The 557-inpatient, 261-skilled nursing bed health system, which serves almost 700,000 people in more than 13 counties across Northeast Georgia, will enhance patient safety and healthcare quality through the implementation and use of the DebMed GMS electronic hand hygiene monitoring system to further support its goal of eliminating hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).
HAIs are the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they are responsible for 99,000 deaths per year and result in up to $45 billion in annual healthcare costs. The DebMed GMS helps to increase hand hygiene compliance, which can directly lead to a reduction in HAIs and associated healthcare costs, through its unique ability to provide real-time feedback on hand hygiene behavior.
"The ability of the DebMed GMS to provide automated, evidenced-based feedback in real time, based on the WHO's 'Five Moments,' was a natural fit with our goal of creating a culture of increased patient safety," said Sam Johnson, MD, Vice President, Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer of NGHS. "The implementation of the DebMed GMS is important to further support the hospital's mission to improve hospital performance and patient outcomes and to foster a safe hospital environment."
"Early adopters of patient safety technology, such as the Northeast Georgia Health System, are leading the change and setting the standard for other healthcare institutions to provide the highest level of patient safety," said Paul Alper, Vice President Strategy and Business Development, Deb Worldwide Healthcare, Inc. "We are excited to provide evidence-based information and tools, which encourage increased hand hygiene compliance, patient safety and healthcare quality."
http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/12/256138