‘We are not happy’: health region on hand washing rates

The audit is conducted by a team who follow members and observe their hand washing practice. Compliance is measured by a number of factors, such as length of time washed, when hands are to be washed before and after seeing patients and how well the staff are washing the parts of their hands. Unique rules apply to different departments.

Departments including day surgery and ambulatory care recorded a hand washing rate of only 30 per cent, with the operating room at just over 50. The intensive care unit, post-anesthesia care unit, respiratory therapy, pre-op/post-op level five and level four rooms and the Shellbrook Hospital also recorded rates under 69 per cent after the audit.

The numbers are based on a sample of workers and departments without stats didn’t have enough people audited to record data.

These statistics don’t include the scrubs done prior to surgery. Those are done 100 per cent of the time by all surgical team members.

On the other hand, long term care, with the exception of the Parkland Terrace, did quite well amongst all the departments audited showing over 80 per cent compliance.

Stuart said these numbers weren’t solely for whether or not staff members were washing, but also included how long they washed for, or if they washed properly.

“Some of it could be that they didn’t wash their hands at the right moment, some may not have washed them at all and some may not have washed them for long enough or properly,” she said. “You might after you are finished with a patient have washed your hands, but you forgot to wash before starting working with the patient, which means not washing them properly.”

She added there was a number of contributing factors to low hand washing rates, like business, forgetfulness or complaints about hand irritation from the alcohol-based hand rub.

“Patients just expect that we are washing our hands all the time,” she said. “We need to make sure that we are washing our hands 100 per cent of the time because we do know that is the most important and effective way of making sure we have infection prevention and control.”

With the region seeing increased sick time taken by staff, though no evidence to support this being the cause, Stuart said, “it does make sense.”

“Obviously, if you are not washing your hands well you are likely to catch a cold or the flu. If you are not washing your hands and you are touching something and them having your lunch that is a really good way to spread infection,” she said.

Stuart said education on the matter was key and reiterated this was a top priority for senior leaders going forward. It’s expected those from departments with high compliance levels will provide information and advice on how to increase compliance.

Working with this, Stuart said patient involvement in the process would pay positive dividends. Though admitting it can be an uncomfortable process, she said patients asking providers if they have washed their hands was another way to encourage staff.

“We are doing another audit as we speak and I am very hopeful that it is going to be higher than the 75.5 reported in November,” she said.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr

by paNOW

‘We are not happy’: health region on hand washing rates

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