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5 Key Considerations When Choosing an Electronic Hand Hygiene (eHH) Monitoring System for Hospitals
Looking for an Electronic Hand Hygiene Compliance Monitoring (EHHCM) solution? Explore the top 5 factors to consider for improving hygiene compliance and patient safety.
Implementing an electronic hand hygiene compliance monitoring system as part of a comprehensive multimodal hand hygiene program is crucial for boosting compliance rates. These systems provide clear advantages over traditional direct observation, using advanced technology to ensure consistent adherence to best practices. By offering real-time data and actionable insights, electronic hand hygiene compliance monitoring in health care empowers staff to take immediate action, driving lasting behavior change and improving patient safety.
With numerous eHH solutions on the market, healthcare facilities must choose an electronic hand hygiene compliance monitoring system for hospitals that delivers both immediate value and long-term alignment with their patient safety goals. The layout of patient rooms and bed configurations is also critical factor in selecting the right system.
Here are five key considerations to keep in mind when selecting an eHH solution:
1. What is being monitored?
An electronic hand hygiene compliance monitoring system can track events in different ways, each with its own method. These can be categorized into three types:
- Group Monitoring:
This system tracks hand hygiene product dispensing and averages usage across healthcare workers. However, without individual compliance data, this approach has significant limitations and can result in inaccurate or skewed insights, undermining the ability to drive meaningful improvements in hand hygiene practices.
- Room Monitoring:
Sensors at patient room entry and exit points track hand hygiene events, with healthcare workers wearing badges that communicate with these sensors. Some systems even provide reminders if hand hygiene is missed. However, this method doesn’t capture all critical moments of hand hygiene, limiting its overall effectiveness. Hence, it’s crucial to understand the limitations of any system that relies solely on room-based sensors.
- Patient-Centered Monitoring:
Monitoring zones are set up around patient beds, stretchers, and chairs, with dispensers at entry & exit points and beacons placed under beds to define the patient zone. The system records hand hygiene events based on interactions with these zones and dispenser use. Healthcare worker badges track actions and provide reminders if hand hygiene is missed.
Evaluate each type of monitoring and choose the one most relevant to your hospital's needs when selecting a hand hygiene compliance monitoring system.
Accuracy is paramount when choosing an electronic hand hygiene compliance monitoring system. Ensure that the vendor's claims of compliance accuracy are supported by data. Look for evidence of significant improvement from baseline compliance rates after the system is installed.
3. How is the monitoring data reported?
The system should provide powerful analytics and easy-to-interpret reports or dashboards, automate data collection and deliver actionable compliance insights. It should break down data by hospital groups, departments, individual staff, and monitoring zones, enabling informed decisions on where to focus efforts and sustain hand hygiene compliance.
Understand the installation process and the IT support required for the new hand hygiene compliance monitoring system for hospitals. Assess whether your existing infrastructure can support the chosen electronic hand hygiene monitoring system, as requirements may vary.
5. What training and services are included?
Evaluate the training and support provided by the vendor during installation and post-implementation. It’s crucial to clarify which services are included in the purchase price. A clear, mutual understanding between the vendor and hospital leadership is key to driving the behavioral and cultural change necessary for successful hand hygiene compliance across the facility.
Conclusion
Ultimately, an effective electronic hand hygiene compliance monitoring system should do more than just collect data; it should drive positive changes in healthcare worker behavior, reduce hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), and create a healthier hospital environment. The vendor should be seen as an extension of your team, committed to enhancing hygiene and patient health. Thoroughly evaluate all aspects before implementation to ensure a rewarding experience that leads to a safer healthcare facility.
Contact us to learn how our comprehensive electronic hand hygiene compliance monitoring system can help support your hospital's infection prevention and compliance efforts.
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About the Author
Ecolab Healthcare
Ecolab Healthcare is driven to help health systems and hospitals realize clinical, operational and financial value through a programmatic approach to hospital cleaning through repeatable and measurable workflows.