Last November, the Leapfrog Group released an independent study on 2023 Hospital Safety Grades. Their study found that since the pandemic, infection rates in hospitals have dramatically improved. However, there is still work to be done in many states, and that work begins by improving basic cleaning and disinfecting procedures for patient rooms and communal areas.

The Buckeye Prescription Training Program can standardize cleaning and disinfecting in your hospital to keep patient, staff, and visitors healthy.

Patient Room Cleaning with Prescription

Prescription breaks down cleaning into manageable steps for EVS staff, covering all areas of the hospital including hallways, restrooms, and lobby areas. However, the most important room is the patient room. It must be cleaned properly to prevent cross infection during and between hospital stays.

Patient Rooms fall into 1 of 5 categories:

Occupied – the patient is in the room.

Discharge – the patient has just been discharged.

Unoccupied – the room remains vacant after discharge cleaning.

Isolation – the room is occupied by a patient requiring isolation precautions. 

Discharge Isolation – isolation patient has just been discharged.

Patient Room Cleaning Procedures 

The Prescription website and manual cover each of these scenarios in detail, following 6 basic cleaning procedures.

1. Empty Trash
2. High Dust
3. Damp Wipe
4. Clean Restrooms
5. Dust Mop or Sweep
6. Damp Mop

To help guide EVS staff, Prescription offers customizable wall charts and tools. Download our sample wall chart to help remind your staff about proper procedures in patient rooms.

The Complete Prescription Program 

Routine cleaning is only part of keeping a hospital clean. The Prescription program provides training in routine cleaning, patient room cleaning, surgery room cleaning, restroom, carpet care, hard floor care, and product safety.

Each video breaks down the procedures and equipment needed for each custodial task. The Prescription website serves as an online EVS training manual with resources including wall charts, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), product literature, and more. Your EVS staff will have 24/7 access to all of the tools they need to keep your hospital clean.

Contact a Buckeye representative to learn about all Prescription features and resources.

Established in 1986, International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) celebrates Infection Preventionists and aims to assist in decreasing the spread of infection in healthcare facilities. This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Fundamentals of Infection Prevention” with a goal to return to the basics of infection prevention.

The Basics

Understanding the basics of infection prevention begins with hand hygiene. Cleaning hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer can make a huge difference in infection prevention. According to the World Health Organization, “Appropriate hand hygiene prevents up to 50% of avoidable infections acquired during healthcare delivery, including those affecting the health work force.”

Improving Hand Hygiene Compliance 

Infection Preventionists are working every day to break the chain of infection throughout the continuum of care. One of the best ways to reduce healthcare associated infections (HAIs) is to improve hand hygiene compliance rates. How do you improve hand hygiene compliance rates?

Acceptance + Compliance = Lower HAIs

If healthcare workers like the hand hygiene products available to them, they will use those products and, as a result, help prevent HAIs.

Symmetry Hand Hygiene 

Symmetry manufactures products that outperform other hand hygiene lines in overall quality and feel after repeated use. These products are gentle on healthcare workers’ hands, encouraging them to wash and sanitize them frequently.

With Point of Care Tools like lanyards, tray table suction cups, and cart brackets, Symmetry strives to make hand hygiene available throughout the workflow. The Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program also utilizes behavioral science to drive hand hygiene compliance. These unique placards, beacons, and visual lighting cues help draw attention to opportunities for hand hygiene in the moment.

Learn more about the complete program and how Symmetry works with Infection Preventionists to increase hand hygiene compliance and reduce infections in healthcare facilities by contacting your local representative.

Thank you to all the Infection Preventionists who are doing their part to keep healthcare facilities safe for everyone.

Celebrate World Hand Hygiene Day with us! Infection Preventionists around the world are doing so much to reduce the spread of disease in healthcare facilities and beyond. We want to show our thanks by promoting healthy hand hygiene practices.

This year, the World Health Organization’s slogan for World Hand Hygiene Day is, “Accelerate action together. SAVE LIVES – Clean Your Hands.” Their aim is to improve hand hygiene at point of care by reminding healthcare workers to love the 5 Moments.

