Hand Hygiene Monitor is a patented computer based device, installed on a hospital floor that collects data from sensors reporting room exit and entry, toilet use and hand soap and sanitizer use. From these data HHM determines if a person has washed his/her hands when he/she should. It may play a pre-recorded voice message over a loudspeaker to "Please wash your hands," if they do not do so voluntarily. Alternatively, it may play messages at random times, or it may simply record hand hygiene compliance.

Feature	Benefit
Non-intrusive	Users are not identified by badges or tags.
Non-threatening	Users are not penalized for not washing.
Non-coercive	Hand Hygiene Monitor reminds rather than commands.
Non-stigmatizing	Users are not identified as having dirty hands.
Non-invasive	No cameras or microphones to violate user privacy.

Our research shows that health care workers respond to these voice messages by increasing their hand hygiene compliance and that when they do, healthcare associated infections decrease.