Protect Our Patients' kicks off

  • Published
  • By Maj. Pamela Brewer
  • 3rd MDG Performance Improvement
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The 3rd Medical Group DoD/VA Joint Venture Hospital joined a nationwide initiative designed to inform hospital patients and visitors about their role in infection prevention.

The hospital launched the "Protect Our Patients" campaign April 25, 2008. Hospital visitors will notice "Protect Our Patients" posters as they enter clinics and inpatient units within the hospital. People may also notice that staff members are wearing "Ask Me If I've Washed My Hands" buttons to promote hand hygiene awareness.

According to the Center for Disease Control, hand washing is the single most important way to prevent the spread of infection. Health care employees are not the only ones who play a major role in infection prevention.

The 3rd MDG is also asking patients and visitors to do their part. It is vital for hospital staff to set good examples of practicing standard infection precautions at all times. Visitors can help by cleaning their hands before entering and when leaving a patient's room. All are encouraged to remind hospital staff to wash their hands, too.

Every year thousands of people enter the 3rd MDG visiting patients or accompanying the ill or injured to emergency or outpatient services. Not all are aware of the steps they must take to prevent the spread of infection.

The "Protect Our Patients" (POP) Visitor Information Program provides them with this critical information. According to the 3rd MDG's Hospital Administrator and Deputy Commander, Col. Billy Cecil, "Hand hygiene is a priority at the 3rd Medical Group. We invite patients to be actively involved in their own care by joining us in this campaign. Patients should expect us to wash our hands and they have the right to remind us if we don't."

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology designed the POP Program, through the support of a generous health education grant from The Clorox Company. APIC is the leading provider of infection prevention expertise and education, with more than 11,000 members whose primary responsibility is infection prevention and control.