Hospitals exist to save lives, but it’s also a breeding ground for every disease imaginable, especially the dreaded COVID-19. For this reason, cleaning in the medical setting needs unparalleled attention, precision, and only the best possible staff.
While it’s important to note that the stakes are always high when it comes to proper cleaning, getting sanitation and maintenance wrong in the healthcare industry can mean lives lost. Simply put, there should be no room for error. A poorly maintained facility means danger to everyone using them, including the patients, staff, and other visitors.
It’s also worth noting that the risks surrounding improper cleaning should never be taken lightly, especially since hospitals are also business entities. The possibility of facilitating the risk of illness and death means legal repercussions, so it’s important to follow a strict protocol.
How do you ensure that your hospital is still clean and sanitized? The prospect may be daunting following the risks listed above, but these cleaning tips can help you maintain a disease-free environment:
Tip #1: Pay close attention to the restrooms
Your hospital’s restrooms are public spaces, used by multiple patients, staff, and visitors. People can come and go as they please, making it an ideal cesspool for infection to thrive and spread. By paying careful attention to the restrooms, you not only control odors, but maintain a good appearance and prevent diseases from spreading.
Staff tasked with regular cleaning of restrooms must be given proper cleaning supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE), mops, brooms, cleaning cloths, and powerful disinfectants. It’s also important to place signs for further safety, such as “wet floor” warnings. Emptying trash cans regularly is also paramount to a clean environment, as with wiping toilets, sinks, and even door handles.
Golden tip: Given that restrooms see heavy foot traffic, make sure that your restrooms are cleaned at least thrice a day.
Tip #2: Focus on proper staff training
Cleaning, disinfection, and sanitation are three different things. You’ll want to properly train your staff to understand the difference between the procedures, especially since your reputation and the lives of patients are at stake. Make sure that the following items are clear:
- Cleaning: This pertains to soils and dirt particles removed on surfaces, with no guarantee of bacteria being killed.
- Disinfecting: After cleaning, disinfecting must be done to kill and reduce bacteria, especially on high-touch surfaces.
- Sanitizing: This means using chemicals and heat to ensure that no microorganisms survive, effectively keeping rooms, surfaces, and equipment safe for use.
Golden tip: Your hospital will benefit from doing all three steps. Contaminated areas should be first wiped down through the cleaning process, followed by disinfection, and then sanitization for a germ-free area.
Tip #3: Keep your patients happy through thorough room disinfection
Keeping your patients happy and satisfied is crucial to the overall success of your hospital. Unfortunately, you also need to make sure that your staff remains safe. Before cleaning a patient’s room, have them follow the steps below:
- Wash hands thoroughly and put on PPE.
- Strip down the patient’s bed, to be sanitized before refitting with clean linen.
- Tables, lamps, and bed frames need to be disinfected and wiped, whereas curtains should be replaced.
- Wipe down windows and empty trash cans.
- Sanitize light switches and doorknobs.
- Wash hands after leaving the room and take off PPE with care.
- Wash again and if possible, take a shower.
Taking Cleanliness To The Next Level
Proper healthcare cleaning requires rapt attention and careful planning, especially since the risk of spreading diseases offers no room for error. You’ll want access to only the best possible practices, along with powerful tools to keep your facility clean. More importantly, you need to entrust health and safety to the most capable hands. As you plan your cleaning protocols, remember to keep this guide in mind.
To help save you the trouble of finding capable individuals, allow AK Building Services to assist. We are South Florida’s most trusted provider of commercial cleaning services, ensuring that your medical facility remains safe and sound for your patients and staff. Get a quote today.
