Rep. Brent testifies on bill to mandate patient hand hygiene education

COLUMBUS– State Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland) today gave sponsor testimony before the Ohio House Health Committee on House Bill (HB) 628, which would provide educational materials regarding proper hand hygiene to hospital patients and long-term care residents of healthcare facilities.

“This bill was introduced before the pandemic. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 239,000 Americans have died from coronavirus. The CDC has already laid out standards for hand hygiene, and it is past time for Ohio to utilize these standards for educating the public as well. Proper hand hygiene plays an essential role in helping to combat the spread of germs and illness,” said Rep. Brent.

This legislation would appropriate hand hygiene products and wash facilities that enable patients and residents to carry out the hand hygiene procedures included in the educational materials and guidelines at the following times:

• At meal times
• When entering and exiting an area of the facility where patient care is provided
• Before and after touching a wound or medical device
• After coughing or sneezing
• And after urinating or a bowel movement, regardless of whether one was using a bathroom, urinal, bed pan, bedside commode or other device.

The bill now awaits further hearings in the House Health Committee.