Infection prevention and control strategies Overview of what is required Suggested approach Examples of evidence 3.5 Developing, implementing and auditing a hand hygiene program consistent with the current national hand hygiene initiative 3.5.1 Workforce compliance with current national hand hygiene guidelines is regularly audited Your community health service should be able to Where observational hand hygiene auditing Policies, procedures and/or protocols for hand demonstrate that it has implemented and is not appropriate, alternate methods should hygiene activities that are consistent with the supports a hand hygiene program that is be considered to demonstrate your NHHI are available to the workforce. community health service has undertaken consistent with the National Hand Hygiene Gap analysis and action plan to support the hand hygiene assessment activities. These Initiative (NHHI).69 scope of the program required for your include: organisation in line with the NHHI. In some community health services, auditing of gap analysis and action plan to support the hand hygiene compliance by direct observational Results of hand hygiene compliance audits in scope of the program auditing several times per year (in line with the line with the NHHI requirements. audit and evaluate the types of hand hygiene requirements of the NHHI) may not be Analysis of trends in healthcare associated products available to the workforce appropriate. infection rates in the organisation. audit and evaluate placement of and access Community health services should consider Audit of the amounts of hand hygiene products to hand hygiene products in your community alternate methods for assessing compliance with used by the workforce. health service the NHHI provided by Hand Hygiene Australia Audit of the types of products available for hand audit and evaluate the amount of hand (HHA). You should confirm the requirements for hygiene. hygiene products utilised hand hygiene assessment with professional record the number of workforce members who organisations and state or territory health have completed hand hygiene education and departments. training. Where observational hand hygiene auditing is appropriate or required, undertake observational hand hygiene audits in line with the minimum requirements set out in the NHHI and in accordance with guidelines provided by the overarching health service organisation, where relevant.
Infection prevention and control strategies Overview of what is required Suggested approach Examples of evidence 3.5 Developing, implementing and auditing a hand hygiene program consistent with the current national hand hygiene initiative 3.5.1 Workforce compliance with current national hand hygiene guidelines is regularly audited Your community health service should be able to demonstrate that it has implemented and supports a hand hygiene program that is consistent with the National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI).69 In some community health services, auditing of hand hygiene compliance by direct observational auditing several times per year (in line with the requirements of the NHHI) may not be appropriate. Community health services should consider alternate methods for assessing compliance with the NHHI provided by Hand Hygiene Australia (HHA). You should confirm the requirements for hand hygiene assessment with professional organisations and state or territory health departments. Where observational hand hygiene auditing is not appropriate, alternate methods should be considered to demonstrate your community health service has undertaken hand hygiene assessment activities. These include: gap analysis and action plan to support the scope of the program audit and evaluate the types of hand hygiene products available to the workforce audit and evaluate placement of and access to hand hygiene products in your community health service audit and evaluate the amount of hand hygiene products utilised record the number of workforce members who have completed hand hygiene education and training. Where observational hand hygiene auditing is appropriate or required, undertake observational hand hygiene audits in line with the minimum requirements set out in the NHHI and in accordance with guidelines provided by the overarching health service organisation, where relevant. Policies, procedures and/or protocols for hand hygiene activities that are consistent with the NHHI are available to the workforce. Gap analysis and action plan to support the scope of the program required for your organisation in line with the NHHI. Results of hand hygiene compliance audits in line with the NHHI requirements. Analysis of trends in healthcare associated infection rates in the organisation. Audit of the amounts of hand hygiene products used by the workforce. Audit of the types of products available for hand hygiene.