What are the 5 Moments? 

The 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene are key moments when healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene. This evidence-based, field-tested, user-centered approach is designed to be easy to learn, logical, and applicable in a wide range of settings.

1. Before Patient Contact
2. Before Aseptic Task
3. After Body Fluid Exposure Risk
4. After Patient Contact
5. After Contact with Patient Surroundings

Reducing the spread of HAIs begins with clean hands. Healthcare staff members, patients, and visitors can all benefit when hands are cleaned during the 5 moments.

Improving Hand Hygiene at Point of Care 

Point of Care refers to the moments when healthcare workers are in contact with patients and are at the highest risk of spreading infections. This includes most of the 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene. By increasing opportunities for hand hygiene at Point of Care, healthcare facilities can keep hand sanitizer and hand wash available at key times, including before and after patient contact. 

Due to the high risk of the spread of HAIs, the Joint Commission recognizes individual failure to follow hand hygiene procedures during point of care as a deficiency. This means that a complete hand hygiene program includes Point of Care tools that give healthcare workers easy access to hand hygiene opportunities while working directly with patients. 

Access to hand sanitizer at a W.O.W., tray table, anesthesia cart, or on your person makes hand hygiene more convenient for workers. Symmetry^® offers Point of Care options for all of these and more:

1. Tray Table/W.O.W. to ml
2. Suction Cup 550 ml
3. 50 ml Lanyard
4. Suction Cup 50 ml
5. Anesthesia Cart Bracket 550 ml

Hand hygiene is a year-round commitment for healthcare facilities. We thank our Infection Preventionists this World Hand Hygiene Day for the work they do all year long to keep us safe.

Contact your local representative to see how these tools can help improve compliance in your facility.

Combatting the spread of HAIs (healthcare associated infections) in healthcare facilities is a complex task that requires a multi-faceted approach. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities require an effective cleaning and maintenance program to protect staff, visitors, and patients from the spread of germs and illness.

Hand Hygiene 

The CDC states that hand hygiene is one of the most important steps in reducing the spread of germs. Making hand sanitizer and hand washes readily available to staff and visitors can help reduce the risk of the spread of germs, but there are other ways an effective hand hygiene program can combat disease.

In addition to top-of-the-line products, offering education and awareness materials alongside behavior modification tools that inspire immediate hand hygiene practices can increase compliance rates in healthcare facilities.

The Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program offers those tools and more. Symmetry’s Point of Care tools make hand hygiene available when it’s needed most. For example, the 50 ml Tray Table/W.O.W. Clip puts sanitizer right at the patient’s bedside for easy access before and after patient care.

Cleaning and Disinfecting 

Proper cleaning and disinfecting procedures can have a huge impact on the spread of germs in any healthcare facility. The Buckeye Eco^® Proportioning Program simplifies cleaning and disinfecting with automatic dilution, ensuring important products like disinfectants are properly diluted every time.

Eco products include cleaners, disinfectants, and sanitizers for every surface in a hospital or healthcare facility. EPA expects products on List N to kill all strains and variants of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) when used according to the label directions. All Eco disinfectants are on List-N.

However, a cleaning program is not complete without the proper training. Cleaning and disinfecting procedures need to be followed carefully so areas like patient rooms and hospital waiting rooms remain free of germs. To ensure hospital staff have access to the information they need, Buckeye created the Prescription Training Program.

Prescription is a complete maintenance program for hospitals that presents the products, procedures, and training needed to meet your facility’s highest standards. The Prescription program provides training in routine cleaning, patient room cleaning, surgery room cleaning, restroom, carpet care, hard floor care, and product safety. This program and its resources are available online, 24 hours a day.

Reducing the spread of HAIs is a constant battle. Make sure the people in your healthcare facility have access to the tools they need to combat illness. Contact your local sales representative to learn more.

This week is International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW). Established in 1986, IIPW raises awareness of the role infection prevention plays in improving patient safety. This year’s theme, “The Future is Infection Prevention: 50 Years of Infection Prevention”, aims to show appreciation for APIC’s past work in infection prevention while inspiring new IPs to continue this important work.

