COVID infections are down across the nation, and masks are becoming optional in various settings across the United States. With many Americans looking forward to mask-less social encounters, how do they feel about another important infection prevention method — handwashing — right now? The Healthy Handwashing Survey, conducted periodically since 2009 by Bradley Corporation, provides …
The first two parts of this series about how to make a financial case for automated, or electronic, hand hygiene compliance systems covered the costs of healthcare-acquired infections (Nour-Omid, July 26, 2021) and the costs of direct observation of care providers’ compliance (Nour-Omid, Aug. 16, 2021). This article covers the cost of penalties received by …
Protecting patients and workers inside of a hospital from the spread of infectious pathogens requires testing, personal protective equipment (PPE) and data – information about care providers’ compliance with infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures. In the case of COVID, it also requires vaccination. All of these tools are needed for hospitals to create and …
Healthcare-Acquired COVID Infections Signal A Need for IPC Culture in Hospitals Read More »
In response to customers’ demand for accurate and upgradable hand hygiene compliance monitoring devices, Vitalacy, Inc., has introduced a new, entry-level SmartBadge to its suite of patient safety products. Designed to fit behind a care provider’s ID badge, the device captures and delivers individual-, unit- and facility-level hand hygiene performance data to hospital leaders responsible …
Vitalacy’s New SmartBadge Developed with Leapfrog Hand Hygiene Standards In Mind Read More »
Two recent articles show the detrimental impact of COVID-19 on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and patient safety; these reports also provide guidance on what healthcare organizations must do to renew their commitments to safety culture in the post-COVID-19 environment. The first article, “The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on healthcare-associated infections in 2020: A summary …
LOS ANGELES, Calif., September 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ —Vitalacy, a health and hygiene technology company committed to reducing infection risk with SaaS based solutions, announced today the increase of its customer footprint with the addition of new implementations and expanded projects with current customers. Clients have seen their hand hygiene compliance rates double just a few …
Vitalacy Increases Customer Footprint with Hand Hygiene Automation Read More »
Our previous blog article about making a financial case for automated hand hygiene compliance covered the costs of healthcare-acquired infections. In this one, we’ll explain why the money spent on direct observation often leads to misleading compliance data. It’s clear that direct observation inflates hand hygiene compliance rates (Nour-Omid, 2021), according to evidence found in …
How do you make a financial case for investing in an automated hand hygiene compliance system during a time of tight budgets? Consider two scenarios – first, a hospitalized patient acquires a central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) due to inadequate hand hygiene, and a second, proper hand hygiene that saves the patient from getting this …
Countries with lower average per-capital income generally lack the financial resources and facilities necessary for effective infection control and prevention (IPC), as one might expect. What’s surprising, however, are the mediocre IPC results in higher-income countries with access to funding and with the ability to implement and monitor IPC programs including hand hygiene compliance monitoring. …
Global WHO Study Uncovers Mediocre IPC Performance in Higher-Income Countries Read More »
In today’s fast-paced, high-stress health care environment, it can be tempting to skip a hand wash if no one is looking. A hand wash is required when entering and leaving patient rooms, after touching a patient or equipment, and after removing gloves and handling specimens. Because germs may reside on virtually anything you touch – …
