"Clean your hands!" We've heard that since we were kids. We all know it's important but in health care, hand hygiene has an even greater significance - it is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and infections.
Whether you're a therapist, a physician, a nurse or working in food services, those working in health care touch lives every day, both figuratively and literally. That’s why Alberta Health Services' (AHS) aims for 100% clean hands for every patient, every time.
AHS strives to have an organization-wide culture of patient safety. To help achieve this, a new
clinical policy has also been developed around hand hygiene. This policy has been created to standardize expectations and strengthen hand hygiene practices across the province.
Good hand hygiene practices are essential in preventing health-care acquired infections, and alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) is an effective and accessible product. However, ABHR can pose a risk to our patients and result in harm, including death, if ingested. The following guidelines have been developed to help mitigate this risk:
