Hand Hygiene

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Method for Gathering Hygiene Compliance

All hospitals were required to collect a minimum of 200 observations for every 100 hospital beds. Direct observation of hand hygiene was completed at all hospitals, including TGHC, by trained observers using a standard provincial audit tool. Here is how it was calculated:

# of times hand hygiene performed
—————————————————— x 100
# of observed hand hygiene indications

The observations were on the Four Moments for Hand Hygiene

Toronto Grace Hand Hygiene Compliance Rate April 2024 – March 2025

 Before Initial patient/patient environmental contactBefore aseptic ProcedureAfter body fluid exposure riskAfter patient/patient environmental contact
% Compliance95%98%98%96%
# times hand hygiene was performed30143933193189
# observed hand hygiene indications31594033253317

What is Hand Hygiene?

  • Hand hygiene is using sanitizer or washing with soap and water.
  • Hand cleaning is something we all do, but we need to do better – at the right time and the right way.
  • Every patient has the right to ask their care provider if they have washed their hands.

Why is Hand Hygiene So Important?

  • Hand hygiene is a safety practice that belongs to EVERYONE in the hospital including patients, families, visitors and the care team.
  • Good hand washing is the most successful way to reduce and prevent healthcare-associated infections.

What are Healthcare-associated Infections?

  • Sometimes when patients are admitted to hospitals they get an infection. These infections are called healthcare-associated infections

When Should I Wash/Sanitize My Hands

  • Sanitize/wash your hands before you enter the hospital, at the front door.
  • Sanitize/wash your hands before entering a patient’s room.
  • Sanitize/wash your hands after you leave a patient’s room.
  • Sanitize/wash your hands when leaving the hospital.