INFORM | THIRD QUARTER OF 2021

prevention. These can include diagnostic procedures, thera­ py and care concepts that e. g. follow the guidelines of the Robert Koch Institute. Editor: Are those processes implemented consistently? Thomas Haeni: That is an important point. The majority of re- spondents state that they at least partially implement the pro- cesses in actual practice. However, in the eyes of hospital em- ployees, the answers also show us that there is still room for improvement in terms of implementation and the required equipment. Editor: What do they lack? Thomas Haeni: The willingness is certainly there to invest in the health of the patients and employees. Three quarters of the hos- pital representatives spend their own financial resources on the prevention of nosocomial infections above and beyond the legal requirements. At the same time, state subsidies, such as the special hygiene program within the Hospital Structure Act (Krankenhausstrukturgesetz), are considered to be only partially sufficient. For this reason, the call for systemic partnerships is growing. 50% of those surveyed think that collaboration with the private sector and specialized hygiene consultants will play a key role in the future. Editor: HARTMANN took action at an early stage with its initiative Mission: Infection Prevention. Thomas Haeni: As a provider of holistic solutions in the field of healthcare, we feel obliged to offer support. It’s about developing efficient and outcome-based solutions and being a relevant partner to our customers. M: IP ® focuses on five interlocking components: on-site consulting and support, training concepts, digital solutions, product bundles and Standard Operating Pro - cedures based on specifications from the Robert Koch Institute and others. Editor: You mentioned digitalization. What role can it play in in- fection prevention? Thomas Haeni: A very important one. Digitalization and cross-sector data networking facilitate greater efficiency. Almost all respondents confirm that such intelligent systems are highly relevant for infection prevention as they provide opportunities for early warning and error detection. Together with the startup BinDoc, HARTMANN has developed a digital tool to improve pro- cesses that fight hospital-acquired infections. This shows the full potential of digitalization. Editor: How does the tool work? Thomas Haeni: Our big data software solution – M: IP ® §21 Analysis – provides a new level of transparency for medical facilities with regard to the incidence of infections and the poten- tial resulting costs. This enables them to initiate concrete counter­ measures to protect people’s health and circumvent economic loss. Selected hospitals in Germany are already using analyses from the BinDoc and HARTMANN infection prevention tool. Editor: The economic advantages for hospitals seem obvious. Thomas Haeni: Yes. Nevertheless, the main focus is on protect- ing people’s health. Because every infection that we prevent with M: IP ® may save a life. 50% of healthcare companies surveyed think that collaboration with the private sector will play a key role in the future. With the Mission: Infection Prevention initiative, HARTMANN is on the right track. In conversation: Thomas Haeni, Head of Mission: Infection Prevention, a HARTMANN initiative to combat nosocomial infections 8 Inform third quarter 2021 | The fight against hospital germs