Nearly 2 million cases of hospital-acquired infections are reported each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Doctors, nurses and technicians can spread germs during routine contact or invasive procedures. While the most adequate form of prevention is hand washing, it can be difficult to monitor.
One wristband may solve the problem by keeping tabs on your doctor's hygiene habits. A new bracelet developed by startup IntelligentM vibrates when the wearer has scrubbed enough and lets employers monitor their use.
The bracelet uses radio frequency identification to read tags on sanitizing and washing stations. An accelerometer detects how long someone spends cleaning their hands then sends an alert. One vibration signals adequate washing, while three buzzes indicate more time should be spent at the sink. Check out the video, above, for more.
The wristband could be a big improvement over the common alternative ways of ensuring good hygiene: secret observers implemented by hospitals to watch employees on the job, or patients asking all of their healthcare professionals to wash their hands every time they visit.
IntelligentM's wristband is less obtrusive and follows the wearer's motions to check whether they're adhering to proper hand hygiene standards. At the end of each shift, hospital administrators and staff can view collected data through a microUSB to monitor employee progress.
IntelligentM is targeting healthcare facilities with the device but is looking to expand to food service, another sector where hand washing can prevent the spread of diseases, according to MIT Technology Review.
What do you think of IntelligentM's wristband? Do you use any gadgets for hygiene? Let us know in the comments.
Image courtesy of Flickr, Arlington County
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