Nurse leader uses tech tools to improve hand hygiene

A cloud-based electronic hand hygiene monitoring network revealed what humans could not observe—hand hygiene compliance rates were between 50% and 70%, much lower than staff observers had witnessed at various points in time. Bill Cox, RN, implemented the quality improvement project at Hospital Sisters Health System based in Springfield, Ill., because he was skeptical about reported hand-sanitizing rates of 90%. It took time to reassure staff about the technology, but he said tracking handwashing had improved compliance, and many were motivated to exceed 90% compliance. (HealthLeaders Media article, 5/17/21)