Sustained Hand Hygiene Improvement in a Pediatric Teaching Hospital During and After the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic

Abstract

accurately measure HH compliance improvement. A group of IP Champions was formed that included nursing & ancillary representatives as advocates and this was a key component in our success. They were energized and took it back to their units. Champions made posters to bring awareness of the importance of HH. IP taught them the WIPES Campaign to measure HH performance as both before and afterpatient contact counting as one episode of HH compliance. With a newly-designed patient care pavilion with single patient rooms with large windows made observing compliance easy. The patient’s room is broken down into three sections: the nurse’s work area which includes a wash station, the patient section and the family area. At each nurse server, a sink is available for HH. The IP took individual pictures of hospital staff taking the pledge to commit to the campaign. Pictures were posted throughout the hospital. Computer screen savers were made to promote the campaign and pictures of workers taking the pledge were flashed across the screen. The group purchased a trophy to be given to the nursing unit with the most improved compliance rate for the month. A celebration including treats was given to the unit.