Though there are many ways to reduce the spread of healthcare associated infections (HAIs), the most important way is to clean your hands. Symmetry strives to reduce HAIs with gentle products that people want to use in reliable dispensing systems.

Symmetry’s programmatic approach to hand hygiene educates and encourages proper hand hygiene practice with educational tools, the Symmetry Behavior Modification System, and Point of Care tools. Its education and awareness tools include posters and wall charts, designed to explain the “How” and “Why” of proper hand hygiene. The Symmetry Behavior Modification System consists of a series of unique placards and signs with messages designed to inspire and maximize hand hygiene practices. Symmetry Point of Care items include suction cups, brackets, and lanyards that make it possible to access hand sanitizer while workers are in contact with patients and are at the highest risk of spreading germs.

On behalf of Symmetry and Buckeye International, we’d like to thank our IPs for the work they continue to do while fighting COVID-19, the flu, and other healthcare associated infections. International Infection Prevention Week happens every third week of October, but infection prevention is a full-time job. Check out all of the tools APIC provides to keep you informed about infection prevention here.

Contact your local representative for more information about Symmetry products and how a complete hand hygiene program can improve compliance in your facility.

Following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of the monkeypox outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on Jul 23, on August 4 the White House declared monkeypox a public health emergency. Both WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working to track the outbreak and provide resources to those who are at risk. Find up-to-date information on the monkeypox outbreak on the CDC and WHO websites below:CDC: 2022 U.S. Monkeypox Outbreak

 

WHO: Monkeypox Outbreak 2022

As the monkeypox outbreak continues to spread, the CDC recommends getting vaccinated if you have been exposed to monkeypox and to speak to your healthcare provider if you are showing symptoms.

Monkeypox spreads through direct contact with an infectious rash or bodily fluids. It can also be transferred by respiratory contact and can survive on environmental surfaces, especially in dark, cool, and low humidity environments. To protect yourself and others it’s important to disinfect potentially contaminated surfaces with an EPA registered disinfectant.

In May 2022 the US EPA activated its Emerging Viral Pathogens (EVP) Policy to allow registrants of disinfectants to make off-label claims against monkeypox virus. The qualified disinfectants must have an EPA stamped master label with an EVP claim for enveloped viruses. Buckeye International has a number of eligible disinfectants. The following products have demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to monkeypox virus on hard, non-porous surfaces. Therefore, these products can be used against monkeypox virus when used in accordance with the directions for use against the virus listed for each product in the table on hard, non-porous surfaces. Refer to the CDC for more information.

Product	Use as Directed Against This Virus
Buckeye Eco® Neutral Disinfectant E23	Adenovirus type 7 ATCC VR-7
Buckeye Eco One-Step Disinfectant-Deodorizer-Cleaner E22	Rotavirus, WA strain, University of Ottawa
Buckeye Sanicare Quat-256™	Adenovirus type 7, ATCC VR-7
Buckeye Sanicare Quat-128™	Adenovirus type 7, ATCC VR-7
Buckeye Sanicare Lemon Quat™	Adenovirus type 7, ATCC VR-7
Buckeye Sanicare Mint Quat™	Adenovirus type 7, ATCC VR-7
Buckeye Sanicare Pine Quat™	Adenovirus type 7, ATCC VR-7
Buckeye Terminator™	Rotavirus, WA strain, University of Ottawa
Buckeye Sani-Q2	Norovirus
Buckeye Sanicare TBX™	Human Rotavirus or Rhinovirus Type 39
Sanicare Disinfecting Wipes	Rotavirus
Buckeye Sanicare Quat-64™	Rotavirus
Buckeye Watchdog™ NF	Feline Picornavirus

The reported number of monkeypox cases has risen rapidly over the course of the last month. It’s important to have a disinfection plan for your facility to help prevent the spread of this virus. Contact your local Buckeye representative for more information about Buckeye disinfectants, proper product usage, and combatting monkeypox.

