Dec 2024
BACKGROUND
RiverSpring Living is nationally recognized as the progressive embodiment of aging services throughout the greater New York City metropolitan area. They serve more than 18,000 people each day. RiverSpring Living campus has >650 patient beds, including long-term care, assistive living rehab, memory loss, and more. It is the largest assistive living facility in the New York Metropolitan area. Due to the campus's size, healthcare-associated infections are a major priority, and they are always looking for innovative best practices and technologies.
THE OPPORTUNITY
- Health-care-associated infections (HAIs) affect the quality of health-care services, jeopardizing patient safety and increasing health-care costs.
- Improvement in hand hygiene compliance has been highlighted as the most effective measure to reduce transmission of pathogenic microorganisms in health care and lower the incidence of HAI’s in health-care settings
- Previously, when Hebrew Home used a manual, paper based system, they struggled to consistently gather observations and report on Hand Hygiene.
THE STRATEGY
ENGAGE - The Foundation of a Hand Hygiene Program – engaging all healthcare personnel for a successful hand hygiene program.
EDUCATE - Developing Knowledge and Skill in Hand Hygiene – best practices and helpful tips for educating staff on hand hygiene.
EXECUTE - Mindfulness and Team Accountability with Hand Hygiene – creating an environment of accountability among personnel in a hand hygiene program.
EVALUATE - Using Hand Hygiene Data for Action – using data for continuous quality improvement in hand hygiene programs:
- Use reports to foster friendly competition and peer pressure.
- Regularly engage and educate all departments.
- Drill down on areas for improvement to get more details and then share what you uncover.
- Review results with teams to find opportunities for improvement.
- Engage teams with the data to uncover opportunities for improvement.
The Hebrew Home chose Soapy’s comprehensive Hand Hygiene solution to address the challenges they face in executing an effective program that could meet stringent regulatory guidelines. Soapy is a clinically tested hand hygiene education and monitoring company focused on creating a better and safer healthcare environment for all by utilizing innovative and smart technologies.
Soapy has deployed sixteen units - 3 mobile, and 13 wall mounts throughout the entire facility. Each unit is located at the main entrance to each department and in proximity to the main nursing stations and is available for care teams and visitors.
The facility utilizes Soapy technology for:
1. Compliance
2. Monitoring
3. Education & training
4. Fun activities
5. Hand hygiene competitions
- 58% decrease in Healthcare-Associated Infections - Saved staff time by eliminating a cumbersome paper auditing process - Developed a strong culture around Hand Hygiene - Ramped up annual observations to +15,000/yr
The study conducted at Hebrew Home at Riverdale by RiverSpring Living demonstrates a significant relationship between enhanced hand hygiene practices and the reduction of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The deployment of Soapy hand hygiene systems has effectively improved compliance, handwashing quality, and monitoring, showcasing the potential of smart technologies in healthcare infection prevention.
KEY FINDINGS
1. REDUCTION IN HAIS - Over three years, there was a 58% decrease in HAIs, emphasizing the critical impact of improved hand hygiene protocols on patient safety and infection control.
2. ENHANCED HAND HYGIENE QUALITY - Hand hygiene quality improved by 23%, indicating that the Soapy systems not only promote adherence but also ensure proper techniques are used.
3. INCREASED COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING EFFICIENCY - Transitioning from a manual, paper-based system to the Soapy technology streamlined monitoring efforts, saving staff time and fostering a culture of accountability. Over 15,000 hand hygiene observations were made annually, providing robust data for continuous improvement.
4. STAFF ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION - The gamified and interactive features of the Soapy systems increased engagement among staff and visitors, positively influencing compliance rates and cultivating a culture of health and safety.
The findings from this study align closely with Leapfrog Hospital Survey standards, which emphasize stringent hand hygiene practices as a core component of patient safety and quality care.
1. HAND HYGIENE ADHERENCE
- Leapfrog Requirement: Hospitals must demonstrate adherence to robust hand hygiene protocols with regular compliance monitoring.
- How This Study Helps: The Soapy system achieved a 23% improvement in hand hygiene quality and sustained high adherence rates, providing measurable outcomes that align with Leapfrog's expectations for compliance.
2. REAL-TIME MONITORING
- Leapfrog Requirement: Institutions must utilize electronic monitoring systems or equivalent
methods to track and document hand hygiene performance.
- How This Study Helps: The deployment of Soapy systems replaced manual audits with automated compliance tracking, saving staff time and ensuring data accuracy. This transition
directly satisfies Leapfrog's call for advanced monitoring solutions.
3. EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES
- Leapfrog Requirement: Hospitals need to implement evidence-based strategies for infection prevention.
- How This Study Helps: The study demonstrates a 58% reduction in HAIs, proving that the Soapy
system is an effective intervention for lowering infection rates through improved hand hygiene.
Such data can be presented as evidence during Leapfrog evaluations.
4. EDUCATION AND TRAINING
- Leapfrog Requirement: Staff must be trained on effective hand hygiene practices and continuously educated.
- How This Study Helps: The Soapy system integrates gamification and interactive features to engage staff in ongoing education, meeting Leapfrog's criteria for consistent and innovative staff training.
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5. CULTURE OF SAFETY - Leapfrog Requirement: Hospitals must demonstrate a culture of accountability and safety regarding hand hygiene. - How This Study Helps: By fostering engagement through gamified features and providing transparent, actionable data, the Soapy system helps build a strong culture of accountability and continuous improvement, addressing Leapfrog's focus on patient safety culture. 6. DATA TRANSPARENCY AND REPORTING - Leapfrog Requirement: Hospitals are required to report compliance metrics transparently. - How This Study Helps: The system generated over 15,000 hand hygiene observations annually with actionable insights, enabling institutions to meet Leapfrog’s reporting and transparency standards effectively.
The integration of Soapy systems at Hebrew Home has unequivocally demonstrated that combining education, gamification, and real-time monitoring can lead to substantial improvements in hand hygiene practices and infection prevention.
This study provides a compelling case for healthcare facilities to consider adopting similar solutions as part of their infection control strategies.
These findings set the stage for broader applications and further research into leveraging technology to combat HAIs, improve patient safety, and enhance operational efficiencies in healthcare settings. The implementation of Soapy systems resulted in a 58% reduction in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), a 23% improvement in hand hygiene quality, and enhanced monitoring and compliance efficiency.
The Soapy system provides healthcare organizations with the tools needed to comply with Leapfrog's rigorous hand hygiene standards. By improving adherence, streamlining monitoring, and delivering measurable reductions in infection rates, this technology positions hospitals to achieve Leapfrog recognition, improve patient outcomes, and enhance their safety and quality ratings.