Ideas That Work: Paint Your OR Walls White to Better Reflect UV Rays

BRIGHT WHITE A quick coat of paint can make your UV disinfection units even more effective.

Paint Your OR Walls White to Better Reflect UV Rays

To boost our infection prevention program, we recently purchased a UV whole-room disinfection unit. To improve its efficiency, we gave all of our rooms a coat of white paint. Some studies suggest that bright white walls reflect the UV rays better than dull or discolored ones. If you're thinking of buying a UV unit, make sure to budget a little extra for these room upgrades so all of your walls can be a pure, bright white.

Jean Watling, BSN, RN, CNOR
Bon Secours Health System
Richmond, Va.
[email protected]