Hospital J.J. Aguirre - Chile

Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile Dr. José Joaquín Aguirre is part of the Universidad de Chile.

Located in the commune of Independencia, in northern Santiago, it is one of Chile’s leading university hospitals, providing hundreds of thousands of patient consultations and healthcare services each year. Historically, the hospital has delivered around 500,000 outpatient consultations annually, alongside surgical, diagnostic and inpatient services. 

The Challenge

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chile experienced significant pressure on its healthcare system, increasing the need for additional critical-care capacity and robust infection-prevention measures.

Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile Dr. José Joaquín Aguirre opened a new ICU specifically for patients with COVID-19 to increase critical-care capacity and support infection-control procedures.

Following financial support from two anonymous benefactors, the hospital approached DDC’s Chilean distribution partner, Gemco General Machinery, to install a medical pulp macerator within the new unit.

The hospital wanted to introduce single-use medical pulp containers to reduce the handling and reprocessing of reusable human-waste receptacles, helping to minimise opportunities for cross-contamination and support a safer working environment for patients and healthcare staff.

The Solution

The Pulpmatic Ultima was selected for the new ICU due to its hands-free operation and antimicrobial surfaces, helping to meet the hospital’s infection-control and workflow requirements.

The project was completed within a very short timeframe, from equipment specification and installation through to the admission of the first patients in the new ICU.

This was made possible through close collaboration between Gemco’s engineering team and the hospital’s technical staff.

The Outcome

Gemco commented:

“We recognise the heroic work of all the healthcare personnel at Hospital J.J. Aguirre, including the nurses and doctors who worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic. We were pleased to support them in their efforts to strengthen infection prevention within the new ICU.”

Patricio Andueza – Commercial Director – Gemco General Machinery S.A.