Handwashing prevents infection. We have made this a top priority at North Shore-LIJ Health System and have started to monitor how we are doing. Each month a random sample of employees are observed to make sure they are adhering to proper handwashing procedures. The results that you see posted to the right are a combined rate of handwashing across all of our hospitals.

We would like everyone to wash their hands, and that includes our visitors. To help make this easier we have prominently placed kiosks with hand gels and foams in our lobbies and cafeterias, as well as in the patient care areas. Here are some of the other things that we have done to help prevent infection:

• Staff education on Infection Control at orientation, annually and as appropriate
• Use of ultra-violet light and specific hand gel to assist with hand hygiene education
• Hand hygiene contract and competency for all staff
• Hand hygiene computer screen savers

Please help us keep patients safe.

We ensure compliance with the Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goal for hand hygiene. A list of activities includes:

1. Hand hygiene posters placed at the entrance to the facility to remind staff and visitors of the importance of hand hygiene.
   Hand Hygiene: For Visitors (PDF format)
   Hand Hygiene: Different Languages (PDF format)
    
2. A telephone message when the telephone is placed on hold: “Thank you for holding. The health system is committed to safeguarding the health of our patients, family members, visitors and employees. Please partner with us to stop the spread of germs by washing your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand gel. Washing your hands frequently is one of the best defenses against illness.”