative technology to keep its facilities clean and free of the COVID-19 virus.

Edna Henderson, Grande Ronde’s manager for central processing sterilization, said her department did not have to put new policies or procedures in place to deal with the pandemic.

“We were already doing things that meet and exceed the state and federal standards,” Henderson said. “We have to be prepared for anything that could walk through those doors.”

The Torch has become a key tool the hospital uses to clean.

The device is a high-intensity ultraviolet array that emits UV light for cleaning. The light disinfects all surfaces it touches. In 2019, the hospital had only two torches. Now it has more than six, including tabletop torches that cover smaller areas. Each torch costs approximately $55,000.

Money for these additional lights came from the hospital foundation, which donors support.

“They cost so much, because they do so much,” environmental services technician Todd Mathews said.

He and other members of the department work around the clock to clean rooms between patients. Mathews said that reduces the likelihood of infection.

The laundry and sanitation team works Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. with someone on call from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. to deal with issues that may arise, including increased laundry loads or tool sterilization. The hospital does the work for care facilities across the county.

The laundry department has seen a difference in its operation, but not in its policy and level of cleanliness, according to Rachel Warren, the hospital’s laundry coordinator. Patient loads have decreased due to a lower number of hospital visits. However, loads for gowns and personal protective equipment have gone up, as doctors are frequently changing into sterile gear.

The hospital does all its laundry in house.

Warren said the products the hospital uses are 12 times stronger than commercial cleaning materials. Everything the hospital uses is inspected for integrity to ensure no bacteria or germs can be spread by faulty equipment. This includes pillows and chairs, and if something is wrong, the item is thrown out.

“Everything at the hospital can be disinfected,” Warren said.

While all of these policies and procedures are nothing new for the hospital, awareness and refreshing education has increased among all employees and staff, not just those involved with sanitation. And interaction between departments has increased in response to the pandemic as doctors, nurses and staff help one another out.

“It gives a whole different level of respect for what each of us does,” Henderson said.

Grande Ronde spokeswoman Mardi Ford said the hospital has an adequate supply of personal protection and other equipment and there are plans in place if the hospital needs more. Although assessment and monitoring of supplies is always the case, during COVID-19 the hospital has implemented a task force that daily monitors and evaluates supplies.

Grande Ronde also has explored options to make N95 masks last longer.

The local joint information center recently announced hospital staff researched processes and retrofitted an existing room into a decontamination room for N95 masks. The decontamination room can process multiple masks at a time.

“Each N95 mask may be processed up to five times,” according to the press release. “The hospital has a secure and safe method in place for collecting, sterilizing and redistributing the masks.”

Union County Emergency medical responders are using on average of 20-30 N95 masks a day, not including the hospital.

The hospital is working on a team to assist other local agencies and providers with the same process to decontaminate masks.

Grande Ronde already has helped out one Eastern Oregon hospital.

The La Grande medical facility learned April 22 that Pioneer Memorial Hospital, Heppner, was seeking a ventilator with no success, the local joint information center reported. Grande Ronde was able to provide the ventilator on Monday, April 27.

Grande Ronde also has supplied approximately 20 test kits to the Center for Human Development Inc., the nonprofit that oversees public health in Union County.