Introduction
Keeping medical facilities clean is crucial for patient health and safety. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 31 hospital patients will contract at least one healthcare-associated infection during their stay.
With infection rates this high, it's clear that cleaning and disinfecting practices in hospitals and clinics need to be rigorous and thorough.
Investing in professional medical cleaning services is the best way to protect patients, staff, and visitors.
Why Medical Cleaning Services Matters
Keeping medical facilities clean is critical for patients' health and safety. Hospitals and clinics host many germs and infections that can easily spread between patients and staff.
Proper cleaning and disinfection help control the spread of dangerous pathogens like influenza, MRSA, C. diff, norovirus, and more.
Thorough cleaning removes contaminants and helps prevent healthcare-associated infections that put patients at risk. Medical facilities that cut corners on cleaning put their patients and staff at increased risk of contracting potentially life-threatening diseases.
Investing in professional medical cleaning services is essential to maintaining a safe healthcare environment.
Staff and Visitors
A clean medical facility improves the experience for staff and visitors in several ways. First, it creates a more pleasant environment that feels professional and puts people at ease. Dirty facilities can feel unhygienic and even unsafe, undermining patient trust.
Second, cleanliness helps reduce health risks. Medical facilities see many vulnerable patients with weakened immune systems. Controlling germs through regular disinfecting protects the health of patients, staff, and visitors. This is especially important in waiting rooms, clinics, and other high-traffic areas.
Third, cleanliness projects a positive brand image. People expect and deserve pristine conditions in healthcare settings. When facilities are visibly dirty or unkempt, it reflects poorly on the organisation's reputation. Maintaining clean standards demonstrates that patient wellbeing is the top priority.
Ultimately, investing in professional cleaning benefits everyone who enters the building. It's an important factor in delivering satisfactory care and experiences. Patients should feel totally comfortable in the facility, and staff should feel proud of their workplace.
Compliance and Accreditation
Hospitals and medical facilities are held to high standards when it comes to cleanliness and infection control. Failure to maintain a sanitary environment can result in violations of healthcare regulations and accreditation requirements. This can lead to citations, fines, and even loss of crucial accreditation.
Organisations like The Joint Commission regularly inspect and evaluate hospitals. Part of their assessment focuses on the cleanliness of patient rooms, operating rooms, intensive care units, and other areas.
If these spaces aren't properly cleaned and disinfected, it can count against the facility during the accreditation process. Additionally, standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasise the importance of environmental cleaning in healthcare settings.
Medical facilities must develop cleaning policies and procedures that align with these guidelines. Contracting with a professional medical cleaning service is an effective way to consistently meet the various compliance regulations and accreditation standards related to cleanliness and infection prevention.
Their staff is specially trained to clean healthcare environments according to the highest standards. This helps facilities pass inspections and audits to maintain their licensing and credentials.
Hiring a Cleaning Service
Medical facilities have a lot on their plates, from patient care to administrative tasks. With so many responsibilities, it's understandable that cleaning and disinfecting the facility can fall lower on the priority list.
However, a clean environment is critical for infection control and patient safety. This is why outsourcing cleaning services to a professional company can be highly beneficial.
Hiring professional cleaners frees up your staff to focus on their core responsibilities. Cleaning staff have extensive training and experience meeting the unique cleaning requirements in healthcare settings.
They use medical-grade disinfectants and advanced techniques like electrostatic spraying to thoroughly sanitise all surfaces. Professional companies can also provide deep cleaning services periodically to supplement routine cleaning.
Outsourcing allows you to leverage economies of scale. Cleaning companies specialise in cleaning services, so they can offer competitive pricing by working efficiently.
They also supply all cleaning products and equipment. This removes the hassle of stocking and managing cleaning supplies at your facility.
A cleaning service manages all the hiring, training, scheduling, and supervision of cleaning staff. This saves you administrative time and overhead. Reputable companies conduct background checks on employees and provide them with medical cleaning certification. This gives you peace of mind that cleaning staff are properly vetted, trained, and experienced.
Rather than relying on existing staff to handle cleaning tasks on top of their regular duties, outsourcing to cleaning professionals ensures cleaning is handled consistently and thoroughly by dedicated experts. This allows your facility to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and safety.
Specialised Training
A medical cleaning service will have staff that are specially trained to clean healthcare facilities. This is important because medical cleaning requires proper techniques and products to effectively sanitise surfaces and prevent the spread of illness and infection.
Cleaners that work in hospitals and clinics need to be educated on how to thoroughly disinfect patient rooms, operating rooms, exam rooms, and other care areas. They must follow strict protocols using EPA-registered disinfectants and sanitizers to kill dangerous pathogens like C.diff, MRSA, and Coronavirus. The cleaners should be trained on techniques like wiping surfaces in one direction and using enough friction to effectively eliminate microorganisms.
