Essay Sample on Reducing Spread of Infectious Diseases: Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings

Introduction

The spread of disease-causing germs in most healthcare organizations is a result of people's actions. Hand hygiene is the best practice that can reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Hospitals, intensive care units, and nursing homes are vulnerable to infections caused by failure to comply with hand hygiene.

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Background of the Problem

Hospitalized patients are likely to suffer from morbidity and mortality because of healthcare-associated infection (HCAI). According to data from the World Health Organization, healthcare-associated infection is a worldwide burden, with approximately five million people in Europe linked to this problem. Failure by healthcare providers to wash hands as expected is a leading contributor to the spread of infectious diseases. Patients are, therefore, likely to be infected with another disease while undergoing treatment for a different disease. The healthcare practitioners are not spared because they are also at risk of infection. Hand hygiene compliance is applicable to nursing healthcare practice because it is a known practice that can help in preventing infections that can be spread within healthcare facilities.

Investigation on Hand Hygiene

An investigation into hand hygiene shows that its compliance is the unique way in which healthcare workers can effectively prevent associated healthcare infections. Currently, there are various studies on the way to solve the problem of low hand hygiene compliance. The problem is that there is no clear strategy that can be used in healthcare organizations. There is, therefore, a requirement to ensure that research in hand hygiene should focus on combining different determinants that cause the problem of hand hygiene compliance. During my investigation, these determinants include social influence, attitude, self-efficacy, action control, and awareness. According to research by Huis et al. (2012), hand hygiene compliance, indicate that an estimated 30% of HAIs could be prevented.

Evidence

The problem of infections due to failure on hand hygiene compliance is enormous because, according to data from WHO, there are approximately 1.4 million healthcare-associated infections. Developed countries are victims of HAI despite having improved treatment methods. There are an estimated 5-10% of HAI in developed nations ("WHO | Evidence for Hand Hygiene Guidelines," 2020). The USA, for instance, accounts for 200 deaths per day, cutting across over 80, 000 hospitals. Developing nations, on the other hand, face high cases of HAI estimated at 15%, and approximately over 4000 children die because of HAI ("WHO | Evidence for Hand Hygiene Guidelines," 2020). The hand hygiene compliance is still lagging behind because, in most parts of the world, there are problems such as lack of adequate water, inadequate towels, and low campaigns on hand hygiene.

State of Hand Hygiene Compliance

The state of hand hygiene compliance is not at its best based on available data at the center for disease control and prevention (CDC). According to data from ("Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings | CDC," 2020), it estimated that at least one out of 31 hospitalized patients are infected with HCAI. The problem of infection from HCAI implies that a patient has to spend more time in the hospital, translating to the financial burden. The financial burden translates to an estimate of 25 million extra hospital admission days. According to (WHO, 2020) United States is estimated to witness approximately witness 99000 deaths due to HCAI. Data from national healthcare safety illustrate ICU setting as an example of how the state of hand hygiene compliance is still not up to standard. The prevalence rates of HCAI study in European countries shows that 37% of HCAI is acquired in ICU settings. Device associated infections define the state of hand hygiene compliance to be a leading cause of adverse economic effects on patients. Catheter-related bloodstream infection is an example of how HCAI can increase hospital bills to an average cost of $38,000 (Mulberrry, Snyder, Heilman, Pyrek & Stahl, 2001).

Areas Contributing to Hand Hygiene Noncompliance

Hand hygiene compliance rates are low even though there are campaigns and well-documented guidelines. Healthcare workers' forgetfulness is a leading factor. There is an inconvenience that denies a hospital to be hand hygiene compliant. These inconveniences include improper placement of hand rub dispenser, broken sink, missing soap, and distraction of healthcare workers. There is also a perception that the proper use of gloves is enough; hence, hand washing is not necessary. Healthcare organizations fail to provide proper education on hand hygiene, which contributes to employees within the hospital, failing to develop a safety culture. Hospitals, at times, share equipment, therefore, creating a frequent exit and entry to a room where bedside procedure takes place. The outcome of such scenarios is that healthcare workers fail to wash their hands. Data available on hand hygiene are not accurate, therefore failing to present the real problem of noncompliance.

Proposed Solution

Using Electronic Monitoring Systems (EMS) best solution to help in solving the hand hygiene problem. Just in time, coaching, accompanied by real-time data on hand hygiene compliance, is successful through the implementation of EMS. Just in time, coaching is the approach used by organization leadership to carry out analysis on the state of hand hygiene compliance. The real-time data are immediate observations on hand hygiene captured using hygiene monitoring systems.