Due to the high risk of the spread of HAIs, the Joint Commission recognizes individual failure to follow hand hygiene procedures during point of care as a deficiency. Point of Care refers to the moments when healthcare workers are in contact with patients and are at the highest risk of spreading infections. If a deficiency is recognized, it will result in a Requirement for Improvement (RFI) under the Infection Prevention and Control (IC) chapter for all Joint Commission accredited programs. All RFIs must be addressed before an organization is accredited.

Facilities can increase hand hygiene compliance, reduce the spread of germs, and improve HCAHPS scores with Symmetry^® Point of Care items. Symmetry Point of Care items give healthcare workers easy access to hand hygiene opportunities while working directly with patients.

5 Moments for Hand Hygiene

The World Health Organization has identified 5 moments for hand hygiene. These 5 moments define key times when healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene. This evidence-based, field-tested, user-centered approach is designed to be easy to learn, logical and applicable in a wide range of settings, including at point of care.

1. Before Patient Contact – Clean your hands before touching a patient when approaching him or her.
2. Before Aseptic Task – Clean your hands immediately before performing a clean/aseptic procedure.
3. After Body Fluid Exposure Risk – Clean your hands immediately after an exposure risk to body fluids (and after glove removal).
4. After Patient Contact – Clean your hands immediately after touching a patient and his or her immediate surroundings when leaving.
5. After Contact with Patient Surroundings – Clean your hands after touching any object or furniture in the patient’s immediate surroundings, when leaving – even without touching the patient.

Point of Care Tools 

The Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program’s Point of Care Tools are designed to be readily available as a healthcare professional cares for a patient. During the 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene, Symmetry’s Point of Care Tools keep hand sanitizer nearby for ease of use.

In hospitals, often the most contaminated high touch surfaces are bed rails, bed surfaces, supply carts, over-bed tables, and intravenous pumps. Point of Care Tools can be placed on or near these surfaces to provide healthcare workers, patients, and visitors the opportunity to clean their hands immediately after contact.

Symmetry Point of Care Tools include 50 ml Tray Table/W.O.W.s, 550 ml Suction Cups, 50 ml Lanyards, 50 ml Suction Cups, and 550 ml Anesthesia Cart Brackets.

Contact your local Buckeye representative to find out more information about Symmetry’s Point of Care Tools and how Symmetry can improve hand hygiene compliance in your healthcare facility. 

What steps can you take to increase hand hygiene compliance, reduce the spread of germs, and enhance the safety of the patient population?

The Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program provides the tools to help stop the reduce of HAIs (Healthcare Associated Infections), including employee-preferred hand hygiene products, Behavior Modification tools, and Point of Care tools.

Symmetry products clean and are less likely to contribute to dry hands. They don't leave a sticky residue and reduce common disease-causing bacteria. When surveyed, 97% of healthcare workers prefer Symmetry products over their previous hand hygiene products. They are gentle on hands, leave them feeling soft and refreshed, and rinse easily making it easy to apply gloves.

In addition to providing the best products for clinicians, Symmetry knows that one of the best ways to encourage hand hygiene compliance is through the use of other tools such as the Symmetry Behavior Modification System (SBMS). Symmetry Behavior Modification tools include colored dispensers, Behavioral Driver Placards, and signs with messages designed to maximize hand hygiene practices.

Symmetry also offers Visual Lighting Cues (VLCs) for dispensers. The American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) published a study that measured hand hygiene compliance using visual lighting cues. The study concluded that a flashing light affixed to hand hygiene dispensers drew attention to the dispenser, and approximately doubled hand hygiene compliance.

For healthcare facilities looking to improve hand hygiene compliance to reduce the spread of germs, utilizing Symmetry’s Behavior Modification tools can draw attention to opportunities for hand hygiene, but Behavior Modification tools are not the only way to improve hand hygiene practices. Symmetry also offers Point of Care tools for moments when healthcare workers are in contact with patients and at the highest risk of spreading germs.

Point of Care tools are specifically designed so that healthcare workers have access to hand sanitizer during the 5 moments for hand hygiene. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines these moments as before patient contact, before aseptic task, after body fluid exposure, after patient contact, and after contact with patient surroundings.

