title: Hand hygiene-meeting the JCAHO safety goal: can compliance with CDC hand hygiene guidelines be improved by a surveillance and educational program?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: William Beaumont Hospital Wound Care Center in Royal Oak, Michigan 48073, USA. CBenton@BeaumontHospitals.com
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benton
mesh_terms: 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