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Running head: LEADERSHIP

Leadership Strategy Analysis

Danielle Bular & Nicole Isaak
Ferris State University

LEADERSHIP
Abstract
We hope to enlighten the reader about our quality improvement project. We are working
to show what could be avoided if everyone would comply with the mandatory requirement of
hand hygiene and what the results could be. The research explains the benefits of hand hygiene
and how it can change the outcome of our patient health. At present only research shows that
only 39% of health care workers comply with the mandatory hand hygiene. Healthcare workers
should be the first to demonstrate good hand hygiene and be an example to all others by
changing bad habits they currently have. We will help to give the reader an understanding of all
of the different aspects that would be involved in creating superior hand hygiene.

LEADERSHIP
Hand Hygiene Initiative
Health care-associated infection (HCAI) places a serious disease burden and has a

significant economic impact on patients and health-care systems throughout the world. Yet good
hand hygiene, the simple task of cleaning hands at the right times and in the right way, can save
lives (WHO, 2013). As healthcare workers, we are faced every day with the words do no
harm but to every nurse this means to provide the best possible care for patients while trying to
achieve the best possible outcome. Part of providing the best possible outcome means washing
our hands when we enter the patient's room, when our hands are visibly soiled and when we exit
the patients room. The ultimate goal of hand hygiene is to reduce the spread of infection and
multi-resistance germs, if healthcare workers follow the strict guidelines we can help prevent
healthcare associated infections (WHO, 2013). Hospital acquired infections can affect hundreds
of millions of people worldwide it is a global patient safety issue (WHO, 2013). Even though
hand hygiene is a simple task, healthcare workers are not always compliant with it.

Identify clinical need for hand hygiene

Healthcare associated infections account for approximately 80,000 deaths per year in the
United States (Rockville, 2013). Looking at a systemic review of worldwide incidences of
healthcare associated infections costs the hospitals between 28.4 to $33.8 billion in 2007
(Rockville, 2013). Hand hygiene initiatives are acknowledged by organizations such as Joint
Commission, World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC),
they recommend bad hygiene practices in improvement of compliance to help reduce healthcare
acquired infections (Rockville, 2013). Among healthcare workers, the hand hygiene practice
compliance is averaging very low at 39% (Rockville, 2013). It is thought that healthcare workers

LEADERSHIP

tend to underestimate the importance of hand hygiene compliance. There must be people in place
that are willing to advocate for better compliance with hand hygiene. It must be initiated at every
level in the healthcare setting. With this continuing to be a problem worldwide someone needs to
step up and be the change. If healthcare workers take a stand to be personally accountable to be
compliant with hand hygiene, we can be the first line of defense to reduce healthcare acquired
infections.

Designs an interdisciplinary team

It is essential to find team members who have current skills that include team players,
excellent listeners, good communicators, and problem solver (HRSA, 2005). People who are
frustrated with the current situation and ready for change, have a creative idea to offer change,
and are flexible and focused for improvement (HRSA, 2005). When developing a team to assess
the problem with hand hygiene and improve the outcome you need to look for the above
qualities. There must be defined roles and responsibilities of all the team members, this must
include a designated team leader who fully understands the processes of improvement, a team
facilitator who would assist the team leader and team members. Team members must include a
provider or physician who can help give an understanding of the problem. Part of working
together as a team includes forming, storming, norming and performing. These are each a vital
part of understanding each of the team members and working together for a change.

Data collection method

There is a few ways to go about collecting data. First it can be collected by directed
observation, this can be good to a point but it can have misinterpretation if health care providers

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cannot be watched consistently. The second way would be self-reporting; this could help the
team understand what they can do to improve a facility to promote hand hygiene. For example,
having alcohol based hand foam right next to the door or having prompts before walking in and
out of the door.