Hand Hygiene Centre for Excellence

L-R - Professor Paul Johnson (Austin Health), Alison McMillan, (formerly Director, Quality Safety and Patient Experience, Dept of Health Vic) Phil Russo (National Program Manager HHA), Professor Didier Pittet, (Lead, WHO First Global Patient Safety Challenge, University of Geneva Hospitals), Dr Marilyn Cruickshank, (Clinical Policy Manager | Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care), Professor Chris Baggoley (Chief Medical Officer and formerly CEO ACSQHC), Dr Brendan Murphy, (CEO Austin Health), Mr Tim Daly, (Chair, Austin Health Board), Professor Lindsay Grayson (Director HHA).

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently awarded Hand Hygiene Australia and Austin Health the ‘Hand Hygiene Centre for Excellence’ award in a special presentation on November 9th 2011. The award was presented to Professor Lindsay Grayson, Director of Hand Hygiene Australia, by Professor Didier Pittet, Director of WHO First Global Patient safety Challenge: Clean care is Safer care program. Professor Pittet is responsible for the implementation of the WHO ‘5 Moments for Hand Hygiene’ program throughout the world. This award sees Hand Hygiene Australia become one of four centres to be honoured worldwide. The award not only recognises the ground breaking and national leadership work done by Hand Hygiene Australia but also the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) in implementing the National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI). At the presentation, Professor Pittet noted that the NHHI is considered to have set the benchmark internationally for its breadth, detail and rigour in improving hand hygiene in both public and private hospitals. Chief Medical Officer Australia, and former CEO of the ACSQHC, Professor Chris Baggoley congratulated the Hand Hygiene Australia team and looked forward to further improvements in hand hygiene. Hand Hygiene Australia would like to acknowledge the hard work of all those involved in the NHHI in hospitals across Australia. Participation in the NHHI requires leadership, collaboration, education, data collection, collation analysis and feedback. The dedication of all those involved in infection prevention has contributed significantly to the success of the NHHI.

L-R Professor Paul Johnston (Austin Health), Sally Havers (HHA), Phil Russo (National Program Manager HHA), Prof. Dider Pittet (WHO), Kaye Bellis (HHA), Kate Ryan (HHA ), Kel Heard (HHA), Professor Lindsay Grayson (Director HHA)

Welcome to Hand Hygiene Australia

The National Hand Hygiene Initiative

Health care associated infections (HCAI) are a major and growing issue in the quality and safety of health care, in both the hospital and community settings.  HCAIs require urgent national consideration and action. 

HCAIs have been nominated as a priority area by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC). Improved healthcare worker hand hygiene (HH) is the highest priority area to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections. Reliable indicators of HH compliance are essential, and mechanisms for the wider implementation and monitoring are required.

The purpose of the National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) is to develop a national approach to improving HH and monitor its effectiveness. This initiative is based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) - World Alliance for Patient Safety campaign – “Clean Care is Safer Care” launched in 2005.  On the 5th May 2009 WHO relaunched their campaign as "Save Lives: Clean Your Hands" . 

    
A message from Prof. M. Lindsay Grayson, Director of Hand Hygiene Australia
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