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Confirm that staff have hand hygiene know-how

Infection Control Monitor, September 29, 2006

While the new 2007 National Patient Safety Goals are coming around the corner, ICPs would be wise not to lose focus of the current goals, including hand hygiene compliance.

The JCAHO wants hospitals to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections by following the CDC's hand hygiene guidelines. "This is a hot, hot issue with the Joint Commission," said Glenn Krasker, president of Critical Management Solutions in Wilmington, DE.

Sometimes even basic steps can help facilities comply with the hand hygiene goal, Krasker said. For example
Push hospital leaders to endorse continued staff education about hand hygiene, particularly in the face of unannounced JCAHO surveys
Verify that employees actually know how to properly wash their hands with soap and water or alcohol-based gels

Krasker spoke during last week's HCPro audioconference about the National Patient Safety Goals. If you didn't get a chance to listen to the program but want to, you can order a copy by clicking here.

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