The medical environment is a high-risk environment that builds up heavy bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens on the medical equipment. This equipment includes but is not limited to medical equipment used in hospitals, medical centers, clinics, health care facilities, dental offices, and laboratories. If medical cleaning is not done properly or if the medical staff is not trained enough on how to clean medical equipment they will spread these diseases amongst the patients they are caring for. This is why doctors have created specific guidelines for medical cleaning with some rules being physically impossible to break without violating them altogether.
1 – Hire A Professional Cleaning Service
Regardless of how often you clean, once your medical center has reached a certain size it’s time to hire a professional cleaning service. Wherever you stay in San Jose County, check for Anita’s Housekeeping Agency to assist you with your cleaning needs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that up to 80% of infections in hospitals are caused by unclean surfaces. This is because only roughly 30% of hospital staff follow proper cleaning procedures, and 30% of those that do use improper methods. According to a company that offers medical cleaning services in Sydney, many ordinary cleaners are not equipped or qualified to clean medical facilities. This means that roughly half of the staff is not upholding their end of the responsibility of maintaining a clean facility. You can start this process by having your Medical Center staff do an assessment of the current condition of your medical equipment to determine what would need to take place in order to meet CDC standards.
2 – Instill Clean Practices in Employees
A lot of the responsibility falls on the employees of the hospital, and while it is assumed that many people working in this industry know what they are doing it is important that all employees are given a proper understanding of what makes an area clean and how they can go about keeping the equipment in tip-top shape. It is important for hospitals to have a training program in place so that all employees know what they should and should not do when it comes to cleanliness in a medical environment. Some of the most common mistakes that employees make include:
- Using equipment without cleaning it first
- Moving equipment before cleaning it
- Using sponges, paper towels, or dry cloths to clean equipment
- All of these are huge mistakes that can negatively impact the cleanliness of a medical center.
3 – Regularly Clean Doorknobs
Doorknobs are one of the most commonly touched items in a medical center, and as such, they are the most likely to spread disease. The CDC recommends that doorknobs be cleaned at least once a day, but preferably after each time they are used. To clean the doorknob you use disinfectant wipes specifically made for this purpose.
4 – Keep a Clean Floor
The floor is another commonly touched item that needs to be cleaned daily. The CDC recommends that a wet mop be used along with a disinfectant. The employees then need to make sure that there is no standing water in the mop bucket which can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria.
5 – Keep Items Visible
Items that are used on a daily basis should be kept within the patient’s view. This means that items should be stored away if they are not being used, but should be easily accessible when it is time for them to be used. This will make it easier for staff to keep an eye on the equipment and increase the probability that it is being properly cleaned.
6 – Clean Surfaces
Every surface in the room should be cleaned on a regular basis. It can be easy to forget about items that don’t directly interact with patients. However, surfaces such as the sink, countertops, doorknobs, transoms, and faucets all need to be properly cleaned on a regular basis. It is important that these areas are cleaned thoroughly so as to kill all of the bacteria present. The CDC recommends that areas such as the sink and countertops be cleaned at least once a day while other items should be cleaned at least twice a week.
If you have medical equipment that is not being cleaned properly, or if your medical staff doesn’t know how to clean the medical facility correctly, there are a few things you can do. First, you can hire eMaids of Washington DC, or make sure all of your employees understand what it takes to maintain a clean environment in order to avoid spreading disease from unclean surfaces. This will require training for both new hires as well as those who might be struggling with keeping up their standards. Once they’ve been trained on proper cleaning procedures and products, start by having them assess the current condition of your medical equipment so that everyone knows where to start working toward better hygiene practices.