Please feel free to ask your caregiver, “Have you washed your hands before examining me?”

Fairview has identified hand hygiene as a primary focus for patient safety. The goal: All patient care staff will perform hand hygiene 100 percent of the time, appropriate to patient contact.

The goal of reaching 100 percent compliance with the new hand hygiene policy is important because in 2000, only 48 percent of health care workers nationwide washed their hands or used alcohol rub before patient contact. By reaching and maintaining 100 percent compliance, Fairview caregivers will avoid the spread of infection and disease.

Appropriate hand hygiene includes:

• 15 seconds of hand washing with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty
• Rubbing with an alcohol-based rub until dry (if hands are not visibly soiled)
• Moisturizing hands
• Not wearing artificial nails or natural nails extended beyond the fingertip

Read more about Fairview's safe care.