September 22, 2006

Hand hygiene video premiered

The MGH's STOP (Stop Transmission of Pathogens) Task Force rolled out the red carpet as it premiered its new hand hygiene patient education video at a special Aug. 15 luncheon for all hand hygiene champions. The five-minute video starring MGH staff members is a tool to teach patients and families about the importance of practicing proper hand hygiene while in the hospital and at home. The video includes demonstrations of the correct techniques for handwashing and application of CalStat, an alcohol-based hand disinfectant used at the MGH. Both English and Spanish language versions of the video will be available later this fall on the patient education channel. Other opportunities to show the video throughout the hospital are being explored.

Also at the luncheon, attendees learned about the progress of the MGH hand hygiene program during the second quarter of 2006. Hospitalwide hand hygiene compliance rates improved to 54 percent before contact and 75 percent after contact, while MGH physical and occupational therapists achieved a rate of 100 percent compliance after contact. Overall, a total of 13 units achieved compliance rates of 80 percent before or after contact.

For more information about the MGH's hand hygiene program, call the Infection Control Unit at (617) 726-2036.