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Nursing home administrators react
Nursing home administrators were introduced to new technology to take handwash monitoring well beyond the limitations of observation. It all happened as part of the INHAA agenda in Springfield, Illinois. Handwashing For Life demonstrated a system called SmartLink™ by GOJO Industries as part of their presentation on practices to lower nursing home acquired infection rates.
The challenge started in a near mandate tone when Jim Mann, Founder of the Handwashing For Life Institute, stated that training is nearly worthless without setting standards and implementing an incentive program that rewards compliance with a bonus component. “If you are not willing to do this for CNAs and Environmental Service personnel, you are wasting your time at this session.”
Measurement makes a bonus payment program (shown above) feasible and meaningful. For the first time, the measurement can be achieved without wearing an ID badge. It connects staff behavior with patient protection and provides many more “observations”, measurements to help manage and motivate patient-centered standards.
Hand sanitizer was made available at the breakfast buffet. Attendees were unaware their handwashes were being registered on a dashboard projected on the screen in the adjoining conference room. “Wow, this dashboard could be on my desk!” summarized the reaction of many.
