HEALTHCARE FACILITY CLEANING: WHAT YOUR PROVIDER SHOULD KNOW

Finding a professional healthcare facility cleaning service can be challenging. Healthcare facility cleaning requires an experienced team with a unique skill set to understand the nuances of working in a healthcare environment. They must be well trained in current cleaning best practices, be knowledgeable about current healthcare regulations, and be able to work well within a community of patients and providers.

HEALTHCARE FACILITY CLEANING – BEST PRACTICES

Healthcare facilities have strict protocols with regard to cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing. Cleaning teams working in these settings must be familiar with these protocols and adhere to them to ensure that cleanliness standards are met. A qualified healthcare cleaning provider will be prepared with the proper tools, equipment, products, and cleaning techniques and procedures. They should be able to provide detailed reports that describe their training procedures, compliance with applicable regulations, and understanding of healthcare cleaning best practices.

When working within your facility their knowledge and expertise should be demonstrated with the following:

• The use of healthcare-specific cleaning tools and technologies
• Use of chemical cleaners designed for healthcare applications
• Knowledge of how to clean specialized medical equipment
• Demonstrated understanding of cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing protocols
• Adherence to cross-contamination mitigation protocols
• The use of personal protective equipment
• Demonstrated understanding of hazardous waste handling policies and procedures
• Onsite supervisors that specialize in medical facility cleaning

CURRENT HEALTHCARE REGULATIONS

Providers of healthcare facility cleaning services need to remain up-to-date on current healthcare regulations. They should be familiar with and regularly follow recommendations from all recognized healthcare regulating bodies. In addition, they should have regular training protocols in place to ensure that their healthcare cleaning teams and supervisors are aware of current cleaning standards and healthcare regulations. Your healthcare facility cleaning provider should be familiar with at least the following:

• The Association for the Healthcare Environment
• The Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• The Environmental Protection Agency
• The Health Information Portability and Accountability Act
• The Occupational Health and Safety Administration

WORKING WITHIN THE HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT

Healthcare cleaning providers must be able to work well in an environment made up of patients, visitors, and providers and must act with respect and professionalism toward all. Well-trained healthcare cleaning staff know how to do their work quickly, safely, and respectfully with minimal disruption to those around them. They understand patient dignity concerns and are respectful, compassionate, and professional when interacting with patients, doctors, nurses, and visitors.

Not everyone is cut out for these types of interactions and responsible healthcare cleaning services proactively train their staff to hone excellent interpersonal communication skills. A well-trained cleaning crew will have positive impacts on patients, visitors, and staff both through their cleaning expertise and their daily interactions.

DOES YOUR HEALTHCARE FACILITY CLEANING SERVICE MEET THESE STANDARDS?

Healthcare facility cleaning is more than just cleaning. It is a specialized service that requires a diverse set of skills and knowledge that you will not find in a typical commercial cleaning provider. It is important that you research prospective providers and ensure that they have the knowledge, training, and experience to meet the demands of a healthcare environment.

Complete Care Maintenance has been providing healthcare cleaning services for more than three decades. We have the tools, knowledge, experience, and training to meet and exceed your facility’s needs. Call or contact us today to learn how we can help.