A FSMA Produce Rule solution Research has found that farmhand’s hands are a major factor in contaminating ready-to-eat produce. Conventional thinking about feces-contaminated water and manure fertilizer as the major sources was challenged in a study by Emory University. Their research included a successful field-testing of SaniTwice®, referred to as the “two-step ABHS intervention” (Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer.) Responding […]
The Joint Commission Resets Handwashing Compliance
Continuous Improvement Trumps the Mythical “90%” The shortage of actual data on handwashing compliance in healthcare has evolved into a serious industry-wide overstatement of compliance. Knowing good things happen once a 90% level is achieved, reported handwashing rates quickly climbed to that number. Professional advancement and even bonuses are “earned”, institutionalizing a standard of bad […]
A Successful Culture Change Doubles Handwashing Rates
Data plus leadership records sustainable gains in handwashing behaviors. Culture change is often cited as a requirement where hand washing rates need to be doubled to reach a safe level. The Atrio Restaurant in Carmel, Indiana, lead by Chef Peter Fulgenzi, took on that task, challenging his staff to accept their professional role in serving […]
Transforming to a Culture of Caring
How to use handwashing as the trigger Culture change. The food safety culture. The culture of cleanliness. The Renaissance impact. Many books have been written and seminars given. Yes, corporate culture for centuries has guided progress on a path of continuous improvement. Culture change is regularly embraced by food and patient safety leaders as a noble and needed solution […]
A Final Touch Like No Other
Multi-emitter UV-C is like a dry disinfectant final step from the bed to the bathroom. For years, we listened to the arguments as UV-C emitters appeared on the scene, critical about shadowed areas and lack of clinical data. Then we watched and listened, realizing UV-C is not a stand-alone solution. Manual cleaning is the first […]
Handwashing: The Clinical Blockage Factor
Fact-based solutions without the facts Evidence-based solutions are driven by facts. This is the lifeblood of most clinicians. But there are no facts when it comes to handwashing, no standards of quality or frequency. Thus, what should be the role of the clinicians in raising handwashing frequency which is largely a behavior change challenge? Handwashing […]
High-Touch Surface Cleanliness and Biofilm Penetration
Filtering out the marketing fluff around surface disinfectants New surface cleaners stream in for consideration, attempting to change the market or at least carve out a niche. Many times lab data is provided, always finding a test method to make the new look good. This phenomenon is witnessed most frequently for new disinfectants where kill […]
Introducing RubScrub™ & SaniTwice®
Better Hand Cleanliness for the Bedridden Bedridden patients tend to wash their hand less because of the inconvenience. Their contaminated hands endanger themselves as well as their caregivers. Handwashing For Life Healthcare offers two suggestions to boost the power of alcohol hand sanitizers. RubScrub™ is simply a handwash protocol without water. Cleaning steps: 1. Apply […]
The Handwashing For Life® Scoreboard
Real-Time Information and Motivation The Handwashing For Life Scoreboard is a component of ECM, Electronic Compliance Monitoring. It is the scoreboard screen or marquee positioned in clear view of the staff work stations to assure as an indicator to the team of their current handwashing performance. Some technologies will report frequency and others both frequency […]
Help Wanted. Grant Available.
Every hospital and nursing home has an expected infection rate. We like those that are reported as Expected or Actual Infections per 1,000 Patient or Resident Days. The word Expected allows a data normalization factor for providers serving the very seriously immune-compromised. By taking the large base of state averages, differences in susceptibility are automatically […]
