Infection Control and Prevention

Infection Control and Prevention

At CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, we have taken several precautions to prevent the spread of infection and disease. We have many guidelines and protocols in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all our patients.

Washing soapy hands at a clean sink

No Soap? No Problem.

Alcohol-based hand cleaners are as effective as soap and water in killing germs. To use, apply the cleaner to the palm of your hand and rub your hands together. Keep rubbing over all the surfaces of your fingers and hands until they are dry. Alcohol-based hand cleaning dispensers are located throughout the hospital.

Cover Your Cough

Influenza and other respiratory illnesses are spread by coughing and sneezing. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and discard the tissue in a waste bin. If you don’t have a tissue, cough into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.

Woman sneezing into a tissue

The single most effective way to help prevent infections is to clean your hands and make sure that everyone who touches you – including your doctors and nurses – clean his or her hands, too.

Everyone who enters a patient’s room (family, friends, visitors and healthcare providers) should clean their hands:

  • after touching objects or surfaces in the hospital room
  • before and after eating
  • after using the restroom/toileting
  • before touching you

Clean your own hands and ask everyone to do the same. This includes healthcare workers and visitors who you are not sure have cleaned their hands before treating you or visiting you.