Medical textile company Vestagen Technical Textiles has signed its biggest health system contract to date for its anti-microbial uniforms that are designed to repel body fluids, according to a company statement. The 5-year contract with a five-hospital health system comes as hospitals seek to reduce hospital-acquired infection cases and improve safety for patients and hospital staff.
Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida, will distribute the 30,000 garments to more than 6,000 staff members across its hospitals involved in direct patient care starting July 9. The health system will also distribute Vestagen’s patient apparel to improve patient protection.
Vestagen’s Vestex textile technology acts like Gore-tex but for hospital apparel. It’s designed to repel body fluids and contaminants that can contribute to the spread of hospital-acquired infections.
Uniforms are frequently the focus of debates over the best way to cut hospital acquired infections, especially doctor uniforms. On the one hand, some studies have shown they can be a source of HAI transmission. But doctor uniforms are also viewed as a source of trust and reassurance for patients, so much so that the Florida-based Vestagen initiated a “Keep the Coats” campaign earlier this year as a way to frame the debate with its textiles as a solution.
