Handwashing Awareness Day Makes a Splash

Almost everywhere you went in the hospital on February 29, Handwashing Awareness Day, you could find reminders about the importance of thorough handwashing in preventing disease.

Members of the Handwashing Awareness Committee distributed 50 packages filled with soap samples and handwashing instructions to staff on the inpatient care units.

"Tents" appeared on each table in the Atrium cafeteria. They detailed Handwashing Day activities and the forthcoming Thursday, March 14th, Handwashing Olympics in the west Atrium cafeteria from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Also emphasized were the event's theme ­p; that handwashing is the singlemost important means of preventing the spread of infection ­p; and a reminder to visit the Rainbow Booth later that day.

There, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., you found staff answering people's questions about handwashing and giving out soap samples; buttons; stickers and handwashing information geared to both hospital visitors and the professional staff. Instructional videos were running continuously.

Overall, 1,500 soap samples were distributed, and the staff reported that the activities were motivating.

We're Bubbling Over With Thanks!

The Handwashing Awareness Committee salutes Mary Ann McGinley, RN, MSN, associate executive director for patient services, and Sheila A. Murphey, MD, hospital infection control officer, for encouraging and supporting the activities of the Handwashing Awareness Campaign.

For a job well done, we're grateful to these Jeffersonians who served as judges, along with the members of the Handwashing Awareness Campaign Committee (see JeffNEWS, March 1): Donna Ambrogi, RN, MSN, assistant nursing director; Murray J. Cohen, MD, clinical associate professor of surgery; Eleanor Gates, RN, MSN, assistant nursing director; Carol Kelly, RN, MSN, nursing research and evaluation coordinator; Geno J. Merli, MD, clinical professor of medicine; Sharon Millinghausen, RN, MSN, assistant nursing director; Thomas Nasca, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine, and Frank Naso, MD, professor of rehabilitation medicine.

Our gratitude goes to David Nash, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine and director of health policy and clinical outcomes, JMC, for acting as master of ceremonies.

We offer a special award for creativity to the members of the carpentry and plumbing shops, under the direction of Dan Vallieu, for creating a portable sink without which the Olympics couldn't have been held in the Atrium. This sink was made entirely of recycled materials.