which 24% of surveyed
managers say they're
currently using or con-
sidering. Ms. Nucci cau-
tions, though, that evi-
dence backing these
claims is still limited.
Hand hygiene
monitors
At the most basic level of infection control is hand hygiene, yet
45% of respondents say they don't have a way to monitor or
encourage compliance among employees and physicians. "That
was very surprising," says Ms. Nucci. "Governing bodies and regu-
latory agencies see hand hygiene as the cornerstone of infection
prevention methods."
While high-tech hand hygiene tracking systems are available,
our respondents listed "secret shopper" style monitoring as a top
way they increase compliance. Many managers also like to peri-
odically apply "fake germ" solutions to staffers' hands to show
missed microbes. "That normally scares people into compliance,"
says Jennifer Churca, CRCST, CIS, MS, materials manager and
CPD supervisor for Midtown Surgery Center in New York City.
"People don't realize how much flora they're carrying around."
But there's an even easier approach: Install more hand sanitizer
dispensers at the point of care. "Many facilities have not asked
staff where dispensers should be installed," says Ms. Nucci. "Non-
compliance often occurs when there aren't enough hand hygiene
opportunities for staff."
5
9 9
D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5 | O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T
z MORE DISPENSERS A simple way
to increase hand hygiene compli-
ance? Make sanitizer more accessible.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
