03/24/2022
Survey Tip of the Week: Hand Hygiene
The infection control F-tag 880 continues to be the second highest cited F-tag in Ohio for FY 2022. Hand hygiene is a common reason for the citations both prior to the pandemic and with the current citations. Not performing hand hygiene between clean and dirty procedures is a common citation. Examples include a nurse not performing hand hygiene after removing a dressing and before applying a new dressing. Not cleaning the glucometer (blood glucose monitoring machine) properly between uses continues to be cited. The infection control survey pathway guides the surveyor to observe that staff perform hand hygiene (even if gloves are used) in the following situations:
- Before and after contact with the resident;
- After contact with blood, body fluids, or visibly contaminated surfaces;
- After contact with objects and surfaces in the resident’s environment;
- After removing personal protective equipment (e.g., gloves, gown, eye protection, facemask); and
- Before performing a procedure such as an aseptic task (e.g., insertion of an invasive device such as a urinary catheter, manipulation of a central venous catheter, and/or dressing care). When being assisted by staff, resident hand hygiene
LeadingAge Ohio encourages facilities to utilize the LTC survey pathways to monitor for compliance. The survey pathways can be found on the CMS Nursing Home webpage, under the download section, and within the zip file called LTC Survey Pathways.
For more information about the citations occurring in Ohio, please join us on the monthly STAT: Survey Tips and Tactics call. Register now for the April 13 call at 10:00am.
As Ohio annual survey restarted in January, LeadingAge Ohio is sharing tips to assist members during the survey process. Send questions you’d like addressed in future Tips of the Week to Stephanie DeWees at sdewees@leadingageohio.org.
