1. Hand hygiene performance rates are consistently high, but not suspiciously high.
Direct observation is commonly used to gauge hand hygiene performance, but this method is susceptible to the Hawthorne Effect — clinicians are usually three times more likely to sanitize when they know someone is observing.
2. Observers are discreet.
Clinicians should be observed by truly anonymous individuals who are switched out frequently.
3. A consistently high number of hand hygiene opportunities are captured and reported.
Data captured based on a small sample size is unreliable and won’t provide the relevant information needed to affect behavior changes.
4. Healthcare-associated infections have decreased by 45 percent or more.
Hand hygiene is the biggest factor in the spread of healthcare-associated infections. Over 40 peer-reviewed publications have connected hand hygiene to a decrease in healthcare-associated infections, with the median decrease at 45 percent, according to Dr. Hermann.
More articles on accreditation:
The Joint Commission issues infection control alert for community health centers: top 6 non-compliance concerns
Gold Coast Surgicenter achieves new AAAHC certification — 4 highlights
How to publicize your ASC’s Joint Commission accreditation — 6 things to know
