Category Archives: Blog
Blog
Come See Us at APIC!
Are you attending APIC 2018 in Minneapolis this week? We’ll be at the annual conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology too. You’re invited to join us at these educational opportunities. Case Study Presentation. Manager of infection prevention and epidemiology at The Medical Center, Navicent Health, Nancy Osborn, RN, CIC, will present “Controlled Study Shows Electronic Hand Hygiene Systems Reduce HAIs” in the APIC 2018 Exhibit Hall’s Hand Hygiene Compliance Demo area from 12:15
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What is the Deal with Gloves and Hand Hygiene?
This is one of the most common questions we get. There’s more confusion about glove usage and hand hygiene than nearly anything else – even among the most senior clinicians! We spoke with a senior-level physician at one of our hospital partners recently. This doctor was on both the Infection Control and Quality Improvement committees at the hospital. He had used our electronic hand hygiene reminder system for two years. And he asked us why our system reminded
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The Real Cost of HAIs: The Patients
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a looming cost and major problem for hospitals worldwide. In the increasingly competitive reality facing acute care hospitals in the United States, it’s very easy to get swept up in fees and ROI and lose focus on the more important costs to the patients. After our recent post talking about the hidden costs associated with HAIs, HAI survivor Mary Millard very appropriately pointed out that the costs associated with HAIs extend beyond the hospital
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Meet the 2018 Startup Graduates of ATDC
Seven startups will leave the Advanced Technology Development Center nest this May after graduating from the state technology incubator’s top-tier program. All seven startups will be honored with a special ceremony on May 10 at the 2018 ATDC Startup Showcase at the Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel. The ATDC Class of 2018 includes: Clean Hands-Safe Hands: Partners with hospitals to develop comprehensive hand hygiene solutions that improve patient care and save lives. The company reduces hospital-acquired infections (HAls) by
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3 Strategic Risks of HAIs
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) cause preventable patient suffering and death and are expensive (click to read The Hidden Costs of HAIs). They’re also risky for three strategic reasons that many hospital executives haven’t considered: HCAHPS Scores. The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey asks a variety of questions, including whether or not the patient would recommend the hospital to their friends or family. How happy do you think patients who get diff are? Patients are also
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The Hidden Costs of HAIs
Healthcare-associated infections are expensive, not even counting the tremendous human suffering they create. There are obvious, direct costs such as reimbursement and readmission penalties, along with the danger of getting on the HAC list. (Related: read about the easiest way to get off the HAC list here.) But there are hidden, indirect costs of HAIs as well. Length of stay and operational throughput. Additional clinician time required to gown and glove. Employee health and absenteeism. And even the
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World Hand Hygiene Day Is May 5
The World Health Organization is calling on healthcare organizations to recognize World Hand Hygiene Day on May 5, 2018. Hand hygiene is widely recognized as the best way to reduce healthcare-associated infections, according to both the WHO and CDC: “Most health care-associated infections are preventable through good hand hygiene – cleaning hands at the right times and in the right way.” – World Health Organization “Most germs that cause serious infections in healthcare are spread by people’s actions.”
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Hand Hygiene By The Numbers: How Many Lives Could You Save?
Hand hygiene is the leading cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Period. Every major accreditation and infection control body has a statement that reflects this. If you improve hand hygiene, infections are prevented. Despite this, many physicians and hospital leaders are surprised by the large impact hand hygiene can have. Sadly, this is nothing new; the well-established principle of hand hygiene has been known for over 150 years. Yet, despite all the body of evidence, we are still engaging
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Introducing Concierge Contact Tracing™
A few years ago, I had a patient who was admitted with minor blunt trauma following a motor vehicle crash. A couple of days later, while preparing her for discharge, I noticed a cough. The patient mentioned that she had had a persistent cough, which she had not told anyone about. She was put on isolation while we waited to confirm that she had active Tuberculosis. At this point, many clinicians (including me) and other patients had likely
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Is Yours A 21st Century Hospital?
Americans from the Silent or Greatest Generation (born roughly before 1945) have, until recently, made up a disproportionate number of healthcare patients as they age. These seniors tend to listen to their doctors, obediently follow their healthcare system’s rules, and select their local community hospital when they have a choice of facilities. But Baby Boomers (born roughly between 1946 and 1964) are now between about 54 and 72 years old, and they have become the largest generation of