Can't we just wash our hands?

In this week’s edition of Medical Staff Leader Insider, I’ve included a piece about a proposal on banning handshakes in healthcare settings. Citing the low rates of hand washing program compliance, the authors suggest the ban to reduce the spread of disease. How can I not address this?

It’s easy to make jokes about banning handshakes. I admit it, even I made a few after reading the editorial. But I get where the authors are coming from at least in terms of the possible benefits. I’m just not ready to give up on handshaking. It just seems easier to improve hand washing habits than banning something so deeply ingrained in our culture. Am I wrong?

Son Hoang, editor, Medical Staff Leader Insider