Hand Hygiene Not Up to Par in Many Health Care Facilities
A new study by Columbia University's School of Nursing and the World Health Organization just published some disconcerting information about hand hygiene in U.S. health care facilities.
One in five health care facilities in the United States does not make hand sanitizer available everywhere it's needed. Additionally, staff might not be receiving adequate hand-washing training, as only half of the hospitals studied had funds budgeted for such training.
The researchers also found that one in ten of the facilities had reported that those at the top of the organization, such as the CEO, medical director or director of nursing, failed to make any sort of clear commitment to improvements in this area. Said study co-leader Laurie Conway, "The tone for compliance with infection control guidelines is set at the highest levels of management, and our study also found that executives aren't always doing what they can to send a clear message that preventing infections is a priority."
And preventing infections should indeed be a priority, as health care-associated infections kill around 100,000 people each year and cost about $33 billion to treat. By placing an emphasis on something as simple as washing hands or using hand sanitizer at every necessary moment, hospitals can save lives and save money.
- AP
One in five health care facilities in the United States does not make hand sanitizer available everywhere it's needed. Additionally, staff might not be receiving adequate hand-washing training, as only half of the hospitals studied had funds budgeted for such training.
The researchers also found that one in ten of the facilities had reported that those at the top of the organization, such as the CEO, medical director or director of nursing, failed to make any sort of clear commitment to improvements in this area. Said study co-leader Laurie Conway, "The tone for compliance with infection control guidelines is set at the highest levels of management, and our study also found that executives aren't always doing what they can to send a clear message that preventing infections is a priority."
And preventing infections should indeed be a priority, as health care-associated infections kill around 100,000 people each year and cost about $33 billion to treat. By placing an emphasis on something as simple as washing hands or using hand sanitizer at every necessary moment, hospitals can save lives and save money.
- AP
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