Compliance Rates
According to Hand Hygiene Australia, the 2017 compliance rate for handwashing among staff in hospitals is 84.3%.
If you were a college student taking a microbiology course, this would be an above average grade. Not stellar. But good enough to feel some sense of achievement.
Considering that hand washing is the number one way to prevent hospital-acquired infections, is 84.3% really good enough?
If your grandmother was admitted to the hospital for a hip replacement, would you be comfortable with 15 out of 100 nurses NOT washing their contaminated hands when they entered the room to see her?
The Risk is Real
Since hands are the primary route for infection to spread from room to room, the threat of hospital-acquired infections is real.
Just ask 165,000 Australians who contract an infection during their hospital stay each year.
These are the results of an infection control study conducted between the years of 2010 and 2016 and published in the Australian peer-reviewed journal, Infection, Disease and Health.
Causing Infections
Urinary tract infections. Surgical site infections. Respiratory infections. These are all acquired within the hospital and they pose a significant threat to the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
The Answer is Technology
Because infection control is such a complex and dynamic challenge within the healthcare setting, hand hygiene compliance is a critical factor in reducing the incidence of preventable hospital-acquired infections.
Reducing The Spread Of Pathogens
Digital solutions may be just the answer that compliance experts are looking for to radically improve patient outcomes and reduce the spread of deadly pathogens.
Here are four innovative ways that harness the power of digital technology to improve hand washing compliance and lessen infection rates…
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Electronic Dispensers
This technology uses advanced sensors that are embedded directly in the gel soap dispensers that are located at each washing station used by bedside staff.
Each time a hospital employee uses the dispenser, a wireless signal is initiated and sent to a tracking server.
These electronic sensors track 100% of handwashing activity and monitor if staff are washing their hands as frequently as they should be.
Analyzing Data
Based on specific compliance standards, infection control teams can analyze this data to determine areas of noncompliance and then provide actionable steps to improve hand washing each time healthcare staff comes into contact with patients and their care environment.
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Badge Sensors
Smart badges are being used now in some hospitals to track handwashing activity.
Worn like an ID tag by healthcare staff, this badge can track if each employee is washing his hands before and after contact with a patient.
The badge also vibrates as a reminder if an employee fails or forgets to follow handwashing guidelines. Some badges even offer gentle voice reminders. All of this information is then sent to a base station.
What’s unique about this badge is that each individual can monitor their own handwashing compliance based on the information collected by their smart badges.
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Smart Bracelets
Similar to the badge sensor, a bracelet is worn by each employee to help monitor their handwashing compliance.
When the wearer of the bracelet is at a washbasin, the smart bracelet tracks the movement of the employee’s hands while they are washing up. Based on pre-set guidelines, the bracelet will warn the wearer when the handwashing protocol is not being followed or vibrate if the act has been completed successfully.
All data is collected and is used by hospital administration to help employees improve their hand hygiene compliance and lessen the risk of transmission of infectious germs.
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Smart Cameras
Some hospitals are utilizing cameras to track the handwashing activities of their staff. Placed around the handwashing hot zones of corridors, patient rooms, and wash stations, cameras are used to monitor if healthcare staff are adhering to the handwashing protocols.
Considering that there would be obvious privacy concerns, depth cameras focus more on the position and distance of the person rather than the actual physical appearance.
As a result, the human images appearing on the camera look more like unidentifiable blobs. The hand hygiene activity is what the cameras are truly trying to capture.
With the use of smart technology now being used in hospitals in all areas of patient care and management, handwashing compliance is another critical area that can utilize and benefit from this innovative technology.
References:
Healthcare Business Today: New Approach to Hand Hygiene Scores Big in Pilot Project
https://www.buildingbetterhealthcare.co.uk/news/article_page/Comment_Technology_is_key_to_improve_hand_hygiene_levels_in_hospitals/130419
Staff leveraging the power of technology to improve hand hygiene practices
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2143786-smart-cameras-spot-when-hospital-staff-dont-wash-their-hands/
http://news.mit.edu/2015/smart-devices-track-hospital-hand-hygiene-0202
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4790014/AI-cameras-detect-hospital-staff-don-t-wash-hands.html
https://atelier.bnpparibas/en/smart-city/article/smart-bracelet-reduce-hospital-acquired-infections
http://www.hfmmagazine.com/articles/2132-hand-hygiene-goes-high-tech
http://www.hha.org.au/LatestNationalData.aspx
https://theconversation.com/heres-how-many-people-get-infections-in-australian-hospitals-every-year-82309