Clean Hands are Cool Hands PSA debuts nationwide encouraging healthy hand hygiene in time for Back to School NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 25
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The HCA Foundation, the
philanthropic arm of Nashville-based hospital company Hospital Corporation of
America (HCA), today announced the launch of the Clean Hands are Cool Hands
Back to School campaign to prevent the spread of Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), a common yet highly contagious bacteria that
frequently inhabits a person's skin or nostrils. HCA teamed up with popular
teen actor and recording artist Mitchel Musso, best known for his role as
"Oliver" in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana, to create a public
service announcement educating kids and their parents on the importance of
hand washing to prevent the spread of MRSA in schools.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080825/NYM026 )
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to:
http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/hca/34038/
"I am happy to be a part of this important campaign to prevent the spread
of MRSA and help raise awareness among my fans and kids of all ages to stay
healthy," said Musso. "Hopefully they will see me in this PSA and get the
message that clean hands are cool and most importantly are less likely to
spread germs."
Because of its resistance to antibiotics, MRSA accounts for 19,000 deaths
in the United States each year, 86% of which are healthcare-associated and 14%
which are community acquired.(1) HCA's 169 hospitals across the nation, under
the leadership of Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin, have
implemented more aggressive infection prevention protocols to tackle this
issue.
"The growing prevalence of MRSA in hospitals and communities, including in
schools, is creating new challenges for the healthcare community," said
Perlin. "It is important to make parents and kids aware of the little things
they can do at home and at school to prevent its spread, such as washing their
hands with soap and water or using a hand sanitizer."
The 30 second television PSA was shot in July in Los Angeles, California
and features Musso interacting in an animated world of everyday items that can
pass on germs and make us sick. Musso emphasizes how easy it is to come in
contact with germs throughout the day and how something as simple as washing
your hands can dramatically reduce the spread of these germs and help prevent
the illnesses that they can cause.
"We chose to partner with Mitchel due to his popularity and appeal to our
target audience -- young kids, tweens, teens and even parents," Joanne Pulles,
Executive Director for the HCA Foundation. "MRSA is becoming an increasing
concern and cause for absence in schools, and we think Mitchel's participation
in this campaign will help deliver the message that hand washing is the single
most effective and simplest way to prevent its spread."
The PSA aimed at kids in grades K-4, is set to debut later this month on
television stations across the United States. Dr. Perlin and Mitchel Musso
will also be promoting the campaign through broadcast media tours, TV
appearances, and kick-off events in cities throughout the country, including
Las Vegas, Nashville and Tampa.
Images from the PSA will be featured on The Reuters Sign in Times Square
and information on the campaign will be available online starting August 15 at
www.cleanhandsarecoolhands.com. The site provides a fun, interactive place for
kids and parents to learn about MRSA and how to prevent its spread, digital
downloads of pictures and videos, as well as a streaming file of the PSA.
About The HCA Foundation and HCA
The HCA Foundation was established by Nashville-based hospital company
Hospital Corporation of America. (HCA) to provide leadership, service, and
financial support to non-profit organizations. As the philanthropic arm of
HCA, its mission is to promote health and well being, support childhood and
youth development and foster the arts in Middle Tennessee and beyond. The HCA
Foundation supports organizations that have a well-defined sense of purpose, a
demonstrated commitment to maximizing available resources and a reputation for
meeting objectives and delivering quality services with caring and compassion.
Actively providing grants since 1998, The HCA Foundation has contributed more
than $119M in grants to more than 200 agencies and organizations. Additional
information on the Foundation is available at www.hcacaring.org.
HCA Inc. is the nation's leading health care services provider. It
operates 169 hospitals and 113 surgery centers in 20 states, and England
(including eight hospitals and nine freestanding surgery centers operated
through equity method joint ventures).
(1) Klevens et al. Journal of the American Medical Association 2007;
298(15): 1763-1771
SOURCE HCA Foundation
