The hygiene solution consists of two sets of RFID/IR-enabled devices. Staff members are issued badges embedded with the technologies; similar devices are placed on automated soap dispensers at hand-washing stations. When a staff member uses the dispenser, their badge is read by the dispenser’s device, which logs the details of the event, including time, location, and the identity of the hand-washer. For the benefit of the hand-washer, the system gives an audible acknowledgement that the event has been recorded.

Armed with the record of a hospital staff’s hand-washing efforts, management can spot potential hygiene issues and resolve them before problems occur. Extra hygiene education efforts can be focussed on units or shifts which the system shows are underperforming.