A resident at Almonte tries out the hand sanitizer station.
Promoting resident's hand-hygiene emerges from pandemic planning
Almonte goes back to basics
Friday March 28, 2008 -- Camille Jensen
When creating a pandemic plan for Almonte Country Haven, Sylvia Monette realized the most efficient way to prevent pandemics was also the most basic.

Installing hand sanitization units by each resident’s door, in common areas and outside of the dining room, the home hopes to tackle future outbreaks by getting residents to sanitize their hands.

Starting the program in January, staff introduced the new procedure by standing outside the dining room and showing residents how to properly use the product. Within a week, Monette says they no longer needed to be there.

“They just come and do it, it’s really amazing to watch them,” says Monette.

The Almonte long-term care home also put signs in the bathrooms of residents to help remind them of the routine.

As a result residents are in better health says Monette, who adds that this year’s flu season has been milder than usual.

The more accessible hand units have also increased hand-hygiene compliance among staff who are now able to sanitize after exiting each and every room.

Surveyors during a recent accreditation visit were also pleased to see the new process, asking the home what type of sanitizer they were using. Monette says they were able to find a hand sanitizer with aloe that is much gentler for residents.

The hand-hygiene program is part of the home’s ‘back to basics’ approach, which encourages staff to not forget the many important and simple tenets of care.

Rick Gourlie, administrator, says its easy to get caught up in the latest innovation while forgetting simple factors. He says the home decided to adopt a ‘back to basics’ approach to ensure new education doesn’t lose track of quality care.

The home intends to continue with their hand washing program and implementing new processes and training for pandemic planning.

Any home interested in learning of the new system can contact Rick Gourlie at rick@omni-way.com.

To help health-care organizations implement hand-hygiene initiatives the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) has launched a national hand hygiene campaign. For more information, visit CPSI's website at handhygiene.ca.

Do you know of other simple methods to reduce infection control? Contact the newsroom at (800) 294-0051.

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at (800) 294-0051 or e-mail camille(at)axiomnews.ca.