Ask the Expert: Handwashing Compliance

The following article appeared in the January 2012 issue of Connection, the e-newsletter from the AAAHC.

Q. Where can I find handwashing education specifically geared to physicians? We have a good program but some of our providers, and staff, too, just can't seem to "buy into" the importance of handwashing at those key moments of patient care. Can you help?

Gayle C. Lowe, RN, BSM, AAAHC surveyor: Handwashing and infection control is everyone's business and everyone benefits from its correct implementation. The simplicity of this statement belies the difficulty of both buy-in and enforcement. So how do you get all care providers in your organization to be conscientious about doing the right thing for the patient?

I would suggest a two-fold approach:

1. Identify a physician champion. This should be a respected member of the medical staff who will lead the campaign and partner with your infection control nurse. Even a recent convert makes a very effective champion! Often arming someone with oversight of the big picture with facts and numbers can provide a good reality check on how the simple act of handwashing can affect you, your business, and most of all, the patients that have entrusted your organization with their care.

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2. Present evidence-based information. One method to promote buy-in by physicians is to have your facility's liability carrier come talk to your care givers about the cost that poor hand-washing and lack of overall infection control can have on an organization.

Present infection statistics not only from the point of view of the physical damage it can do to a patient but also in terms of the financial benefits that effective handwashing has on the bottom line: fewer claims, less staff out sick, less chance of bad publicity leading to loss of business leading to fewer payments from Medicare, etc.

3. Make it a living program. By building discussion (of infection control generally and hand-washing specifically) into medical staff meetings, governing board meetings, in-services, and partnership meetings, it becomes a part of the everyday culture. Hopefully, the concept evolves into a natural part of doing business the right way.

4. Communicate requirements for compliance. Make sure everyone knows about regulations that are necessary for participating in the Medicare program and for accreditation.

Changing habits can be challenging. Keep up the effort to improve; it's the right thing to do!

Ms. Lowe has been a surveyor since 1994, serves on the AAAHC's standards and survey procedures committee, and is a faculty member for Achieving Accreditation and for surveyor training.

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