If you have ever been to the hospital or urgent care for you or a loved one, then you should have noticed how sterile and cleaning it is. These types of facilities require mandatory best practices to protect the health of patients, visitors, and staff. With a host of airborne pathogens, germs, and various fluids can be present in the waiting room or when you are being examined at any given time. This means proper cleaning is a must – not daily or hourly, but after each patient or as exposure occurs.
How can these healthcare facilities ensure absolute cleanliness?
As a basic rule, all employees should be properly trained to deal with medical cleaning and hazardous waste disposal procedures once you have developed an ‘urgent care’ cleaning plan.
- Set the priorities
In medical buildings, you have rooms that require less regular cleaning because of limited exposure to pathogens; such as a working office or mail room where patients are not present. But when you have someone in the ER, who has lost blood, has an infection or transmittable disease – focus on places that contain a higher threat.
- Prevent cross-contamination
When working in the medical field, in cleaning you use all sorts of tools and cleaners, so it’s very important to make sure that once you’ve used cleaning applicators to their demise, it’s time to toss. Don’t reuse a blood or feces laden cloth when wiping down a worktable. Use your common sense.
- Target high traffic areas
Obviously, you want to focus on frequently touched surfaces including bed rails, restrooms, doorknobs, and counters. Sanitizing is necessary to combat the bacteria found in these places.
- Reduce airborne threats
These threats can be caused by incorrect disposal of hazardous materials or misuse of medical equipment. Reduce airborne risks by using HEPA filter vacuums and microfiber towels.
- Hire a professional
The time it takes to train your staff, manage and oversee cleaning best practices to completion is very consuming and costly. It may be in your best interest to outsource a trusted, reputable, and professional cleaning company, who are already trained and expert in the services you require.
