New Hand Hygiene Program Has Launched!

We have just launched the new Hand Hygiene Program, which provides health care organizations with updated guidance and practical resources to strengthen hand hygiene practices.

Hand hygiene at the right moments and with the proper technique is an important part of preventing infections, however maintaining consistent practices can be challenging in busy health care environments.

This new program, which replaces the former long-standing Just Clean Your Hands (JCYH) program, is evidence-based and theory-informed and is designed to help health care organizations achieve and sustain improvements in hand hygiene. It builds on foundational practices while addressing the practical, environmental and behavioural factors that influence hand hygiene in health care settings.

The program includes an Implementation Guide and practical resources focused on four complementary strategies:

• Education: Reinforcing why, when and how to perform hand hygiene.
• Environmental supports: Ensuring hand hygiene products are accessible, fully stocked and functional.
• Habit formation: Helping health care workers build consistent hand hygiene practices into their daily routines.
• Team-based problem solving: Supporting leaders, role models and frontline staff in identifying barriers and developing practical solutions.

Auditing resources are also available to support measurement and ongoing quality improvement.

Together, these strategies provide a coordinated approach that supports individual practice, team involvement and improvements to the care environment. Organizations can use the program as a whole or select the resources that best support their setting, priorities, existing hand hygiene program and local improvement needs. Organizations wishing to formally adapt or modify a PHO resource should submit a request to Communications@oahpp.ca.