Bare Below the Elbow Project

Mrs Ning An¹

¹Balmain Hospital, Sydney , Australia

Practicing  good hand hygiene, which includes the use of alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) or handwashing, is a simple yet effective way to prevent the spread of pathogens including COVId-19 virus  and infections in healthcare settings. Bare Below the Elbows is an initiative aiming to improve the effectiveness of hand hygiene performed by health care workers.in early 2021,  Bare below Audit audit has  been performed  in 5 Wards at Balmain hospital that indicated 58 %  of compliance rate.  A quality improvement Project was undertaken at Balmain hospital to improve the effective hand hygiene  and increase patient safety.

Multimodal and multidisciplinary strategies provide the greatest chance of success in  effective HH improvement and risk associated with HAI. The Multimodal intervention  consisted of : identified gap, training/education of health care workers, poster reminders,  development of  good hand hygiene culture  “Bare below Elbow champions”, evaluation and feedback for monthly Bare Below elbow Audit and observation quiz for patients.   The Multimodal improvement strategy  at Balmain hospital has substantial positive’s effects on Bare Below Elbow  compliance; Bare below Elbow  compliance rates for Balmain  exceeded the 80% after 3 month  and will have substantial effects. This quality improvement project has not only increased the compliance rate  for  the “ Bare Below the elbow ” for effective hand hygiene, but also improved communication, workflows and created a positive culture for patient and staff safety.

Biography:

I have completed the course of certificate in Immunization in 2015 from SA health, the course of certificate in immunization from Australia College of Nursing in 2019, the course of certificate in National COVID-19 Vaccination Training, Post Graduate Certificate in Infection Prevention and Control at Griffith University in 2016 and Master of Clinical Nursing.

I as Staff health Nurse / Infection Control Clinic Nurse in IPM in FH & FSH and Staff health Nurse / Infection Control Clinical Nurse specialist  at Balmain hospital have gained extensive knowledge and experience in in various aspects of  IPM  and  staff Health.