In this episode of the “Here’s to Your Health” podcast, host Jill Melby talks with Heather Rasmussen, Chief Quality Officer, and Patrick Stevens, Director of Cardiopulmonary Services, about the importance of handwashing.
They emphasize that handwashing is the single most important thing everyone can do to prevent the spread of germs and infection, particularly as people gather indoors for the holidays.
During the conversation, they also discuss why rigorous handwashing is vital for staff who move between patient rooms in the hospital.
The team at CCMH uses the BioVigil electronic hand hygiene monitoring system at the hospital. Staff wear the electronic badge, each with personal user identification, to remind them to clean their hands when going in and out of patients’ rooms.
The system uses indicator lights to show compliance: green is clean, yellow is a reminder, and red means stop and wash your hands.
Staff have 60 seconds after entering a room to use soap and water or hand sanitizer. After applying hand sanitizer, the healthcare provider presents their hands to the badge to register the presence of alcohol, which generally takes about one second. Alternatively, the proximity and time relative to a sink can also be used to register a sink and soap handwashing hygiene event.
The badge data is downloaded at the end of a shift to track and monitor compliance, which is necessary for regulatory rules and helps ensure patient and staff safety.
During the episode, we celebrate Patrick Stevens, who achieved 100% compliance for hand hygiene throughout the month of October, setting an example for his colleagues.
Hand hygiene is simple but crucial for safety, both in the community and within the hospital.
