Medline Announces Nationwide Launch of Hand Hygiene Compliance Program for Hospital and Healthcare ...( Program combines best-in-class h...),Health

Program combines best-in-class hand hygiene products, step-by-step implementation process, patient education and training materials to fight

hospital-acquired infections

MUNDELEIN, Ill., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to spark a change in healthcare professional hand hygiene practices, Medline Industries, Inc. announced today the nationwide launch of its Hand Hygiene Compliance Program (HHCP) to hospitals and healthcare facilities at the 35th Annual Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology Educational Conference in Denver.

"Most healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is spread by direct contact, especially via the hands of health workers, and data continues to support hand hygiene as the single most important way of reducing such infections," said Infection Prevention Advisory Board member Linda S. Johnson, M.S. N., R.N., C.I.C., infection control manager for the University of Missouri. "This program will be an important part of a healthcare provider's strategy to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital costs related to HAI."

As the number one defense against healthcare-acquired conditions -- it is estimated that handwashing alone could prevent 20,000 patient deaths per year -- hand hygiene has an important role to play in the prevention of infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 2 million HAIs annually in the U.S., resulting in an estimated $30.5 billion in additional healthcare costs and more than 100,000 inpatient deaths. The federal Medicare program recently announced that beginning in October 2008 it will no longer reimburse for extra costs associated with certain types of HAIs acquired while the patient was receiving care, giving hospitals and healthcare facilities even more incentive to implement prevention measures such as hand hygiene compliance.

Studies have shown, however, that despite being a proven effe
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