Justification of Proposed Solution

Just in time, coaching and real-time data are sources of information that can be made available to healthcare managers. The availability of real-time data ensures that managers are able to develop plans that can assist in hand hygiene compliance on a regular basis. Proper utilization of technology to track hand hygiene compliance assist in identifying areas that require improvements. Data is a vital tool that can be used in healthcare settings to assist in the reduction of HCAIs. Understanding of hand hygiene compliance requires managers to gather data using monitoring technology. The monitoring technology provides real-time data, which, in return, helps healthcare leadership to carry out real-time coaching. An example of why real-time data is significant is with the use of a clean hands-safe hands system. This system is attached with badge reels containing all the information of a healthcare worker. The system is able to monitor every individual hand hygiene compliance. In the event a healthcare worker forgets to sanitize their hands, the system provides them with a real-time reminder.

Resource Recommendation

An electronic hand hygiene monitoring systems are the essential resource required for the successful utilization of real-time data. It is also important to consider room location within an organization in order to understand the best parts that are mandatory in the allocation of resources to help in hand hygiene compliance. There is also a requirement for the integration of electronic monitoring systems (EMS) with real-time text messages. The real-time messages are essential in handling hygiene data compliance, as it is able to send instant messages to unit managers.

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Resources

Costs

The costs of installing EMS to help in real-time data and just in time coaching varies. The costs for my proposal are estimates and not actual market values. The costs of installing an EMS include one-time installation costs. There are subscription costs that can be negotiated to fit with the hospital's budget. The hospital is also expected to provide hand hygiene supplies. There are also costs of implementation, which will require comprehensive training of team leaders within the hospital. The managers and the IT department will need to be trained on how to generate reports using EMS. Environmental costs are expected in implementing systems that use sensors. The hospital will be required to make yearly replacements for badges and batteries used in running sensors. The replacement costs vary with machines. Once the health workers receive real-time coaching on hand hygiene, it means that there will be expected improvements in hand hygiene compliance. The usage of alcohol products will improve, which means an increase in the costs of buying supplies for hand hygiene.

Benefits

The managers within our organization expect benefits from EMS implementation. The organization will be able to get access to reliable and valid data on hand hygiene compliance, therefore, eliminating biasness witnessed through direct observation. The cost of auditing required during direct observation is expected to reduce because there will be a reduction in staff hours and resources required in the implementation of direct observation audit. The EMS reduces rates of HCAI and, in return, eliminates costs associated with treating patients while improving on hand hygiene compliance. Staff conflict is eliminated because the person who will be in charge of monitoring hand hygiene will be the managers or supervisors. Real-time assessment and education on importance are made easy because the managers will get an opportunity to make sure that all workers change their daily behaviors regarding hand hygiene. EMS makes it possible for managers to carry out daily routine checks, unlike direct monitoring. A comprehensive assessment is a benefit that increases performance within different units of the hospital due to reduced time and costs that would be required in collected data during direct observations. Implementation of this technology ensures that hand hygiene compliance is adhered to throughout therefore allowing staff members an opportunity to utilize their human resources in different sections of the hospital in case of wasting time taking part in audits.

Timeline Implementation

The implementation timeline will cover a 12-step implementation program expected to be completed in six months. The timeline will be divided into two sections, that are implementation and post-implementation.

Implementation

Information Meeting

The organizations' stakeholders will meet to review my proposal. The meeting is supposed to act as an introduction to my solution to hand hygiene compliance. An electronic register is going to be introduced to collect all requirements required in implementing the EMS.

Facility Site Visits

The task committee is expected to carry out site visits where available resources are evaluated to determine what is there and what should be added. The visit should also act as an opportunity to determine areas that require improvements, staffing, the current data availability and available space

Site Evaluation Report

The site evaluation report will provide a review of the current hospital position mapping out areas that will require implementation. The report will provide a suggestion on where the EMS should be located.

Procurement of Equipment

The required EMS materials required to run the project are procured. In case there is a need for additional hand hygiene supplies, then the procurement department should include them.

Preparing Facility

The stakeholders taking part in the implementation process are expected to prepare the facility by first transferring a paper-based registry to an electronic registry. The current data will be captured, therefore ensuring the harmonized transfer of data from the old system to EMS.

Training

The top management and IT personnel are to undergo training on how to operate the EMS. The training includes how to interpret data reports required during just in time coaching....