OHA’s hand hygiene program is nationally recognized for improving health outcomes. The program aims to boost compliance rates by evaluating hospital staff, offering immediate improvement suggestions, policy redesigns and enhanced education and training. Over 315,000 observations were completed by OHA hand hygiene observers in 2023.

Participating hospitals set an individual compliance goal based on internal priorities and metrics. Caregivers, including physicians, nurses, techs, nutrition services and others, are observed entering and exiting patient rooms. Real-time observations are recorded in an app OHA developed specifically for this quality-improvement initiative.

Data is aggregated quickly and and allows hospitals to compare their rates with other participating hospitals. Individual hospital units or floors receive same-day feedback for swift intervention implementation.

Program Launch Preparation

Hospital leadership is interviewed prior to the start of ongoing observations, to:

• Determine the presence of internal hand hygiene observation programs and rates
• Review existing policies and procedures for alignment with OHA guidelines
• Provide feedback on baseline rates to leadership, middle management and frontline staff for discussion, education and clinical behavior modification

Ongoing Peer Collaboration

Clinical leaders of participating hospitals meet regularly with OHA’s team to review compliance data and share best practices on how to achieve and sustain high compliance rates. Successful interventions include:

• Additional alcohol hand sanitizer dispensers located closer to patient rooms
• Signage for “Wash in/Wash out!” reminders
• Inter-departmental meetings on expected behaviors
• Competitions and rewards for best rates/most improved
• Coaching of associates by leadership
• Educational videos or employee plays/skits