Healthcare organizations are navigating a period of heightened complexity. With cold and flu season underway, staffing shortages, rising operational costs, evolving regulatory requirements, and the relentless threat of emerging pathogens are converging to create new challenges for hospitals and long-term care (LTC) facilities alike. In this environment, even a single lapse in hygiene can have outsized effects – on patient safety, operational efficiency, and a facility’s financial health.
Today’s healthcare leaders must do more with less, all while maintaining consistently high standards for infection prevention. Recent industry data shows that average hospital margins remain below 3%, while LTC occupancy hovers around 80% – well below pre-pandemic levels. These tight margins mean that preventable setbacks, such as healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), can quickly escalate into significant operational and financial risks.
The urgency is only increasing: nearly 50% of HAIs are tied to poor hand hygiene. With new regulations on the horizon, including CMS fines for every infection-related hospital readmission – projected to reach $30 million annually across the LTC sector – the cost of complacency is too high for any organization to ignore.
Proactive hygiene: a foundation for safer, more efficient care
Forward-thinking facilities are responding by adopting data-driven hygiene strategies that go beyond compliance. Tork, an Essity brand and global leader in professional hygiene, partners with healthcare organizations to implement solutions that address the root causes of infection risk, streamline operations, and support staff and patient well-being.
- Mitigating infection risk: Tork provides solutions designed to address key gaps in hand hygiene education and compliance. Improving accessibility and promoting proper hand hygiene practices along with effective solutions may help reduce pathogen transmission in healthcare settings by up to 50%.
- Driving compliance and efficiency: Digital tools like Tork Vision Cleaning provide real-time insights into dispenser usage and supply levels, helping teams optimize resources and maintain readiness. Notably, 88% of healthcare managers agree that digital solutions help fill staffing gaps. These tools can also reduce dispenser checks by 91% - saving hundreds of staff hours per year.
- Protecting financial health: Standardizing hygiene practices and leveraging data enable facilities to minimize the likelihood of costly readmissions and regulatory penalties, while also reducing waste and supporting sustainability.
- Supporting staff and patient well-being: User-friendly, intuitive solutions empower staff to focus on direct care and help foster a safe, welcoming environment for patients and residents. In fact, 96% of healthcare professionals agree that hygiene products can simultaneously support sustainability and patient safety.
These strategies are not just theoretical – they are delivering results in real-world settings. At Wynn Hospital in Utica, New York, Tork supported the successful opening of a new facility by standardizing hygiene protocols, optimizing dispenser placement for efficiency, and helping maintain high infection prevention standards from day one.
As Deborah Chung, Healthcare Segment Manager, Professional Hygiene at Essity, notes, “Facilities that prioritize proactive hygiene management are better equipped to protect patients, support staff, and maintain financial resilience. The right approach to hygiene isn’t just about compliance – it’s about building safer, more resilient organizations.”
Key actions for healthcare procurement leaders
To ensure your facility is prepared for the ongoing demands of infection prevention and operational efficiency, consider these actionable steps:
- Audit current hand hygiene practices and leverage data-driven tools to identify improvement opportunities.
- Invest in high-capacity, touch-free dispensing systems to reduce refilling frequency and support compliance.
- Standardize products and protocols across your facility to simplify training and promote consistency.
- Engage staff with ongoing education and practical tools that make hygiene intuitive and easy to maintain.
With the right strategies and the support of trusted partners like Tork, healthcare facilities can overcome today’s challenges – building a foundation for safer, more efficient, and more resilient care. Learn more at torkglobal.com.