March 2025
Holy Name Medical Center is deploying AI-powered hand hygiene stations in departments that treat the hospital’s most vulnerable patients. Original publication - https://njbiz.com/holy-name-adds-ai-powered-clinical-hand-washing-system/ Developed by health care technology company Soapy USA Inc., the interactive system aims to educate and engage users on proper clinical hand hygiene. Leveraging a combination of AI, computer vision and deep learning, the system uses advanced automated analytical algorithms to provide immediate feedback and data-driven insights to ensure hand hygiene compliance. At Teaneck-based Holy Name, a Soapy station was added in the neonatal intensive care unit. Another is mobile and will move around the hospital in high-risk areas, according to Holy Name. A spokesperson told NJBIZ the hospital aims to add more Soapy units in the future, too. Dr. Suraj Saggar, chief of infectious disease at Holy Name, said, “Our staff may wash their hands as often as 100 times during the work day. Washing with soap and water removes germs and is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of disease.” When an individual places their hands inside Soapy, it triggers a step-by-step animated video that provides instructions that adhere to the World Health Organization’s guidelines on hand washing techniques for health care professionals, according to Soapy. The machine dispenses the exact amount of pre-heated water and soap needed to lather and rinse. Then, there is a programmed 20-second period for lathering followed by 20 seconds for rinsing. Upon completion, the user receives a personalized score determined by gesture recognition technology that analyzes a variety of data points, such as hand movements used to rub and scrub as well as time spent lathering and rinsing. If needed, users are informed how to improve their washing technique, according to Soapy.
Holy Name discovered Soapy through its relationship with the ARC Center for Digital Innovation at Sheba Medical Center in Israel.
As part of a larger effort to advance cutting-edge technologies and solutions, the ARC Center brings together physicians, researchers, startups, industry leaders, academia, investors and medical centers to improve patient care via innovations.
Holy Name President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Maron remarked, “We are proud to consistently receive top safety scores from third party ratings organizations, but continually evaluate new technologies and devices that support our efforts to meet – and even exceed – the most stringent hygiene standards.”
Founded in 2018, Soapy has developed, manufactured and commercialized a smart handwashing station that makes hand hygiene educational, interactive and engaging. Besides preventing and controlling infection spread, Soapy strives to protect natural resources by saving water and reducing the carbon footprint.
The New York City-headquartered company has a growing number of partnerships nationwide with health care systems, senior living facilities and food service chains. Locally, Soapy’s clients include Jersey City’s department of health and human services and Fairleigh Dickinson University.