Page 52 - CIJ May 2024 Digital Edition
P. 52
HYGIENE
C lean hygiene compliance monitoring
Technology-driven hand-
India
Journal
(HHCM) systems are encouraged
among healthcare organisations,
interacted with a accrediting and regulating
authorities, and patient support
couple of experts groups. Electronic sensors use
in this field to various RFID technologies
delve into the (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, and
technological ultrasound). These sensors provide
interventions and the advantage of detecting hand
various solutions hygiene before patient care and
that have simplified sending automatic reminders or
the process of alerts to perform the same. Real-
remembering to wash time feedback and automated
hands and doing it in a reports of activities related to hand
much simpler way to keep hygiene compliance are generated.
them de-contaminated. The drawbacks include expense
The father of hand hygiene, and high maintenance costs.
MOBILE APPLICATIONS Ignaz Semmelweis and later Video surveillance cameras can
AND WEARABLES Florence Nightingale advocated record all activities related to hand
PROVIDE A SCALABLE AND handwashing and other hygiene hygiene compliance and deliver
real-time feedback to healthcare
INEXPENSIVE METHOD practices to reduce death and workers. However, employee
infection in hospitals. Sadly, this
FOR RECORDING AND important practice received little privacy and confidentiality may be
ANALYZING HAND- attention until recent years with an compromised.
HYGIENE OBSERVATIONS. uptick in foodborne outbreaks and Wearable devices could be worn
hospital-associated infections. by healthcare providers. They
Dr Ashok Kumar Dr Ashok Kumar Khandelwal, VP function on wireless identification
Khandelwal & MD of Anandaloke Multispecialty and record hand hygiene with
Hospital, shares that studies have alcohol hand rub using electronic
shown the most common causes for dispensers in patient care
noncompliance with handwashing areas. These
by healthcare providers include devices
insufficient time, work overload,
inadequate knowledge, sinks,
and soap dispensers being
unavailable at convenient
locations, and
scepticism about
the role of hand
hygiene.
MAY 2024•Clean India Journal
52 www.cleanindiajournal.com
