The Office of Healthcare Quality (OHQ) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Partnership for Patients have created the WAVE campaign to help caregivers protect their loved ones from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
The WAVE campaign directs patients and their family members to wash hands, ask questions, vaccinate and ensure safety. The campaign provides several free tools including a wallet card, brochure and posters.
The WAVE campaign encourages the following:
W" Wash hands
Wash or clean hands before, during, and after visiting a healthcare facility.
A Ask questions
Ask questions of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers. You can improve your loved one's care by taking an active role. Speak up if anything concerns you or you dont understand the answers you receive.
V Vaccinate
Vaccinate against the flu each year, unless otherwise directed by your doctor or other healthcare provider. Ask friends and family members who are sick to not visit the hospital.
E Ensure safety
Ensure safety by not touching medical equipment unless absolutely necessary. Work with healthcare providers to make sure catheters and other medical devices are properly maintained and removed promptly.
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.
Happy Hand Hygiene Day! Rethinking Glove Use for Safer, Cleaner, and More Ethical Health Care
May 5th 2025Despite their protective role, gloves are often misused in health care settings—undermining hand hygiene, risking patient safety, and worsening environmental impact. Alexandra Peters, PhD, points out that this misuse deserves urgent attention, especially today, World Hand Hygiene Day.