Loyola University Health System to Host Hand Hygiene Forum

Hand hygiene is the No. 1 defense against healthcare-acquired infections, and it is estimated that handwashing alone could prevent 20,000 patient deaths per year. Despite this, studies have shown that handwashing compliance among healthcare workers is poor.

As a leader in patient safety, Loyola University Health System in Maywood, Ill. will host a forum on March 10 with hand hygiene authority Didier Pittet, MD, MS, WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety advisory board member, as well as Mark R. Chassin, MD, FACP MPP, MPH, president of the Joint Commission. This forum will educate local healthcare leaders about proper handwashing techniques as well as provide strategies to overcome challenges to achieving a highly effective hand hygiene program.