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I hope this email finds you well😊.
IPCs are currently reviewing our infection prevention and control protocols to identify and address any gaps.
I am seeking for some insights or suggestions re the gaps as outlined below:
Background
Javadale implemented the Hand Caddy Initiative last year in a way to improve the IPC measures as well as to reduce the gap of compliance.
Hand Caddy has Sanitizers (with taped), alcohol wipes and gloves in it for staff to carry while attending the ADL’sWhat is the reason for the Hand caddies?
Currently, hand sanitisers are located outside the consumer rooms, which means you are generally not sanitising directly before care or in front of the consumer.
It is also very difficult to attend to hygiene during care when gloves are doffed you need to exit the room and re-enter.
The use of these Caddy’s ensures we are meeting the 5 moments of hand hygiene and best practice.How is the Hand Caddy to be used?
• Hand Caddies are to be kept on top of the CLEAN LINEN TROLLEY.
• Hand Caddies are to be taken into the room each time care is attended. (4 are designated per wing)
• Please do not leave hand caddy on the TOP/BOTTOM of the skips due to CLEAN to DIRTY principal.
• Caddies are to be returned to the designated area immediately after use such as TOP OF THE CLEAN LINEN TROLLEY/ pan room/ Nursing Station- Banksia Wing only.
• Loose hand sanitizer is a risk to certain consumers, all hand sanitiser must to be TAPED before being placed on the floor.Gaps found:
• It has been observed that hand caddies are often left underneath the skips, which is identified as “dirty areas.” This practice raises significant concerns regarding infection control and hygiene standards.
• The requirement to return the Hand Caddy to the Clean Linen trolley after each time of ADLs is creating challenges.
Specifically, staff have reported that walking back and forth to retrieve the Hand Caddy is time-consuming and contributing to gaps in compliance with hand hygiene practices-
Suggestion from Staff: can the hand caddy go on the top of Skip? Skip is “dirty” hence “NO”
Despite ongoing education, including one-on-one discussions during my rounds, we are still encountering challenges in effectively bridging the gaps in our infection prevention and control practices.Given the importance of this matter, I am reaching out to request any further suggestions or insights you might have. Your practical experience and observations are crucial in identifying what might be missing or what additional measures could be implemented.
Attaching hand hygiene (HH) product to equipment is a way to have point of care access to HH e.g. weigh chairs, equipment trolleys.
The hand hygiene product representative is a good resource to support hand hygiene availability .The rep will know what other possibilities there are for increasing access to the HH product you use, such as brackets (usually provided free of charge).
Hand hygiene compliance of HH on entering and leaving a resident’s room is a helpful message.Hi Jewel,
Thanks for sharing.
Consideration of the caddy going into room to room – would this pose risk of infection transmission caused by a contaminated caddy where residents may be in an incubation period, or the environment has not been cleaned of all organisms as example?
Perhaps additional precautions could be considered:
Considerations for suspected or confirmed infectious rooms /areas- i.e. not for use?
Consider a cleaning regime/process for the caddy?Perhaps refer to the following docs to guide ABHR placement and tips for compliance:
Aged Care IPC Guide -Product placement pg. 50+
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/The-Aged-Care-Infection-Prevention-and-Control-Guide.pdfNational Hand Hygiene Initiative Implementation Guide – Product placement pg. 10.
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-07/nhhi_implementation_guide_july_2023.pdfThe use of this document would need to be adjusted to suit aged care – consideration to ABHR placement should be risk assessed, especially in areas where there are residents with cognitive deficit.
Consideration for personal clip-on ABHR is another thought – but expensive.
Education on 5 hand moments, quizzes, puzzles and cross words make HH learning a bit more fun – agree with signage as reminders.
Is there potential to place PPE supplies more readily available for staff – in corridor cupboards for example? Easy access to aprons as well as gloves is great practice.
Hope that helps
Carrie
