» Helping health care workers help patients

By Lise Hull
Staff Writer
Friday, October 03, 2008 | No comments posted. Every year about 2.5 million people in this country get infections from health care settings. Southern Coos Hospital is paving the way in Oregon to reduce this nationwide problem.

As a prelude to the implementation of state-mandated reporting of hospital-acquired infections in January 2009, Southern Coos has begun a program to improve the care of every patient who comes through the doors, according to Chief Nursing Officer Lonnie Scarborough. Southern Coos is just one of seven hospitals in Oregon that have begun the “Help Us Help You” project.

Scarborough explained that the hospital is taking a proactive approach to preventing infection. Patients and their families are encouraged to ask medical and administrative employees if they have washed their hands. To ease the discomfort they may feel about this, the staff will be wearing large buttons that say, “Ask me if I’ve washed my hands.” The goal is proper hand hygiene 100 percent of the time.

Suggested by Hospital Board Chairman David Allen, the buttons are easy to see and add an air of humor while letting people know it’s OK to ask, Scarborough said. Signs with the same two messages also have been posted throughout the hospital and in patients’ rooms.

Tasked to help educate patients about the importance of hand hygiene, all employees in clinical settings have been trained in how to talk to patients about the issue, Scarborough added. Health care workers are also giving out brochures to “become a partner” in making this a successful program.

The project involves more than just buttons, signs and brochures. Hand sanitizers have been placed on walls near the end of patient beds for anyone — not just nurses — to use. Scarborough pointed out how important it is for families and other visitors to wash or sanitize their hands before coming into contact with patients. Without proper care, they too can unintentionally pass infections to patients, she noted. When flu season approaches, the hospital will set up a kiosk in the main lobby with hand-sanitizers and masks for visitor use.

Scarborough said that employees have embraced the project. During bedside rounds, nurses encourage patients to ask if they have washed or sanitized their hands. At the time of discharge, workers request feedback from patients.

On July 1, the hospital’s infection control nurse checked to see that all emergency room hand-sanitizer dispensers were filled, counted paper towels in dispensers, and then kept track of their use, without employee knowledge. The results showed they were 100-percent successful in sanitizing their hands during that month.

In Scarborough’s August report to the hospital board, she noted, “A new requirement from the Health Care Acquired Infection Reporting Program, pursuant to Oregon Revised Statute 442.838, in accordance with Oregon Administrative Rule 409-023-0010, (states that) hospitals shall begin collecting data for hospital-acquired infections outcome and process measures the HAI reporting program for services provided on and after January 1, 2009.”

After that date, hospitals are required to report incidences of infections, such as staphylococcus or the flu, if they appear to have been acquired at the hospital. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will then determine if the hospital must reimburse the patient for the condition.

By then, Scarborough believes, Southern Coos Hospital will have its hand hygiene project fully under way. So far, they have had wonderful participation from employees, she said.