Proper dilution of cleaning chemicals is also critical. Cleaners need to understand how to correctly mix disinfectants to ensure maximum potency against germs.
They also need training on how long a disinfectant needs to remain wet on a surface to work effectively, which can vary based on the product. Using disinfectants improperly can leave behind an ineffective solution or cause damage.
Additionally, medical cleaners must be knowledgeable about colour-coding systems, microfiber cloths, mop heads, and tools designated for specific hospital areas. Following protocols for cleaning patient areas before common spaces prevents cross-contamination.
Ongoing training and competency checks help ensure cleaners stay up-to-date on the latest methods and products for medical sanitization.
Cleaning Schedule
A medical cleaning service should have a detailed cleaning schedule to ensure all areas are properly sanitised and disinfected. This includes daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.
Daily
The daily cleaning routine is critical for high traffic and high touch areas. This should include:
Disinfecting exam rooms after each patient
Cleaning and disinfecting common spaces such as waiting rooms, hallways, elevators
Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, chairs, counters
Cleaning restrooms and replenishing supplies as needed
Emptying trash bins
Weekly
A weekly deep clean helps maintain sanitation standards in between the daily cleaning. This includes:
Dusting of surfaces in low traffic areas
Vacuuming and mopping floors
Cleaning interior windows and surfaces
Sanitising medical equipment
Wiping down walls and baseboards
Monthly
Monthly tasks are less frequent but still important:
HVAC system cleaning and filter changes
Carpet cleaning and spot removal
Floor waxing and burnishing
Window washing, inside and out
Wall washing
Furniture deep cleaning
Having set schedules and checklists ensures no areas are missed and helps maintain cleanliness.
Areas of Focus
Medical facilities have many areas that require frequent, thorough cleaning by trained professionals. This includes:
- Patient rooms: These rooms host vulnerable patients and must be properly disinfected between each occupancy to prevent infection. All surfaces including bed rails, tables, bathroom fixtures, floors, and medical equipment should be cleaned and sanitised.
- Operating rooms: ORs undergo rigorous cleaning protocols before, during, and after surgical procedures. Floors, walls, equipment, and air ventilation systems are carefully disinfected. Strict protocols help ensure no pathogens remain to infect surgical patients.
- Laboratories: Labs contain sensitive equipment and hazardous materials, necessitating meticulous cleaning. Work surfaces, equipment, and waste disposal areas should be sterilised according to safety guidelines. Proper cleaning reduces risks to lab workers and accuracy of lab results.
- Public areas: High-traffic areas like lobbies, waiting rooms, and hallways are prone to germs. Routine cleaning of chairs, desks, elevators, handrails, and restrooms is crucial. Additionally, measures like providing hand sanitizer help reduce infection risks.
- Staff areas: Lounges, offices, and locker rooms used by hospital staff also require regular sanitation to prevent spread of illness between personnel. Cleaning should extend to frequently touched surfaces like faucets, microwaves, and vending machines.
Cost
Hiring a professional medical cleaning service represents an investment, but one that pays off in the long run. Healthcare facilities have tight budgets, so it's understandable to want to minimise expenses. However, cutting corners on cleaning can lead to much greater costs down the line.
A medical cleaning service takes care of deep cleaning needs so your staff doesn't have to. This allows your employees to focus on core healthcare tasks rather than spending time disinfecting and sanitising. The improved efficiency and productivity can boost your bottom line.
Additionally, a clean healthcare environment helps reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). HAIs lead to extended hospital stays and readmissions, which increase costs significantly. Investment in medical cleaning helps avoid these expenses.
The specialised training, equipment, and cleaning agents provided by professional services also lead to superior results compared to in-house cleaning. This further reduces the risk of HAIs.
While outsourcing medical cleaning requires an upfront investment, the potential cost savings and improved health outcomes make it well worth it. Partnering with a professional medical cleaning service positions your facility for success when it comes to both your budget and quality of care.
Conclusion
Keeping your medical facility clean should be a top priority, as it directly impacts the health and safety of patients, staff, and visitors. By partnering with a professional medical cleaning service, you can ensure your facility meets the highest standards of cleanliness and sanitation.
A medical cleaning service takes the hassle out of maintaining a clean facility by providing specialised training, cleaning solutions, and a customised schedule tailored to your needs. Their expertise in cleaning medical environments also ensures compliance with healthcare regulations so you avoid deficiencies.
The investment in regular medical cleaning services pays off through improved patient satisfaction, staff productivity, compliance, and infection control. Don't cut corners when it comes to cleanliness in healthcare - the health of your patients and staff is worth the investment. Contact a professional medical cleaning service like Careplus today to schedule a consultation and find the right cleaning plan for your facility.
Comments