4 Problems Employees Face With Hand Hygiene Compliance

02/27/17 By Dana Szymkowiak

Washing our hands is one of the simplest tasks we can complete on a daily basis. There seems to be much bigger fish to fry when we are on the job or at home. What many do not realize is that there can be very minute hindrances to complete compliance with hand hygiene that causes problems in any field. Here are four problems that exist that need to be rectified if this is happening in your facility.

1. Staff believes that hand hygiene is not a problem here.

It is a huge issue when the staff does not think that there is an issue with hand hygiene within a facility. There was a study completed that offered a direct observation in an intensive care unit at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., which showed an adherence rate of 60 percent. Flipping this number the other way – this indicated that 40 percent (nearly half of the staff) does not comply!

To help increase compliance rates; begin measuring compliance rates within your facility and be totally transparent with staff so they realize that there is an issue internally.  Also, make hand hygiene a key focus during staff meetings so that it is constantly top of mind.

Saniwash_group_new_hr.jpg2. Staff claims that they do not have time to wash their hands.

Sometimes there may be little to no time between jumping from patient to patient. We totally understand that. When the difference between passing germs from one patient to another could mean life or death, hand washing needs to be taken as a priority. 

Speak with your staff about how you can adjust time constraints to enable the 30 – 45 seconds to fit in hand washing.

3. There is never any soap/filled with lotion instead.

This is a more common issue in facilities than you may think. The wrong dispenser is installed in a location, the dispenser is filled with the wrong solution, or it is just empty.

Have an open dialogue with custodial staff about this problem. If you notice just a lotion dispenser at a sink, rather than a soap dispenser; ask them to change it out. If your staff complains about there never being soap in the dispenser, investigate if you are ordering enough supplies to last you each week (or the time between when supplies arrive).

4. Not knowing the correct way to wash hands.

There are a number of correct ways to properly wash your hands with soap and water. Both W.H.O. and the CDC both have their idea of how to wash hands effectively. No matter the method that you should choose in your facility; providing the correct education is key to make sure that your staff is compliant.

The education for hand washing is never ending. Old habits can die hard, especially since this is a practice that can become routine after a while and steps can be easily skipped.

When you choose to focus in on hand hygiene it has to be an all hands on deck approach. Make sure the proper tools are in place from training to time and communication with all that are involved. Hand hygiene is one of the easiest ways to stop infectious diseases from traveling throughout a facility.

We would love for you to try our hand soap. Click below to get a free sample!

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Source: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/why-does-low-hand-hygiene-compliance-still-plague-healthcare-4-reasons.html