Miami Children's Hospital Foundation Receives Donation to Purchase Hand Hygiene System

Miami Childrens Hospital Foundation has received a $300,000 donation to purchase the HyGreen® Hand Hygiene System, a state-of-the-art electronic handwashing monitoring device for several units throughout Miami Childrens Hospital.

The gift was made by an anonymous donor in honor of Miami Childrens Hospital Foundation board chairman Thomas M. Cornish. I am deeply honored by this generous contribution to an organization that is near and dear to my heart, says Cornish. It is essential for our government, business and philanthropic leaders to come together to support childrens healthcare for the sustainability of our community and I cannot think of a more innovative pediatric institution than Miami Childrens.

HyGreen was first installed in Miami Childrens Hospitals Oncology Unit in 2010. This marked the nations first installation of HyGreen in a childrens hospital.

To enhance patient safety, the HyGreen system reminds healthcare workers to wash their hands. After cleaning their hands with alcohol-containing soaps and gels, healthcare workers place them under the HyGreen sensor that sends a wireless all clean message to a badge worn by the healthcare worker. A wireless monitor above the patient bed searches for the message. If it is absent, the badge vibrates, reminding the healthcare worker to wash. All interactions are recorded in a database in real-time.

Miami Childrens is committed to the highest level of patient safety standards to benefit our children and families, says Deise Granado-Villar, MD, MPH, chief medical officer and senior vice president Medical Affairs. MCH is the first children's hospital to implement this innovative technology to enable our entire clinical staff to be in the forefront of hand hygiene compliance, the most effective tool in infection prevention and control. This step adds an additional layer of protection and healing to the children who seek our care from across the globe, and it indeed makes Miami Children's Hospital a leader in the prevention of hospital-acquired infections.