Hand Hygiene Projects

Inadequate hand hygiene practices by healthcare workers are a leading cause of Healthcare-Acquired Infections (HAI). Each year, nearly 2,000,000 hospitalized patients in the United States alone suffer from Healthcare-Acquired Infections.  As a result, 98,000 people die each year from these infections, making HAI one of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States. 

The problem is real and the Center for Patient Safety is committed to finding solutions to decrease these staggering numbers.  The following is a brief summary of the ongoing activities in which the Center for Patient Safety is currently engaged.  Please take a moment to visit the related links below.

Hand Hygiene Training Program
We have developed a unique online Hand Hygiene Training Program to educate and train healthcare workers about Healthcare-Acquired Infections and the importance of complying with CDC guidelines for hand hygiene before and after every patient contact. This program includes a powerful video produced by an award winning documentary filmmaker as well as a PowerPoint presentation that discusses how to decrease Healthcare-Acquired Infections. Hand Hygiene Video.

The Effect of Visual Cues on Hand Hygiene
One of the most important methods for combatting illness in hospitals and avoiding hospital-acquired infections is to control the spread of bacteria and viruses transmitted by the hands.  As such, the Center for Patient Safety is currently conducting a study to determine the effect of visual cues on hand hygiene behavior of hospital visitors and hospital staff.  Through this research, the Center hopes to identify more effective ways to increase hand hygience compliance throughout the healthcare environment.