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Providence Health & Services launched a statewide campaign in October to educate employees, patients, visitors, and volunteers about the importance of clean hands.

Consistent hand washing is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of cold and flu germs, including the H1N1 virus, according to a release by PHS. The campaign includes adding 1,000 new hand sanitizer gel stations in Providence facilities. They are easily accessible to employees and visitors — near elevators, outside patient rooms, in lobbies, by chapels, and cafeterias. Staff are encouraging and expecting patients, visitors, and families to ask caregivers whether they have clean hands before every patient encounter.

Information cards and fliers at admitting desks double as hand-washing reminders, and an employee video and mandatory online health education class have been created for staff members. Hospital executives also participate in group gel-spritzing sprees during the lunch hour and at large employee gatherings such as department meetings.