MidCentral DHB Scoop Top Spot in Video Competition

Hand Hygiene New Zealand
Media Release

16 October 2012

Caring about Hand Hygiene Earns MidCentral DHB Top Spot in Video Competition

From bugs and busters, to singing, dancing, and cleverly designed Lego videos; competition was stiff between teams vying to win Hand Hygiene New Zealand’s (HHNZ) national hand hygiene video competition.

After five months of planning, rehearsing and filming by teams, HHNZ is delighted to announce that MidCentral District Health Board’s Infection Prevention Control and Associates team has scooped top prize – $1000 for charity – with their toe-tappingly catchy Hand Hygiene I Care video.

Following very closely behind, taking out runner-up status and $200 of cinema tickets, is South Canterbury District Health Board’s Bug Busters team, with its bug-tastically enthusiastic Timaru Hand Wash video.

According to Dr Joshua Freeman, Clinical Lead for the HHNZ programme, the time, effort and energy each of the eleven teams put into their videos was outstanding.

“We called for videos that were fun, innovative, and that compelled viewers to watch and learn about the five moments for hand hygiene and its importance to patient safety. And that’s exactly what we got,” said Dr Freeman.

“The standard of entries made it extremely difficult to choose a winner. Judges felt that MidCentral DHB’s video had an exceptional balance of hand hygiene education and entertainment, which is important for engaging and educating audiences about when hand hygiene should be performed. The lyrics of the song were particularly clever.

“Timaru’s Bug Buster team was extremely enjoyable to watch with its infectious agents invading the hospital and healthcare workers showing how hand hygiene is important to keep patients safe. Congratulations to all teams for their hard work,” he added.

As the winners, MidCentral DHB’s IPC and Associates team will donate HHNZ’s charitable donation of $1000 to the Palmerston North Hospital Medical Trust, which provides support for patient welfare, hospital equipment, and professional development for staff within MidCentral Health.

“We are very excited – it was thrilling to find out we had won the competition,” says Anne Jaques, Clinical Nurse Specialist on the IPC team at MidCentral DHB and video team leader.

“We saw the video competition as a great opportunity to showcase hand hygiene and infection prevention and control to our hospital staff. We wanted to employ some humour into a subject that’s not on everybody’s radar and to involve participation from clinical staff in other areas to increase awareness,” added Anne.

Hand hygiene is one of the most important measures in the fight against healthcare associated infections, making it a key patient safety issue within New Zealand hospitals.

The HHNZ video competition sought to encourage teamwork and collaboration, through which hospital-based healthcare workers would learn about the importance of hand hygiene to patient safety, as well as when hand hygiene should be performed.

Videos will now be used in a variety of ways by District Health Boards and HHNZ as a promotional and educational resource. To view all videos entered as part of the HHNZ video competition click here.

Hand Hygiene New Zealand is one component of the Health Quality and Safety Commission’s (the Commission) Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme, which aims to reduce healthcare associated infections. The HHNZ programme is delivered by Auckland District Health Board on behalf of the Commission. Visit www.hqsc.govt.nz for more information about the IPC programme or www.handhygiene.org.nz for information about the HHNZ programme.

ENDS

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