Rep. Brent introduces hand hygiene education bill

COLUMBUS— Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland) today introduced legislation that would provide educational materials regarding proper hand hygiene to hospital patients and long-term care residents of healthcare facilities.

“This is a piece of legislation that was in the works prior to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rep. Brent. “I have been collaborating with Dr. Shanina Knighton on this bill to improve patient and resident hand hygiene. Good hand hygiene must be practiced now to help combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus. ”

Dr. Shanina Knighton, a clinical nurse scientist and a KL2 Scholar at Case Western Reserve University, furtheremphasized the need for hand hygiene education in healthcare facilities.

“I have witnessed firsthand that the lack of widespread patient hand hygiene education is a problem as I have continued to observe patients not cleaning their hands properly over the past decade,” said Dr. Knighton. “Legislation to support patient hand hygiene education in healthcare settings ensures that healthcare consumers know they have a right to practice while receiving care.” 

The educational materials would include appropriate hand hygiene procedures for patients and residents to independently practice. Healthcare staff would also assist patients and residents who are unable to carry out the hand hygiene procedures should they have a physical or mental health condition prohibiting them from safe practice.

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