Asante renews focus on hand hygiene

You may recall that Asante Infection Prevention rebooted its hand-hygiene program last year to ensure this important safety measure remained top of mind.

Not surprisingly, COVID-19 overwhelmed our work and dominated our attention for more than a year. Nonetheless, hand hygiene remains the No. 1 most effective way to prevent the spread of pathogens, including the virus that causes COVID-19.

We’re now renewing our focus on hand hygiene with a new oversight committee, standardized observation practices, “hand hygiene champions” who are trained in observation and incentives for staff members who model good hand hygiene.

The hand hygiene committee is made up of representatives from inpatient Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Physical Therapy, EVS and Imaging. The goal of the committee is to increase hand hygiene compliance across the system and identify obstacles.

Staff recognition will come from Infection Prevention and direct managers, who will hand out Caught in the Act candy bars, and High-Five cards that can be collected and redeemed for a $10 coffee card. The honored employee also will be entered into a drawing for an Amazon gift card.

Past hand hygiene programs have waxed and waned in their consistency, as has hand hygiene compliance. We know that by keeping this effort front of mind we can improve our performance. Since the launch of the new Hand Hygiene Program last May, for example, adherence on all campuses rose an average of 76% to 89%.

Asante’s goal is to sustain hand hygiene compliance at or above 90% consistently. We can do this.

If you have questions about the Hand Hygiene Program, please reach out to the point person on your campus: Filiberto Bencomo, ARRMC; Amalia Kieley, AACH, Gina McConnell, ATRMC or Serena Branson, Asante Infection Prevention.