3M has teamed up with Joint Commission International (JCI) to introduce a new educational tool kit on “Safety in Surgical Services.” The initiative will be rolled out not just in India, but across Asia so that hospitals, clinics and healthcare professionals can be well informed about best practices that will help keep infection at bay.

The tool kit developed by 3M provides practical solutions to achieve and sustain infection-free care. It is targeted at all levels of hospital staff. The collaboration with JCI provides a way to increase patient safety by promoting compliance to Standards & Recommended Practices. The educational program focuses on leadership role to prevent infections in the operating theatre which would also cover phases of preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative, management of surgical items to prevent infections, maintenance of Safe Operating Theatre Environment and sustain changes in Surgical Infection Prevention Practices.

“The new Education Tool kit reinforces 3M’s long term commitment to spread awareness and education about infection and its control. The growing consciousness towards quality and hygiene is prompting the medical industry to learn about best practices in healthcare-associated infections and we believe that we are well placed to serve these needs,” stated Gautam Khanna, executive director, 3M Health Care, India.

According to Barbara Soule, Practice Leader, Infection Prevention Services, JCI, healthcare associated infections in general and surgical site infections specifically affect patients globally and in all healthcare settings where surgery is performed.  These infections can be devastating, creating unnecessary illness, sometimes death and additional costs. “All professionals and organizations must work together to reduce surgical site infections including healthcare providers, governments and industry. Only by decreasing SSIs will we improve patient safety and quality of care. It is my hope that this tool kit will provide the scientific guidance of best practices along with specific methods and tools to improve care for surgical patients,” she said.

3M has been a key player in the infection prevention and control space with a portfolio of products in the skin and wound care segment. It currently has products such as surgical incise drapes, disposable surgical drapes, hand hygiene solutions, antiseptics, rapid multi enzyme cleaner, sterilization monitoring range and various adhesive tapes, IV and wound management solutions being sourced to leading JCI and NABH accredited hospitals to create an environment that reduces the probability of health care associated infection. 3M has products to serve the diabetic and incontinence care. Recently, the Most Admired list from Fortune magazine ranked 3M as Number 1 in Medical and Precision Equipments by its peers.

3M has also been active in forums like Critical Care Nurses Club (CCNC), Operating Room Nurses Club (ORNC) and CSSD Forum (Central Sterile Supply Department). It has also worked with societies like ISCCN (Indian Society of Critical care Nursing) and HISI (Hospital Infection Society of India) to facilitate publishing of guidelines for India.