by Emily Luxen
NASHVILLE, Tenn.- TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center is on the cutting edge of patient and caregiver safety by implementing a system that works to improve hand hygiene.
The hospital is the first and only in the state of Tennessee to participate in the Proventix system. It is a state of the art program that tracks employee's hand washing compliance.
"Studies show hand hygiene can lead to causing infection or reducing infection," said Thomas Ozburn, chief executive officer of the hospital, "this is bringing science and technology together to help assist all the employees."
The system uses "smart badges" worn by employees to track the number of times they wash or sanitize their hands. The sensors in the badges also track the number of opportunities an employee had to cleanse. The unit then relays that info to the hospital staff.
"We can get a whole list of everyone who comes into contact with the system and know what their compliance rate is," said Ozburn.
Employees have responded positively, and hope to do their part to reduce the spread of infection.
"It has impacted us greatly," said Registered Nurse Cay Lavender, "It is a reminder to wash up before I enter and exit a patient's room. It keeps my patients safe, and the patient in the next room safe."
The pilot program started in May of 2012, and is only on one floor of the hospital right now. Officials said the compliance rate has already increased 20 percent. They hope to eventually expand the program to the entire hospital.
"This holds our staff accountable," said Ozburn, "we hope it results in a safe place for our patients."
