Another Germ Bites the Dust

August 27, 2014

Hospitals have tried all kinds of tactics to get clinicians to wash their hands—educational sessions, reminders, and the ever popular direct observation. South Seminole Hospital in Longwood, FL, decided to interject a little friendly competition into the process, and AARC member Joe Bernardo, MSHS, RRT, and his colleagues in the RT department jumped at the chance to get into the act.

Combining humor with some classic Queen, they produced this video to drive home the need to wash up—

Bernardo—who sings the lead in “Another Germ Bites the Dust”—explains how the whole thing came about. “In August, our organization’s Infection Prevention & Control Department kicked off its corporate-wide hand hygiene promotion. Activities and initiatives are going on throughout the month of August, including the signing of hand hygiene ‘commitment posters.’”

As part of the promotion, hospital staff—collectively nicknamed the “Clean Team”—were invited to take part in a video contest to promote proper hand hygiene. “One of our respiratory therapists, Dennis Miranda, RRT, came up with the song idea—Another Germ Bites the Dust—and I wrote the song that day!” says Bernardo. “Jeanne Whitman, CRT, who is our PFT expert, was the female vocalist.”

The entire staff collaborated on the content and Amanda Ayola, RN, sparked the idea for using “We are the Champions” to introduce the “germs” during the opening scenes. “Her talent for putting videos together was greatly appreciated,” says Bernardo.

The team filmed the video over two or three days in July, with staff from environmental services, surgery, lab, radiology, nursing, nutrition services, and of course, RT, taking part. “The staff who participated were very excited about the end product and loved the message it could bring to patients and staff alike—that hand hygiene saves lives and is a top priority at our facility!” says Bernardo.