Kimberly-Clark Professional Introduces Audio Reminder to Increase Handwashing and Help Reduce HAIs

ROSWELL, Ga. Healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) are a dangerous and costly issue within healthcare facilities, occurring in 5 to 10 percent of patients and contributing to at least 90,000 deaths each year at a cost of more than $5 billion annually. 

Handwashing is one of the most important ways to help prevent these infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yet compliance among healthcare workers remains low, averaging only 40 percent.  How can healthcare professionals increase handwashing compliance and reduce nosocomial infections within their facilities?

The Hand Hygiene Voice Module a new offering from Kimberly-Clark Professional takes aim at this issue and provides a solution in the form of a gentle audio reminder to wash up.   

Sometimes we all need to be reminded to do the right thing, said Henrik Matzen, an associate category manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional. There is a definite correlation between increased hand washing compliance and a reduction in Healthcare Acquired Infections in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The Hand Hygiene Voice Module can help reduce the spread of germs by providing an easy and effective way to remind everyone who visits the restroom about the importance of handwashing.

The Hand Hygiene Voice Module was found to increase hand washing compliance by 12 percent in an internal study by Kimberly-Clark Professional.  Research has also shown that healthcare workers respond to verbal messages by increasing their handwashing compliance.

The Hand Hygiene Voice Module provides a simple, non-intrusive message, which repeats every two minutes, and works without identifying employees who dont wash their hands. Handwashing reduces the spread of germs. Thank you for washing your hands, is its message, delivered by a pleasant male or female voice (depending on the restroom) in both English and Spanish. 

The system automatically shuts off when the lights are out. Volume adjustment is available to match the sound levels to the size of the restroom. The Hand Hygiene Voice Module is also easy to install and has a long battery life, powered by four D-cell batteries that last four months or more. 

It is the latest addition to the Kimberly-Clark Professional family of hygienic product solutions for healthcare and other environments where germs are most likely to spread.  For more information on the Hand Hygiene Voice Module and to hear the audio message, visit http://www.kcprofessional.com/us/mkt/HandHygieneVM/ or call 1-888-346-GOKC. 

Source: Kimberly-Clark Professional