Hand hygiene-meeting the JCAHO safety goal: can compliance with CDC hand hygiene guidelines be improved by a surveillance and educational program?

While establishing 2004 department goals, the new JCAHO Safety Goal of improving compliance with CDC hand washing recommendations was an appropriate department initiative for a hospital Wound Care Center. The purpose of the project was to improve physician compliance with hand hygiene. Nursing staff monitored physician hand washing and provided a compliance report to each physician. Informative articles pertaining to hand hygiene were provided to each physician. Follow-up monitoring demonstrated a significant increase in physician compliance with an additional benefit of patients showing interest in hand hygiene. Continuous oversight of hand hygiene may ultimately reduce the incidence of infection transmission.