Posts by Mika at DCC-Online

Clarification about the Miami Hand Hygiene Project

All of your comments and questions are great. I am the marketing manager for the systems integrator who provided this solution to the UM-JMH Center for Patient Safety. I have answered a few of your questions and concerns below.

QUESTION

Jason Bloomberg: it does seem fair to use a tiered warning system, a discrete beep to warn the doctor first so they can rectify their mistake or over-sight before it becomes a danger, or when a system failure hasn't logged use of the hygiene facilities.

ANSWER

This is all being tested currently. The system is cabable of issuing an audible and/or visible alert through virtually any electronic system. Miami is testing the audible alert, vibration to the pager and flashing light options.

QUESTION

Jason Bloomberg: Making false claims in a very public manner which brings a professional's reputation into disrepute opens the door to a defamation action for slander. I wonder how they deal with that aspect of things ?

ANSWER

This has been considered. Rest assured that the Center required a 100 percent accuracy threshold. Stay tuned to my blog for the results. Also, this is being tested in one small area right now. It is not announced to an entire ward -- just within the room to gently remind the clinician to wash his/her hand BEFORE an adverse event occurs. As stated before, we are also testing other methods of alerting staff if they forget to wash their hands before approaching a patient.

QUESTION

zerofool2005: But what I think would be better is that while the doctor is in range of the bed but not the dispenser the tag knows hes dealing with a patient. If he walks out of range the tag bleeps to tell him to wash his hands you dirty mofo.

ANSWER

You will be happy to know that the system does in fact do this. Again, you are welcome to visit our site and see the short flash demo showing how the system works. The flash demo can be viewed at http://www.dynamicrfidsolutions.com/solutions/preventing_HAIs.php.

I would be happy to provide more information to interested parties upon request. You may email me at mlofton@dcc-online.com with questions or if you are considering testing such a system in your health care facility.

Cut and paste www.DynamicRFIDSolutions.com/Blog

There are details and a flash demo showing how the system works on our site. I would encourage anyone interested to subscribe to the blog, as updates will be posted there first when the data are available from this study/pilot.

I am happy to provide more information to interested parties upon request. You may email me at mlofton@dcc-online.com with questions or if you are considering testing such a system in your health care facility.

Thank you for discussing your thoughts on this. Feel free to comment on our blog as well.

MIKA LOFTON

Dynamic Computer Corporation

Farmington Hills, MI USA