Hand hygiene, previously referred to as hand washing, is an essential component
of any programme to prevent healthcare-associated infection. It is a critical action
in reducing the incidence of cross-infection.
This is a simple measure but unfortunately is often poorly carried out with inadequate
attention to detail. Hand hygiene audits of compliance have found sub-optimal levels
of hand washing and use of alcohol hand rub amongst a range of healthcare professional
groups.
Cleaning hands in non acute settings must be audited according to the 5 Moments for Hand
Hygiene and results fed back to staff if they are to understand the concept
and comply with best practice for hand hygiene.
Hand hygiene audits mandatory for all healthcare settings
The Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland and Department of Health UK both insist
Hand hygiene education must be a mandatory component of all clinical courses and
induction programmes. ‘Audit of compliance with hand hygiene guidelines should be
a component of the overall infection control programme in each institution and the
results fed back to relevant individuals in the institution’ (SARI, 2009).
Even large teaching hospitals and national centres of excellence struggle to have the resources
and Infection Prevention personnel available to carry out this education and audit. The auditing is essential but what is
frustrating is the time consuming and frustrating time spent correlating the results and provide
meaningful feedback... a waste of valuable time ... spent in the office instead
of the clinical area.
At Medical Audits, we know clinical time is your most valuable commodity
Medical Audits intuitive technology will make carrying out the audit faster – Instead
of having to spend hours after the audit preparing reports and working out results,
our system does it automatically – as you audit , ensuring you get to make the best
use of your time...click here
Our TS+ will save you money - thousands per bed in reduced infections and outbreaks
Using TS+ will help you improve your hand hygiene compliance rates A minimum of
25% of infections are caused by poor hand hygiene compliance Improve hand hygiene
– reduce infections, outbreaks and COSTS...click here
Medical Audits provides immediate access to results
We know from experience that you want your data available in real time. Therefore,
as you audit, the data is analysed on the audit device and ready to share. You also
have access to visually powerful charts on your own secure data base...click here
We understand you need your data, your way
Once all the audits for a particular period are complete you can log on to the web
based system using your own personal secure password and generate reports by ward,
by month, by date, by staff group – for any date range – even a rolling year - The
choice is yours. Our reporting suite gives you instant access to a whole range of
visually powerful charts and graphs...click here
Definitions
- clean hands - washed germ free hands
- healthcare - associated infection-an infection that is acquired by a patient or resident or outpatient accessing healthcare settings such as hospitals or GPs or nursing homes
- residential care – A care home, nursing home or form of sheltered housing where those requiring some assistance with daily activities live;
- Care home – A residential healthcare setting usually for long stay patients
- nursing home - A care home that provides nursing care for residents
- hand hygiene audit tool - Check lists used for carrying out audits of hand hygiene compliance