Hospitals are healing places, but because there are so many patients, guests, and healthcare workers, there is a big chance that someone will get an infection. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that patients get in healthcare settings, which are very dangerous to patients and can lead to longer hospital stays, higher costs, and even death.
Because of this, hospitals need to keep their environments clean and germ-free. Environmental cleaning services in hospitals are essential for keeping patients safe because they follow strict cleaning protocols and meet the highest standards for cleanliness.
Is patient safety your top priority?
Let Servicon help with specialized EVS hospital cleaning.
The Importance of Environmental Cleaning in Hospitals
Hospitals mainly clean their environments to lower the risk of HAIs by getting rid of dangerous pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live on surfaces and equipment. These pathogens can live and spread in a hospital setting. Direct or indirect contact with contaminated objects and air can spread these pathogens.
For the hospital to stay clean and germ-free, especially in high-risk places like operating rooms and intensive care units (ICUs), there must be a thorough infection prevention cleaning program. Correctly cleaning up the surroundings not only keeps patients safe but also keeps hospital staff and visitors safe.
Key Cleaning Protocols and Standards in Hospitals
Hospitals follow strict cleaning procedures, rules, and instructions from groups like the Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO). It is to make sure that patients are safe. These rules aim to maintain cleanliness, reduce the risk of infection, and ensure consistent and effective cleaning methods.
1. Cleaning Versus Disinfection
In hospital environmental services, cleaning and disinfecting are separate but necessary tasks. Disinfecting surfaces means getting rid of or reducing microbial germs while cleaning removes dirt, dust, and organic matter. In hospitals, cleaning comes before disinfecting because dirt and other waste can make disinfectants less effective.
The EPA requires that hospital disinfectants kill a lot of different types of bacteria, including those that cause HAIs, like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile (C. diff), and norovirus. Hospital environmental cleaning services must carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions, ensuring they apply the correct amount of each disinfectant and leave it in contact with the surface for the appropriate duration.
2. High-Touch Surface Cleaning
Many patients, guests, and healthcare workers interact with high-touch surfaces in hospitals, which makes them more likely to get germs. These surfaces include stairs, bed rails, doorknobs, light switches, and medical equipment. We clean high-touch surfaces more frequently due to their increased risk of harboring germs that can lead to HAIs.
The people who clean the environment need to regularly clean and disinfect objects that individuals touch, especially in high-risk areas like patient rooms, intensive care units, and operating rooms. Surfaces may require cleaning more than once daily, depending on the number of patients using the area and the movement level.
Want to reduce HAIs?
Contact Servicon today.
3. Terminal Cleaning
Terminal cleaning is a deep cleaning and germ-killing process done after a patient has been released, transferred, or certain treatments like surgery. Cleaning the terminal ensures that the patient’s living space is pathogen-free before adding another patient.
According to this cleaning plan, all surfaces must be disinfected, including floors, walls, medical equipment, and furniture. Any blankets or curtains must also be taken down and washed. In isolation rooms, where people with dangerous diseases are treated, terminal cleaning is especially important because these places must be carefully disinfected to stop cross-contamination.
4. Infection Control Measures for Isolation Rooms
People who have illnesses that can spread, like tuberculosis or COVID-19, are often put in rooms by themselves to stop the infection from spreading. There are stricter rules for cleaning isolation rooms than normal patient rooms. When cleaning these rooms, environmental cleaning staff must wear personal safety equipment (PPE) like masks, gloves, and gowns, and the cleaning products they use must be able to kill the pathogens present.
In isolation rooms, objects may need to be cleaned and disinfected, and air filtration systems may also be required to stop the spread of pathogens in the air. A deep cleaning process is done to ensure all signs of the pathogen are gone from the area after a patient leaves.
5. Cleaning Procedures for Operating Rooms
Regarding cleanliness, operating rooms (ORs) are one of the most important places in a hospital. Because surgery is so invasive, the operating room (OR) must be completely clean to avoid surgical site infections (SSIs).
The rules for cleaning operating rooms are very specific and include regular cleaning after each surgery. High-touch items like operating tables, lights, and anesthesia tools are cleaned and germ-free between surgeries. The floors are also cleaned with germ-killing cleaner, and trash is thrown away correctly. At the end of the day, terminal cleaning includes washing and germ-killing the room’s walls, floors, and equipment.
6. Specialized Cleaning Equipment
To ensure the highest level of cleanliness, hospitals often invest in cutting-edge cleaning technologies. For instance, microfiber mops and cloths are highly effective at catching dirt and germs, while UV light or hydrogen peroxide vapor systems can clean entire rooms, killing germs that regular cleaning methods might miss. These advanced cleaning technologies not only enhance the effectiveness of hospital cleaning services but also contribute to patient safety, especially in high-risk areas like operating rooms and isolation rooms.
Training and Certification of Environmental Cleaning Staff
Because cleaning hospitals is so important, the people who do the outdoor cleaning must get special training to keep healthcare facilities clean and prevent infections. Many hospitals require their cleaning staff to possess credentials from organizations such as the AHE or the CDC. With these certificates, you can be sure that your staff knows about the newest ways to clean, disinfect, and follow the rules.
Ensure your hospital meets the highest standards of cleanliness – learn more about Servicon’s services here.
It’s crucial to continue learning, as hospital cleaning regulations may undergo changes due to new studies, emerging pathogens, or modifications in health regulations. The cleaning staff, committed to their profession, stays up-to-date and skilled at keeping the hospital clean and safe by getting regular training, ensuring the service is always adapting to the latest standards.
Ensuring Patient Safety Through Rigorous Hospital Cleaning Services
In healthcare, every moment matters, and so does every surface. At Servicon, we understand patient safety begins with an uncompromising commitment to cleanliness. Our rigorous hospital cleaning services, driven by our unwavering commitment to patient safety, go beyond routine maintenance—we safeguard lives by creating environments where healing can flourish.
By utilizing specialized tools, industry-leading disinfectants, and the highest hygiene standards, we help hospitals dramatically reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and ensure the safety of patients, healthcare workers, and visitors alike. Trust Servicon to be your partner in protecting those who depend on you.
Experience the peace of mind that comes with Servicon – your path to a safer, cleaner hospital starts here! Learn more about our services now.
