Hand Hygiene

How the System Works

To monitor hand washing and improve compliance, Xhale has designed a system that is easy to use and gives confirmation that employees have washed their hands.  Incorporating wireless identification technology, the compliance system indentifies employees when they approach any hand wash dispenser.  When they apply handrub or soap to their hands, a special sensor at the dispenser automatically detects the presence of the handwash. Instantly, upon detection, a green LED badge worn by the employee who has just washed his or her hands receives a signal to illuminate. The bright green LED indicates that the hands have been washed. The system records in a central database each instance of an employee washing his or her hands, including when and where the hand washing occurred. When the employee approaches a patient bed, the system records the interaction, including whether the employee’s indicator badge was green (washed) or unwashed. When the employee leaves the patient’s proximity, the green light on the indicator badge is turned off, requiring re-washing to reactivate the light. The data on hand washing and patient interaction allows the hospital’s infectious disease staff to monitor hand washing compliance and non-compliance, which enables more effective training and follow-up.

For employees: the system requires no additional effort beyond hand washing

For employers: compliance is uploaded to a central computer making reporting easy

For the public: seeing a green light on the employee name tag gives them peace of mind knowing that employee has washed their hands.