Posted: May 4th, 2012 - 3:48pm
Source: Canadian Press

All Nova Scotia health authorities will have to report hand washing rates to the province's Department of Health and make them public, under legislation proposed Thursday.
Health Minister Maureen MacDonald said the province's nine health boards already monitor hand washing rates and report to a national safety body, but there is no uniform reporting method in order to compare rates within Nova Scotia.
MacDonald said the province's health system needs to do a better job of measuring hygiene rates.
"If you are not measuring the problem then it's very difficult to fix the problem," she said.
"We can make improvements, we should make improvements and this gives us the framework to ensure that happens and it's more apparent and transparent."
MacDonald said the goal is to eventually expand reporting to include hospital infection rates and the immunization of health-care workers.
Tammy MacDonald, the infection prevention manager for the Capital District Health Authority, said she thinks it's a good idea.