The World Health Organization’s challenge Clean Care is Safer Care was launched worldwide in October 2005 and aims at raising awareness of healthcare associated infections as an important priority for patient safety.
Canada has joined the Global Patient Safety Challenge and has committed to participate in the Clean Care is Safer Care initiative.
Canada's original Hand Hygiene campaign was developed based on discussions with healthcare providers, unit managers, Infection Prevention and Control Professionals and senior healthcare leaders such as hospital CEO's and directors of healthcare facilities across Canada. “STOP! Clean Your Hands” – was introduced during the opening ceremonies of the 2007 National Education Conference of the Community and Hospital Infection Control Association-Canada (CHICA-Canada) in Edmonton. Since that time, 266 organizations have participated in various aspects of the campaign with 12 partners also joining.
In 2009 a variety of activities commenced in an effort to update and enhance the tools and resources that are available at www.handhygiene.ca. A Human Factors Toolkit was completed in conjunction with the University Health Network 's Health Human Factors Group and 3M Canada and is now available. A section dedicated to supporting patients and families that includes a Patient Family Guide and other supportive materials has been developed to highlight the importance of patient and family engagement while offering information and resources about hand hygiene. Accreditation Canada has endorsed the development of an 'Accountability Tools and Resources' document as well as development of a guide to achieving the "Required Organizational Practices" specific to hand hygiene. A Canadian report describing some leading practices specific to hand hygiene is available and endorsed by CHICA-Canada. A new hand hygiene audit tool is also available.
STOP! CLEAN YOUR HANDS has moved from its early days as a campaign to what we now believe is a nation-wide grass roots movement. All health care workers who practice in all settings, from our senior leaders to our health care professionals, front line caregivers, allied health and support staff, need to recognize their unique contributions in both participating in optimal hand hygiene activities and supporting colleagues in meeting this challenge.
While appearing to be a simple activity, hand hygiene is an exceedingly complex cultural change to establish. However, it has the potential to become the cornerstone of a safe, high quality healthcare system.