November 2, 2009
Leamington District Memorial Hospital Celebrates
National Patient Safety Week – November 2 – 6, 2009
Hospital Kicks-Off: “ASK ME IF I’VE CLEANED MY HANDS” CAMPAIGN
Leamington, ON – Leamington District Memorial Hospital is kicking off National Patient Safety Week by encouraging all patients and visitors to “ask me if I’ve washed my hands?” The campaign designed to increase the hospital’s hand hygiene compliance rate, reduce hospital acquired infections and to stop the spread of viruses like the H1N1 flu virus, is a key component of the hospital’s patient safety action plan.
“We know that proper hand hygiene is the number one way we can all help prevent the spread of infections in hospitals,” says Sarah Padfield, Vice President Corporate Services, “it is essential that everyone – hospital staff, the public, physicians and visitors – practice proper hand hygiene at all times while in the hospital.”
This week the hospital will be launching it’s: “ask me if I’ve cleaned my hands?” campaign – the campaign includes posting signs in patient care areas, staff will wear buttons that will remind patients to ask staff if they have cleaned their hands and training and educational events will be held in the cafeteria to display proper technique. The hospital is also posting information about the campaign on the patient safety section of its web-site at: www.leamingtonhospital.com.
In light of the recent increase in influenza-like-illnesses appearing in our community, good hand hygiene principles will be critical if we are to help control the spread of infection. Hand hygiene stations are set up at all entrances and all patients and visitors entering the building are reminded to please clean their hands upon entering, exiting and when in patient rooms or treatment areas.
In September 2008, the Board supported the hospital’s Patient Safety Action Plan which outlined six key initiatives that the hospital will focus on in order to increase patient safety within the hospital. “Ensuring patient safety and improving quality are key priorities for the Board,” notes David Glass, Chair of the Quality Council, “we have dedicated a lot of our time at the Board meetings to increasing our own awareness of patient safety issues within the hospital and developing action plans to improve.” Throughout the course of the week there will be staff events to discuss and celebrate patient safety achievements.
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For more information:
Sarah Padfield
Vice President, Corporate Services
(519) 326-2373 ext. 4249