(Providence, RI)  -- Care New England Health System, today announced participation in ‘Safer Together,’ an enhanced cleaning and disinfection program launched by cleaning provider Sodexo in conjunction with trusted brands from P&G Professional, Clorox Healthcare, and GOJO - to help increase patient confidence around visiting hospitals.

Recognizing that people are delaying or even avoiding needed care, tests, and other important healthcare services, Care New England chose to participate in the Safer Together program, along with following other CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19, including physical distancing and mask wearing, to help restore confidence in their hospitals. The program provides enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures, well-known and trusted cleaning brands, and evident communication to visitors and guests on the enhanced protocols. Seventy-nine percent of consumers recently surveyed by Clorox Healthcare said that seeing posted signs featuring cleaning, disinfecting and hand sanitizing brands they know and trust like Mr. Clean Professional, Clorox Healthcare and PURELL® would increase their comfort with visiting a hospital.

“With the ‘Safer Together’ program and trusted products from P&G Professional, Clorox Healthcare and GOJO, our patients and visitors can see we’re taking steps to help ensure the common areas of our hospitals are cleaner and safer for them to enter.” said James E. Fanale, MD, President and CEO, Care New England Health System. “We’re dedicated to help our community feel confident about receiving the care they need, but may have delayed during this pandemic.”

The Safer Together program focuses on enhanced protocols such as:

• Increased frequency of cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces in common areas, including lobbies and areas shared by patients and visitors like waiting rooms and cafeterias. High-Touch surfaces include: doorknobs and handles, light switches, countertops, toilets, sinks and other restroom surfaces.
• Using top trusted brands from well-known manufacturers to clean, sanitize and disinfect.
• Signs and communication materials to let patients and visitors know about the improved cleaning, disinfection and sanitizing measures.
• Additionally, as hand hygiene is a critical step in preventing the spread of germs, CNE hospitals will have additional PURELL® Hand Sanitizer stands available upon facility entry and throughout the building in other high-traffic areas.

Safer Together is being rolled out across several Care New England hospitals in common/shared areas such as lobbies, restrooms, waiting rooms, cafeterias, etc. Clinical areas such as exam and operating rooms, which have different disinfection requirements (including to address Hospital-acquired Infections) are not included as focus areas within the Safer Together program. Actual cleaning and disinfecting products used through the Safer Together program may vary from the products mentioned in this release and are subject to availability.

About Care New England
Care New England Health System is a trusted organization that fuels the latest advances in medical research, attracts the nation’s top specialty-trained doctors, hones renowned services and innovative programs, and engages in the important discussions people need to have about their health and end-of-life wishes. Care New England is helping to transform the future of health care, providing a leading voice in the ongoing effort to ensure the health of the individuals and communities we serve.

CNE was founded in 1996, and today it is the parent organization of Butler Hospital, Kent Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Care New England Medical Group, the VNA of Care New England, The Providence Center, and Integra, a certified accountable care organization (ACO). Care New England includes 970 licensed beds and 216 infant bassinets. Through Butler, Kent, and Women & Infants hospitals, Care New England has a teaching and research affiliation with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Kent is also a teaching affiliate of The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine.