A quality hand hygiene program is more than just quality hand sanitizer and hand wash. The products need to be easily dispensed and available for use in key areas throughout a facility.

Symmetry dispensers feature large sight windows for checking product levels, and hidden and keyed integrated lock options. The dispensers may be customized with your logo, message, and color. Symmetry also has Symmetry Visual Light Cue (VLC) dispensers that have a flashing light on them to draw attention to the dispensers and increase proper hand hygiene usage. A study done by the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) concluded that a flashing light increased compliance by 49%!

Symmetry dispensers can also be installed on Symmetry dispenser stands. Well-placed sanitizing stands promote the use of hand sanitizer, and help further reduce the spread of germs. Symmetry stands are best located in high traffic and highly visible areas such as front entrance foyers, patient waiting areas, elevator banks, and lunch rooms. Each stand is freestanding, 50 inches tall, weighs 30 lbs., and is available in black or white. Symmetry stands and dispensers are part of the Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program.

The Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program offers a complete set of customizable education and awareness tools to assist in creating a culture of hand hygiene. You can customize informative education and awareness pieces that focus on the “how” and “why” of proper hand hygiene. This includes wall charts, posters, handwashing videos, and product literature. There is also the Symmetry Behavior Modification System, SBMS, which uses behavioral science to drive hand hygiene practices. It incorporates 6 key tenets to inspire hand hygiene compliance including: Benevolence, Accountability, Responsibility, Variation, Emotion, and Direction. The goal of SBMS is to provide tools that capture attention in the moment, driving an immediate hand hygiene event to take place. Symmetry not only provides products for proper hand hygiene, but provides the awareness pieces and tools to understand it. Contact today to learn more.

Friends, family members, and healthcare professionals are coming together this week to celebrate International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW), October 16-22. This week raises awareness of the role infection prevention plays in improving patient safety. The theme for this year is “Break the Chain of Infection.” There are six main points at which the chain can be broken and a germ can be stopped from infecting another person. The six links are the infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. 

During this week you can go to the APIC website for tips, infographics, and resources to help you advocate and promote infection prevention. There are also polls and quizzes you can take to test you and your colleagues infection prevention knowledge. You can join the conversation later today during the Twitter chat at 2 p.m. and the Thunderclap on October 19 at 12 p.m. EDT. Be sure to use the hashtag #IIPWChat!

Everyone plays an important part in infection prevention. Unfortunately, there are germs inside and outside of the healthcare setting that can spread in different ways. Patients, families, and healthcare professionals can work together to stay healthy. You can start by cleaning your hands regularly with soap and water or hand sanitizer, asking about vaccines, becoming familiar with healthcare-associated infections, and asking questions when you go into any healthcare facility. Don’t be shy about speaking up for your care.

Outside the healthcare setting you can help avoid an infection from one of your closest companions, your cell phone. Never take your phone into the restroom and be sure to wipe your phone with an alcohol-based wipe periodically. Be sure to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and do not place your phone on surfaces such as bus seats or restroom floors. And, as always, clean your hands and keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Don’t forget that coming up is a week dedicated to raising awareness of the role infection prevention plays in improving patient safety. International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is the week of October 16-22. There will also be a Twitter chat hosted by AHA and APIC on October 17 at 2 p.m. EDT so be sure to join the conversation by using the hashtag #IIPWChat. The focus will be on this year’s IIPW theme, learning how to “Break the Chain of Infection.” You can also check out the “Break the Chain of Infection” podcast here.

International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is October 16-22. IIPW is an annual week of recognition each year dedicated to raising awareness of the role infection prevention plays in improving patient safety. It was established in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan and is now run by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). It is recognized all over the world, and the 2016 theme is: “Break the Chain of Infection”.

Break the Chain of Infection is about stopping the chain reaction of events that occurs when infections spread to others. Highlights of this year’s theme include speaking up for your care, keeping your hands clean, asking about safe injection practices, and more. Many times infections are preventable and you can learn how to be an infection preventionist. For helpful tools and more information on how you can be a part of IIPW you can check out the IIPW website. You can access sample social media posts, newsletter copy, ideas for hosting an IIPW event and other online resources. These resources are meant for children and adults so everyone can learn how to break the chain of infection any day. There will also be a Twitter chat on October 17 at 2 p.m. EDT so be sure to join the conversation.

The Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program offers a complete line of hand hygiene solutions to fully match the APIC guideline for infection prevention. Let your hands choose.

One of the many benefits of the Symmetry® Hand Hygiene Program is Symmetry dispensers. So what makes Symmetry dispensers so great? To start, the ergonomics of Symmetry dispensers combined with behavior modification placards and educational signs inspire hand hygiene, and won Symmetry an International Design Award.

Symmetry dispensers are ADA compliant, available with keyed and hidden locking options, have oversized sight windows for visual product inspection, and may be customized with your logo and color. Also, sight windows, covers, and levers can be replaced without having to take dispensers down.

Symmetry dispensers are also adaptable for both liquid and foam hand hygiene products so one dispenser meets all needs. This allows facilities to switch between Symmetry liquid and foaming products if they choose.

Symmetry hand hygiene product bags are flexible and hermetically sealed to ensure no contamination. They have a 99% evacuation rate, and each bag comes with a new pump.

Visit www.symmetryhandhygiene.com to learn more about the features and benefits of Symmetry dispensers.

The Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program offers multiple cost effective hand washes that can fit into any facility’s hygiene program. Symmetry products are available in hermetically sealed packages that are contaminate-free and allow for 99% product evacuation. Having proper hand washes at your facility can lead to reduced hand hygiene costs and increased hand hygiene awareness and compliance.

If you are looking for Green Seal^™ certified products, Symmetry has multiple hand wash options. You can choose from the Green Certified Liquid Hand Soap, Green Certified Foaming Hand Wash, and Green Certified Foaming Hand Wash Unscented. Each of these hand washes are biodegradable, free of all dyes, and certified by Green Seal to meet the GS41 standard. Symmetry Green Certified Foaming Hand Wash is a good option as a hand cleaner for general hand washing.

Two other hand wash options are Symmetry’s Antimicrobial Foaming Hand Wash and Antimicrobial Liquid Hand Wash. Both products contain 0.3% PCMX for the added benefit of germ killing. They also contain aloe and vitamin E leaving hands refreshed without any residue left behind — even with repeated use. They are available in a mild, fruity-floral fragrance and are perfectly suited for healthcare, hospitality, schools, exercise facilities, and veterinary facilities.

Symmetry also has Hair, Hand and Body Wash, Hair, Hand and Body Foaming Wash, and Industrial Hand Wash to choose from. Hair, Hand and Body Foaming Wash is another Green Seal certified product option for general use. The Industrial Hand Wash is the go-to hand wash for heavy-duty handwashing. It is gentle on skin and powerful on dirt, grease and grime, and it does not clog drains or pipes. It is perfectly suited for industrial facilities. No matter what your facility’s hand wash needs are, Symmetry has a product that can help deliver quality hand hygiene.

The Symmetry Hand Hygiene program has more than just effective hand washes. It offers a full line of hand washes, hand sanitizers, lotions, and dispensers complete with education, awareness and behavior modification tools, and training for all markets. The Symmetry Challenge invites you to evaluate the Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program against your current hand hygiene program and a program from a third party. A Symmetry representative will help you hold a product evaluation Expo at your facility and will work with you to create a survey for participants to fill out. After two weeks, results will be tallied and presented. You can also use the Symmetry Try & Buy Program to gather valuable feedback from the people using your hand hygiene products. Symmetry will install test dispensers, along with hand hygiene products, and surveying tools. The Symmetry dispensers will come with a feedback sticker on it so you can easily gather information. The goal is to find out your facility needs and needs of those using your hand hygiene products. That way your facility’s needs and your hand hygiene program become perfectly synced. Contact us today to learn more.

 

The largest exhibit hall in the world dedicated to infection prevention is soon approaching. APIC, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, will be held June 11-13 in Charlotte, NC. The 43^rd annual APIC conference will showcase innovative products and services from more than 250 companies and there will be over 60 education sessions and workshops offered over the course of 3 days.

APIC brings more than 2,500 clinical professionals from around the world together to share their knowledge of the latest research, science, and solutions to infection prevention issues. Attendees of APIC can learn about emerging issues and learn about the leading edge of science and technology, and experience hands-on demonstrations from the 250+ exhibits. You can hear from leading experts of international organizations, research facilities, government agencies, and other healthcare settings.

Proper hand hygiene plays an important role in infection prevention. Symmetry will be at booth #1135. Be sure to stop by and see us, and learn how to increase hand hygiene compliance rates at your facility with the Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program. Learn more about APIC 2016 http://ac2016.site.apic.org.

Proper hand hygiene is one of the most important steps in preventing illness and stopping the spread of germs to others. Handwashing keeps you from transferring germs to other areas of your body, other people, and the environment. The Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program offers a complete line of hand hygiene products, awareness and education tools, and training for your specific needs.

Are you unsure of your current hand hygiene program and looking for a switch? You can take the Symmetry Challenge and see the results for yourself. Symmetry challenges you to evaluate the Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program against your current hand hygiene program and a program from a third party. The steps are fairly simple but the results can be major. A Symmetry representative will help you hold a product evaluation Expo at your facility and will work with you to create a survey for participants to fill out. After two weeks, results will be tallied and presented.

You can also use the Symmetry Try & Buy Program to gather valuable feedback from the people using your hand hygiene products. Symmetry will install test dispensers, along with hand hygiene products, and surveying tools. The Symmetry dispensers will come with a feedback sticker on it so you can easily gather information. Once product testing and evaluation are complete you can meet with your Symmetry representative to review the results and feedback. The goal is to find out what is meeting the needs of your facility and those using your hand hygiene products. That way your facility’s needs and your hand hygiene program become perfectly synced.

Contact your Buckeye representative to learn more about the Symmetry Challenge/Try & Buy Program.