Shouldn’t every health care provider who comes into contact with me and/or my baby wash their hands first?

Yes. It is the policy at Women & Infants that staff wash their hands before and after every patient encounter. This helps prevent disease. Many times, staff will use the antiseptic rub on their way into a patient room instead of washing their hands at the sink in the room. This is perfectly fine, but if patients question whether the health care provider has washed his or her hands, we encourage them to ask.