Medical facilities have the strictest codes and standards of hygiene among all other industries in the U.S. They must be nearly perfect to prevent the spread of disease and infection from patient to patient, and must do so on a daily basis. In order for a medical facility to meet this standard, they must employ a top-quality cleaning and maintenance program for the entire facility.
While cleaning standards for patient and procedure rooms are very specific and are likely handled by medical staff, non-medical spaces may not receive the same attention to detail. However, every inch of your medical facility is exposed to potential dangers, so it’s important to clean and maintain every area of your space, including these frequently missed places:
The front desk
Every patient who comes to your facility will touch the front desk to fill out forms, talk to the staff, and receive instructions for further care. This means that it is a prime space for germs to gather and be spread from patient to patient. Ideally, you could wipe down the front desk after every patient, but this isn’t typically practical. What you can do is make sure to wipe down the desk with disinfectant at every break or at least two times per day to be as proactive as possible.
Waiting rooms
Waiting rooms are a prime location for patients to spread germs among each other, especially if one does not know the cause of their illness. Since COVID-19, many medical facilities now take social distancing measures to prevent the spread of disease, but this is not always practical. Make sure to thoroughly clean seats, tables, coffee stations, and any other surface that a patient may touch at the end of each day.
Elevators
Elevators are used by every patient and staff member in your hospital. The shared buttons and close quarters make them an ideal place for the spread of disease. Make sure to wipe down elevator doors and buttons on a daily basis.
Cafeteria
Doctors and family members who are exposed to sick patients, as well as sick patients themselves, will all visit the cafeteria at some point. This means that tables, chairs, trays, cups, silverware, and every other surface touched by patients are fair game for the spread of germs. While many of these surfaces will be disinfected by the kitchen staff, it’s important to take time to clean things like seats, walls near tables, and other surfaces that are exposed on a daily basis.
Common bathrooms
Patient bathrooms are often cleaned thoroughly along with the rest of the patient room, but common restrooms in the lobby or cafeteria don’t always receive the same level of care and attention to detail. However, they are equally liable for the spread of germs. Be sure to disinfect regularly to keep your staff and patients safe.
MaintenX specializes in repair and maintenance for medical facilities across the U.S. If you are looking to improve your maintenance plan for the upcoming year, talk to us about preventative care and cleaning options with MaintenX.
