Med Center Health Safety Snapshot – October

Your Quick Look into Safety at Med Center Health Bowling Green

At Med Center Health, safety and high reliability are more than just goals. They are our promise to every person who comes through our doors. This Safety Snapshot keeps you informed and involved in our ongoing initiatives.

Hand Hygiene: Our First Line of Defense

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 70% of infections can be prevented with good hand hygiene practices. Hand hygiene protects patients, visitors, and staff, and is a quick way to promote safety.

  • The WHO’s “5 Moments for Hand Hygiene”
    • Before touching a patient
    • Before clean/aseptic procedures
    • After body fluid exposure risk
    • After touching a patient
    • After touching patient surroundings
  • Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are available throughout the facility for easy access.  Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub until dry (about 15 seconds).
  • When hands are visibly soiled, or after caring for patients with certain infections, wash your hands.
    • Wet hands with warm water
    • Apply a nickel to quarter-sized amount of soap
    • Rub all surfaces, including between fingers and under nails, for at least 15 seconds
    • Rinse well and dry with a paper towel
  • Other key times to wash hands include after using the bathroom, before you eat, after you eat, after blowing your nose, after coughing or sneezing into your hands.
  • Hand hygiene must be performed even when gloves are used.
    • “Tap the Badge” to remind teammates when you notice an opportunity for hand hygiene.

Together, we make safety a reality. Thank you for being an essential part of our culture of safety!

Reliably yours,

Denise Kaetzel, MHA, MSN, RN, CENP – Executive Director of Quality and Patient Experience

Kaitlin Banasiewicz, PhD, MSN, RN – Director of Patient Safety and Clinical Research

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