Hand hygiene-meeting the JCAHO safety goal: can compliance with CDC hand hygiene guidelines be improved by a surveillance and educational program?
While establishing 2004 department goals, the new JCAHO Safety Goal of improving compliance with CDC hand washing recommendations was an appropriate department initiative for a hospital Wound Care Center. The purpose of the project was to improve physician compliance with hand hygiene. Nursing staff monitored physician hand washing and provided a compliance report to each physician. Informative articles pertaining to hand hygiene were provided to each physician. Follow-up monitoring demonstrated a significant increase in physician compliance with an additional benefit of patients showing interest in hand hygiene. Continuous oversight of hand hygiene may ultimately reduce the incidence of infection transmission.
Benton
Carol
C
William Beaumont Hospital Wound Care Center in Royal Oak, Michigan 48073, USA. CBenton@BeaumontHospitals.com
D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000592:standards*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007318:Inservice Training; D007591:Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; D010820:Physicians; D014481:United States