Clean Hands Monitor

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) cause approximately 100,000 deaths each year in the United States alone, many of which may be avoidable through better hand-washing. Recently a new product was introduced that can tell healthcare workers if they are properly sanitizing their hands according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) specifications.

The wristband device contains a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, which detects RFID tags at hand-washing stations, outside patient rooms, and on certain types of equipment to alert workers to clean their hands. A built-in accelerometer monitors hand movements to determine how much time has been spent washing, and buzzes once if it’s adequate, three times if it’s not. Data can also be collected through a microUSB at the end of each shift to analyze the hand-washing routines of individual employees.

In the future, the company is considering expanding their marketing to the food service industry as well as consumers for teaching children proper hand-washing techniques.