Integrated Technology: Touchless Water and Liquid Soap Dispensing system
When hospitals or clinics are constructing or renovating facilities, installing this innovative hand-washing system can highlight the institution’s commitment to hygiene and patient safety.
The dual sensor hands-free soap and water dispensing faucet is sink-mounted, is easy to use, can be readily installed, and can be made at relatively low cost without requiring additional battery power. Such an integrated, touchless system assists in cleanliness, conserves energy and resources while reducing transmission of diseases.
Patient Safety is Paramount
According to the CDC, medical staff clean their hands LESS THAN HALF OF THE TIMES THEY SHOULD to prevent the spread of infection. This lack of compliance with hand-washing protocols contributes to the spread of infections in hospitals, a problem the CDC estimates afflicts one in 25 hospital patients.
With such serious concern over this compliance issue, why are we introducing MORE bacteria through touching common surfaces?
The Widespread use of Sensor Technology Faucets in our homes, public spaces and healthcare settings could prevent the spread of infection
Designed with Experience
The Touchless Water and Liquid Soap Dispensing Faucet was designed by an experienced Nurse Manager in collaboration with facility leaders at a major medical center in California. It improves on existing touchless hand-washing faucets by giving users the ability to control the flow of soap and water. A small hydropower generator eliminates the need to replace batteries, ensuring 100% availability for the vital job of washing hands.
More Hygiene Facts
- Although door handles are often believed to be the dirtiest touch-point in the restroom, sink areas are actually more germ-laden as this is where bacteria and organism are shed from hands during washing (NCBI.nlm.nih.gov: Microbial biogeography of public restroom surfaces)
- Cross Contamination tests done by The American Society for Microbiology detected on ward hand wash station surfaces bacteria such E. Coli and other more dangerous resistant strains
- Faucet/dispenser handles are likely to be contaminated with resistant strains such as C. Difficile emphasizing environmental contamination effects on pathogen spread. Many of these types of bacteria isolated also have long time survival capacities that can easily infect the next user (Craig Hospital .org)
- Although Manual soap dispensers can be inexpensive, easy to install and are used before hand washing, proper hand washing occurs only about half as often as it should and usually for a shorter duration than recommended (APIC’s Guideline for Hand washing and Hand Antisepsis in Health Care Settings)
- By eliminating one potential source of germs, touchless dispensers can help reduce the spread of unwanted organisms
- It only takes one outbreak by a resistant organism to change our world. It is only a matter of time before we encounter another wave such as the recent Ebola Outbreak…
- A Washington Post editorial argues on January 25, 2016: “Global community 'has massively underestimated' risks of pandemic…The next Ebola will come—and the US isn't ready.”
- According to the CDC, the 2018 Flu season is now as bad as the swine flu epidemic nine years ago. A new government report shows one of every 13 visits to the doctor last week was for fever, cough and other symptoms of the flu. That ties the highest level seen in the U.S. during swine flu in 2009. And it surpasses every winter flu season since 2003, when the government changed the way it measures flu. (CDC.gov/flu/weekly/Index). There have been 10 pediatric deaths to date…
- A whooping cough outbreak comes every 3-5 years. The CDC reports that an increase in the number of cases will likely be the “new normal.” It’s last outbreak in 2014 killed 10 infants (helathline.com/health/worst-disease-outbreaks-history#Overview1)
- Protecting our patient’s safety has never been more important
About Me
Sarah Montague RN BSN
I’m an R.N. who has worked for nearly a decade at hospitals and medical centers in the San Francisco Bay Area. In my roles as Nurse and Nurse Manager, I became gravely concerned about the amount of Hospital Acquired Infections that occur. I also know how difficult it can be for busy nurses, doctors and other medical staff to wash their hands adequately after each patient visit. I invented the Touchless Water and Liquid Soap Dispensing Faucet in collaboration with a major Northern Californian Medical Facility to decrease infection rates and increase compliance with hand-washing guidelines.
I would love to talk with you about how we can bring about a new era in infection control in healthcare settings.