Due to the importance of hand cleanliness in the healthcare industry, new strategies for cleaning hands crop up almost daily. Along with the strategies come myths that either contain a grain of truth or are completely false. It's time to put some of those myths to rest and focus on the ways you can improve hand hygiene compliance rates at your facility.
Topics: hand hygiene, clean hands
Today marks the seventh anniversary of “The Obama Pound” which sparked a culture change and a national holiday. The fist bump, a purposeful, hyper-hygienic successor of the handshake and high five, has become a popular gesture. Obama was not the first and certainly not the last to join the bandwagon; he joins a list of notable stars such as Howie Mandel, Jimmy Fallon, Robin Roberts and Justin Timberlake.
Topics: hand hygiene, clean hands, fist bump
While we prepare for the holidays and get into the festive spirit, it’s also time to keep in mind that we are already in the midst of flu season. All the extra hugs and handshakes that are exchanged at family gatherings, holiday parties and school concerts are added chances to spread the flu and other germs.
While we all need to be knowledgeable of ways to protect ourselves and our families from acquiring and spreading the flu, it is especially important for hospital, health system and physician practice staff to have an active role in informing patients about the facts of flu prevention, diagnosis and treatment. To engage and influence patients and families to prevent the flu, consider these strategies:
Topics: clean hands, holidays, flu season, Influenza
As a physician, technology geek and mother, I find it perplexing that one area of healthcare that has not yet been penetrated by electronic devices is hand hygiene. Especially today, when it seems every few months a new virus is being combatted such as the enterovirus, currently spreading in schools. Not to mention the recent Ebola virus threat.
Topics: IIPW, hand hygiene, 5 Moments, infection prevention, technology, WHO, electronic monitoring, International Infection Prevention Week, clean hands, healthcare-associated infections, electronic devices, compliance, WHO's Five Moments for Hand Hygiene, World Health Organization
