Best Practices For Urgent Care Cleaning
Do not underestimate Urgent Care cleaning best practices! Professional cleaning is an essential maintenance practice at Urgent Care clinics. Germs on surfaces, airborne threats, and other pathogens can spread quickly. Without a proper cleaning plan in place, contamination can become an unhealthy problem.
Ideally, urgent care clinics will retain the services of a respected commercial cleaning service provider. A professional commercial cleaning company will understand the complexities of urgent care cleaning and have the tools and training already in place to perform a thorough cleaning.
Companies familiar with medical facility cleaning will already have a plan in place that can be customized to meet the needs of your facility. To ensure that your commercial cleaning provider is proficient in medical facility cleaning, take note of the following best practices:
1. Target High-Touch Surfaces
Any facility sanitation plan should focus on high-touch surfaces. These are the. surfaces that are most often touched like bed-rails, countertops, restrooms, door handles, medical equipment, etc. Bacteria are most likely to be found on these surfaces and they should be sanitized regularly.
A professional cleaning company will target these areas using commercial-grade disinfectants and clean microfiber cleaning cloths or disposable disinfecting wipes. However, even with regular commercial cleaning services, it is important for staff in a medical setting to maintain the cleanliness of these surfaces throughout the day.
2. Limit Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination is the act of transporting germs and bacteria from one place in a facility to another and can be done unintentionally during cleaning. For instance, a custodian could wipe down a toilet that was exposed to norovirus and then use the same cleaning tool to wipe down the sinks, spreading the virus.
Urgent care centers have different types of rooms that serve various purposes and there is often a tendency to assume that some areas are more susceptible to germs than others. The reality is that nearly every inch of your facility has the potential to harbor germs.
Your commercial cleaning company should be well aware of these facts and should approach the cleaning of your facility accordingly. They should never use the same mop and/or cleaning cloth in different areas of the facility, should always use commercial-grade disinfectants, and should follow a prescribed cleaning plan.
Many professional cleaning companies use color-coded microfiber cloths and mop heads to help limit cross-contamination. For instance, red will be used for sanitary appliances, restroom floors, toilets, and urinals. Yellow is used for restroom sinks, towel dispensers, hand dryers, soap dispensers, door handles, and walls. Green is used for general food and bar cleanup in non-preparatory food areas, such as lunchrooms and breakrooms. Blue is used for areas such as hallways, offices, and classrooms.
3. Reduce Airborne Threats
An Urgent Care center cleaning plan should take into consideration airborne threats. These threats can be caused by improper disposal of hazardous materials or using the wrong equipment. To reduce airborne risks, be sure to use HEPA filter vacuums and microfiber towels.
Additionally, proper waste disposal is essential. For example, avoid pushing air out of a utilized trash container. This will send bacteria into the air. Likewise, failing to roll up soiled bed sheets or fabrics can create airborne bacteria.
Complete Care Maintenance – Your Healthcare Facility Cleaning Vendor
Need help with your Urgent Care cleaning program? We provide full-service medical office and urgent care center cleaning. Of course, we follow Urgent Care cleaning best practices. Contact Us today to learn more about our medical facility cleaning expertise. We offer customized cleaning plans to suit your facility and have extensive commercial cleaning experience in the healthcare field. Finally, you’ll appreciate our professional and responsive approach!