Symmetry’s Point of Care tools include 50 ml patient tray table/ W.O.W. clips, 550 ml suction cup, 50 ml lanyard, 50 ml suction cup, and 550 ml anesthesia cart bracket. For nurses and other healthcare workers coming in contact with patients, these tools make hand hygiene products immediately available and convenient.

A complete hand hygiene program provides all the tools necessary to reduce the spread of germs and bacteria in healthcare facilities. Tools that can spread awareness and simplify the hand hygiene process for workers can assist in creating a cleaner environment for patients, visitors, and staff members.

For more information on the kinds of tools Symmetry can provide to healthcare facilities, contact your local Buckeye representative.

According to a study done by Infection Control Today, floors and soles of shoes are real sources of pathogen contamination and transmission. The American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) states that hospital rooms are frequently contaminated with pathogens, and high-touch objects are frequently in contact with the floor. Contact with objects on floors frequently results in transfer of pathogens to hands.

The cleanliness of hospital floors can make a huge impact on the spread of HAIs (Healthcare-Associated Infections) in healthcare facilities. Disinfecting floors is vital to the health of patients, staff members, and visitors, but there’s more you can do for your floors between cleanings. To counteract bacteria growth on floors, Buckeye has developed Clarion^® 25 floor finish with Microban^® technology.

Microban technology is built-in antimicrobial product protection that gives products an added level of protection against damaging microbes such as bacteria, mold, and, mildew. In Clarion 25, Microban helps prevent bacteria from multiplying on your floor, keeping floors cleaner, longer.

Clarion 25 is one of several Buckeye floor finishes formulated with Renaissance^® Performance Polymers. Renaissance makes polymers specifically for Buckeye floor finishes, guaranteeing consistent durability and clarity. The shine of Buckeye floor finishes can help create a welcoming environment for hospital visitors and guests.

Built on standardized cleaning procedures, the Buckeye Hard Floor Care Program has all of the tools you need to keep visitors comfortable. The floor care procedures make floor maintenance a quick and easy task for staff members. Buckeye’s top scrub and recoat program helps reduce the amount of labor that goes into floor care by extending strip outs. This means you can devote more time to other hospital maintenance needs.

For healthcare facilities, reducing HAIs and providing a comfortable environment for patients and visitors are top priorities. Keeping facilities welcoming starts with cleaner, clearer floors. To find out more about how the Buckeye Hard Floor Care Program can impact your facility floors, contact your local Buckeye representative.

This week is International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW). The goal of IIPW is to raise awareness of the role infection prevention plays in improving patient safety.

The theme for this year’s IIPW is Protecting Patients Everywhere. With a theme this broad, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) is promoting topics ranging from the use of antibiotics to proper hand hygiene. Protecting Patients Everywhere is about protecting patients and others through the continuum of care.

The Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program can help you improve infection prevention in your facility. Following proper hand hygiene steps is one of the best ways to help improve patient well-being. Symmetry has all of the hand hygiene tools you’ll need to improve hand hygiene practices in your facility.

Symmetry products reduce common disease-causing bacteria, making them a reliable choice for facilities looking to stop the spread of disease. More than that, Symmetry products are gentle on your hands.

However, having the proper products available in your facility isn’t enough. This is why the Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program comes with tools to help motivate people to keep their hands clean. Its education and awareness tools include things like posters and wall charts, designed to explain the “How” and “Why” of proper hand hygiene. Symmetry also utilizes behavioral science to create unique placards and signs with messages designed to inspire and maximize hand hygiene practices.

For IIPW, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is focusing on infection prevention throughout the continuum of care. Symmetry provides Point of Care tools for healthcare facility workers to use throughout care for a patient. Suction cups, brackets, and lanyards make it possible to access hand sanitizer while workers are in contact with patients and are at the highest risk of spreading germs.

The Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program is just one of many ways your facility can work to reduce the spread of germs. International Infection Prevention Week happens every third week of October, but infection prevention is a year-round job. Check out all of the tools APIC provides to keep you informed about infection prevention on their website.