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Data unleashes sustainable solutions
Healthcare handwashing research rarely reaches the ranks of restaurant’s food safety and risk management professionals. A recent review of the impact of Electronic Handwash Monitoring in healthcare has answered the question that has held back serious evaluations by the restaurant industry: Handwashing data may increase policy compliance but does it reduce the risk of outbreaks?
HAIs, Healthcare Acquired (or Associated) Infections, and the lesser-known RAIs, Restaurant Acquired Infections, have many commonalities. Both industries are seeking sustainable behavior change by their frontline staffs. Yes, some of the pathogens are different but many, including norovirus, are the same. Handwashing is a major brand-protecting requirement for both. Norovirus takes many lives in healthcare while it wreaks havoc on restaurant brand values.
Foodservice executives are asked to briefly open their minds to the applied science of handwashing and ignore the differences in healthcare vocabulary. “What are the implications of this new information for our organization?” Does our current handwashing program measure up to our Mission Statement? to the brand-risk and the dining expectations of your customers, particularly in satisfying the millennial’s obsession for transparency?
This research graphic simply illustrates that increased electronic monitoring of handwashing not only raises compliance but more importantly reduces the infection rate. Note the dotted vertical line that marks the implementation date of the system. Now follow the green line that tracks the reduction of infections as the handwashing frequency increases, marked by the blue line. This graphic healthcare message undeniably translates into restaurant relevancy—risk reduction and brand protection.
These findings deserve the full attention of all foodservice, especially chain restaurants. It highlights why leaders like Crushed Red are pioneering this behavior changing, process control moves to protect their clients with a transparent, employee engaged handwashing priority. It is now a living component of their culture. Crushed Red’s handwashing solution is a Customer Loyalty investment rather than an annoying expense.
Here is a system implementation guide for success:
