Long Beach Medical Center is successfully reducing the occurrence of hospital-acquired infections through several infection prevention initiatives. One of the most effective deterrents is also one of the simplest –hand-washing.
Our Hand Hygiene campaign was developed to enhance the prevention of healthcare-associated infections throughout the Medical Center system, including our hospital, nursing home and certified home care agency.
The goals of the Hand Hygiene campaign are to:
Create an organizational culture of safety,
Eliminate preventable infections,
Strengthen hand hygiene compliance,
Support other infection prevention initiatives.
Directed by Long Beach Medical Center’s Infection Preventionist, the hand hygiene program includes the installation of hand sanitizing machines throughout the institution with posters encouraging staff and visitors to please use them. Staff are monitored regularly for compliance and awards are given out to staff who meet or exceed hygiene standards of care. We find a little friendly competition goes a long way in keeping the program front of mind.
In addition, our Infection Preventionist conducts education programs and workshops with staff on an ongoing basis. Education programs include presentations on hand washing and disinfection of medical equipment and the hospital environment, as well as demonstrations on the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and hand washing technique.
We also implement evidence-based protocols and procedures for environmental care, which helps minimize the risk of acquiring infections throughout our buildings.
Patients are important participants in this initiative and are encouraged to become partners in our campaign by asking staff to please wash their hands at every point of service.
For information on infection prevention at Long Beach Medical Center, please contact:
Carolina Vilaluz, RN
Infection Preventionist
Long Beach Medical Center
455 E. Bay Drive
Long Beach, NY 11561
(515) 897-1004