Hand hygiene is one of the most important and effective ways to keep patients safe from the spread of infections in hospitals. One patient in the hospital or clinic may be touched by dozens of health care workers – doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and so on – in a single day. To protect children from infection, we require that patient care professionals thoroughly clean their hands before and after treating each child.
Hand Hygiene (San Francisco)
Hand hygiene means using either alcohol-based hand disinfectant or soap and water as well as the proper cleansing techniques for the appropriate length of time.
At UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco, a team devoted to infection control – including doctors, nurses, therapists, technicians, spiritual care staff, engineers and others – created a program to ensure proper hand hygiene.
What does UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco do to ensure proper hand hygiene?
UCSF considers hand hygiene a priority and expects all health care workers to clean their hands every time they go into or out of a patient's hospital or exam room.
We collect data on hand hygiene compliance through monitoring, both discreetly and openly, and on video camera in some areas. A daily compliance report is available. When someone fails to follow proper hand hygiene, they receive a reminder and coaching on correct techniques.
In fiscal year 2022, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco achieved 96% hand-hygiene compliance.
How do you know hand hygiene makes a difference?
UCSF and other institutions have studied the impact of hand hygiene on infection rates. Hand hygiene is one of many measures at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco that have helped reduce the rate of infections.
Contact us
Patient Safety & Quality, San Francisco
For concerns about quality of patient care, call:
(415) 502-9859
Patient Safety Hotline, San Francisco
For urgent safety issues, call:
(415) 353-8787
Patient Relations, San Francisco
For general concerns, call:
(415) 353-1936
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