Annually, over 1.7 million patients that are receiving care in a healthcare facility walk away with an infection they contracted while they were there. The CDC says that around 10,000 of those people end up dying because of the infection they caught while receiving care. When it comes to healthcare facilities, keeping them clean is one of the highest priorities. This is for obvious reasons. Baker Sandoval Cleaning is here to talk about the importance of medical facility cleaning.
Cleaning a Medical Office
Some people may not realize that there is a difference between cleaning and disinfecting. Cleaning involves making sure a place is clutter free. When you are generally cleaning a place, you make sure the area has been dusted, trash is taken out, the floors are clean, and possibly even organize the clutter. This is great for any other building but healthcare facilities require a more intensive, deeper clean.
Guidelines for Disinfection & Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities
When you are working in a medical care facility, it is considered a high risk area, and you need to take some extra precautions. In these areas there is a risk of cross contamination, and in order to ensure this doesn’t happen, many companies use color coded supplies to lessen the risk of cross contamination. Those involved in cleaning need to be trained in how to handle blood borne pathogens as well as knowledge of HIPPA regulations. When you are disinfecting a space, you are eliminating as many pathogenic micro-organisms as possible.
Infection Control & Prevention in Hospitals
When you have patients that have open wounds, they are at a high risk of infection. If they already have an infection, the chances of that infection spreading is higher. This is especially true for those cleaning and caring for these patients. These areas of the medical facility need to be cleaned by employees that have been trained to take special care in sanitation practices. One of the main ways to prevent infection is to provide patients with a clean and sanitary place to receive care.
Removing Stubborn Infection Causing Germs
There are several infection-causing germs that are incredibly difficult to kill. It takes more than basic cleaning to get rid of these high risk germs. Those include MRSA, C. Difficile, VRE, and Acinetobacter. There has been some success in getting rid of these scary germs using vapor steam and UV lights. Getting rid of these germs is a challenge and the CDC is constantly searching for more effective ways to kill them.
Importance of Cleaning Medical Facilities Frequently
In order for a medical facility to be properly cleaned, the facility and exam rooms need to be cleaned frequently. Depending on the amount of traffic in and out of the facility, it may need to be cleaned at least once a day, and often times, even more than that.
Medical Care Facility Cleaning & Disinfecting in Boulder, Longmont & Brighton Colorado
Baker Sandoval Cleaning understands the importance of maintaining a certain level of cleanliness in medical care facilities. With more than 15 years in the cleaning business, we have the trained staff it takes to get your medical care facility disinfected and cleaned to ensure your patients are receiving care in a safe environment. Contact us for all your house cleaning and janitorial needs.