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The organizers of October 15th's Global Handwashing Day revealed a staggering statistic that could well be the easiest, most natural form of nursing home malpractice prevention: If people—including all medical staff--would simply wash their hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet, this act alone would save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention. The Centers for Disease Control concurs, adding that washing one's hands is the most important means of preventing the spread of infectious germs. Even the Food and Drug Administration weighs in on the importance of handwashing, saying that 50 percent of all foodborne illnesses could be foiled by handwashing.
Millions of germs are alive and well on the hands
Viruses can live on the hands for hours, and just think of all the items that nursing home staff are likely to handle in that period of time: medical devices and equipment, medicines and needles, clothing, food, utensils, medical waste and bodily fluids, and of course—people. What's more, the residents in the nursing home are seniors (many of whom are already in fragile health) whose age and health status may make them particularly susceptible to illness.
Thus, ensuring that staff are observing a stringent handwashing rule means that maintaining the health and safety of the residents is made that much easier.
Enforce the rules
Handwashing is something that most children were taught as a rule, and a survey found 91 percent of adult respondents said they "always" wash their hands after using a public bathroom—yet only 83 percent were observed doing so. Also, just 32 percent of respondents said they washed their hands after coughing or sneezing, meaning that the polite gesture of covering the mouth or nose to contain a cough or sneeze is being compromised when the person fails to wash his or her now virus-infested hands--then goes on to touch any object. Those statistics likely track to the nursing home environment, especially when busy staff are moving from room to room and resident to resident—possibly transmitting a harmful virus all the way.
Decrease the chances of becoming sick
When a facility is securing or renewing it nursing home malpractice insurance policy, the nursing home will want to present itself as a place that understands and follows best practices to ensure the health and safety of everyone resident in its care. Make sure those standards start at the beginning, with a strict handwashing policy. Talk to a professional insurance agent for more information.
Millions of germs are alive and well on the hands
Viruses can live on the hands for hours, and just think of all the items that nursing home staff are likely to handle in that period of time: medical devices and equipment, medicines and needles, clothing, food, utensils, medical waste and bodily fluids, and of course—people. What's more, the residents in the nursing home are seniors (many of whom are already in fragile health) whose age and health status may make them particularly susceptible to illness.
Thus, ensuring that staff are observing a stringent handwashing rule means that maintaining the health and safety of the residents is made that much easier.
Enforce the rules
Handwashing is something that most children were taught as a rule, and a survey found 91 percent of adult respondents said they "always" wash their hands after using a public bathroom—yet only 83 percent were observed doing so. Also, just 32 percent of respondents said they washed their hands after coughing or sneezing, meaning that the polite gesture of covering the mouth or nose to contain a cough or sneeze is being compromised when the person fails to wash his or her now virus-infested hands--then goes on to touch any object. Those statistics likely track to the nursing home environment, especially when busy staff are moving from room to room and resident to resident—possibly transmitting a harmful virus all the way.
Decrease the chances of becoming sick
When a facility is securing or renewing it nursing home malpractice insurance policy, the nursing home will want to present itself as a place that understands and follows best practices to ensure the health and safety of everyone resident in its care. Make sure those standards start at the beginning, with a strict handwashing policy. Talk to a professional insurance agent for more information.
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