Hospital Acquired Infections Jennifer Schiermeyer, Kathie O’Dell, Melissa Kumm Hand hygiene is the first universal precaution to prevent spreading disease, but as healthcare professionals we are not diligent in carrying out proper hand hygiene, even with knowing the risks (Birks, Coyle, Porter, Mills, 2011, p. 10). The Institute of Medicine reported that 2 million patients each year have harmful complications due to healthcare acquired infections. These infections are the result of 90,000 deaths and $ billion dollars a year in extra health care costs (Collins, 2008). Introduction and Description of Problem PICOT Elderly patients ages 65 and older admitted to the medical surgical unit; what is the effect of hand hygiene noncompliance compared to proper hand hygiene compliance on the number of hospital acquired infections during the hospital stay. Cultural Aspects Many different cultures view hand washing differently. The Hindu culture believes that soap shouldn’t be used due to the animal fat in it, so they use mud and ash with water to wash their hands (WHO Guidelines, 2009, p. 2). Islam and Hinduism do not use alcohol based cleaners because they believe that alcohol cleaners can cause mental impairment (WHO Guidelines, 2009, p. 5). It is very important that all patients, families, co-workers, and visitors know what the hand hygiene protocol is, and that if they have any questions, they are to ask their nurse, or floor supervisor. References Stakeholders Our patients Our selves Our co-workers Our families Our patient’s families The proposed change would be an increase in the percentage of hand washing by staff, visitors, and patients and reduce Healthcare acquired infection rates. Monitoring hand hygiene compliance and improving practices is necessary if patient safety is to be assured and reduction in HCAI is to be achieved (Aziz, 2014). Proposed Change With the implementation of our project we expect that staff will become more aware of the dangers that exist not following proper hand hygiene. We also expect to see an increase in the percentage of hand washing go up significantly from where it began due to the education. We not only will encourage staff to remind and watch each other we will encourage patients and families to get involved with hand hygiene. We have to have buy in for our staff to believe that hand hygiene is important so that they do it 100% of the time, and they know and understand why it is so important. Intended Outcomes Evaluation Plan To evaluate our plan of action we would combine all of the information obtained from the observations and questionnaires to determine the amount of hospital acquired that practices can be related back to the hand hygiene of the medical professionals. Through the questionnaires we would be able to obtain the information that we need to determine why proper hand hygiene practices are not being performed correctly and how to improve these standards. Researchers work to condense information, organize and attribute meaning to all obtained evidence (Erasmus et al, 2009 Implementation Plan Involve frontline staff in planning Have staff education, so staff understand why it is so important, so we have buy in. Patient education about hand hygiene will also be implemented so patients can speak up if someone doesn’t wash their hands. Post signs around the hospital reminding staff, patients, and visitors to wash hands. Have monitors that make sure that hand hygiene is being done they way it is supposed to We will also secure support of our upper management in our plan. Aziz, A. (2014). Hand hygiene compliance World Health Organization. (2009). Religious and cultural aspects of hand hygiene. British Journal Of Healthcare Management, 20(9), Birks, M., Coyle, M., Porter, J., Mills, J. (2011). Perceptions of hand hygiene amongst health care worker in Sibu, East Malaysia. International Journal of Infection Control. Retrieved December 1, 2014 from: Collins, A. (2008). Preventing Health Care-Associated Infections. Retrieved from: Erasmus, V., Brouwer, W., van Beeck, E.F., Oenema, A., Daha, T.J., Richardus J.H., Vos M.C., Brug, J. (2009). A Qualitative Exploration of Reasons for Poor Hand Hygiene Among Hospital Workers: Lack of Positive Role Models and of Convincing Evidence That Hand Hygiene Prevents Cross-infection. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, vol. 30, No 5 (May 2009). P The University of Chicago Press DOI: /596773n December 15, 2014 from: