Medical Clinic Cleaning: 5 Best Practices You Need to Know
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One of the primary responsibilities of medical clinic staff members is to ensure that the medical office meets the highest cleaning standards. While prioritizing the safety of both staff and patients, it is also crucial to maintain a clean and welcoming environment. A clean and well-organized setting creates an immediate impression on patients, reassuring them that their health needs are taken seriously. That is why you need to know the Best Practices For Cleaning a Medical Clinic.
In a highly competitive market like private practices, the satisfaction of your patients is crucial. While you may be doing your best to maintain a clean medical office, it’s worth considering if there’s room for improvement in your current cleaning regimen.
The CDC and OSHA have established industry standards for medical clinic cleaning. These evidence-based procedures promote staff and patient safety, minimize the risk of healthcare-associated infections, and prevent cross-contamination. Here are the critical areas that medical office staff should prioritize when cleaning a medical clinic.
High-Traffic Areas: Keeping It Clean and Germ-Free
Furniture and other surfaces in high-traffic areas, such as waiting rooms, can accumulate bacteria, dust mites, and germs. To ensure proper cleanliness, medical facility cleaners should regularly wipe these areas with disinfectants registered with the EPA, following industry standards.
In medical offices, the frequently used areas include drawer handles, faucets, cabinets, chairs, and sinks. This also applies to specialty rooms like X-ray areas or suturing rooms. In the reception area, prioritize cleaning phones, computer equipment, clipboards, door handles, and counters.
Dust Surfaces: A Guide to Keeping Your Space Clean and Fresh
The accumulation of dust on surfaces raises concerns about the overall cleanliness of the medical clinic. In medical settings, dust buildup can worsen respiratory conditions and harbor germs that contribute to the spread of illness.
To maintain a clean and hygienic environment, it is crucial to regularly dust all surfaces throughout the clinic. This simple practice for cleaning a medical clinic not only keeps the space feeling fresh but also helps eliminate dust mites and bacteria, preventing them from entering the air.
Avoid using feather dusters as they merely displace dust without effectively capturing it. Opt for a damp cloth, a handheld vacuum, or a microfiber duster instead. These alternatives will ensure better cleaning and remove dust efficiently.
To ensure a safe and healthy environment, it is crucial to proactively clean surfaces before dust becomes visible. The longer you postpone your medical cleaning checklist, the higher the risk of bacteria accumulation.
Patients with allergies are particularly vulnerable to the aggravating effects of dust, so it is recommended to dust at least three times a week. By using the best practice for cleaning a medical clinic, you can maintain a clean and safe space for your patients.
Examining Rooms: A Refreshing Space for Care and Comfort
After each use, it is crucial to thoroughly clean all areas of examining rooms. These spaces are susceptible to cross-contamination among doctors, nurses, and patients, making it even more important to give them extra attention during the cleaning process. Ensure that the lights, countertops, and treatment chairs are properly disinfected using appropriate disinfectants.
After each patient departs, diligently sanitize all door knobs, cabinets, light switches, and other frequently touched surfaces. These areas are highly vulnerable to germs, as they are often overlooked during cleaning routines. Maintaining the cleanliness of these spaces when cleaning a medical clinic will instill in patients a sense of reassurance and enable the staff to safeguard them against inadvertent infections.
Maintain Clean Bathrooms: Tips for a Fresh and Clean Space
Maintaining clean bathrooms may seem like common sense, but these areas often go unnoticed when the office gets busy. The condition of your clinic’s bathrooms reflects its commitment to cleanliness. Patients who encounter paper towels strewn about, soap residue on sinks, and other unclean areas in the bathroom may be discouraged from seeking treatment in that office.
Regular restroom checks are essential at all medical clinics. Establish a cleaning schedule for countertops, toilets, sinks, and other fixtures. Additionally, ensure that the bathroom is always stocked with soap, paper towels, and toilet paper. This will help maintain cleanliness, hygiene, and a pleasant environment for all.
Revamp the Reception: Creating an Inviting and Organized Space
Creating an organized reception area is crucial, but it doesn’t have to be sterile or cold. You can maintain medical clinic cleanliness while cultivating a warm and inviting atmosphere that patients desire when visiting the doctor. Remember, the reception area is where patients form their first impression of the medical office, so it’s important to keep it free from clutter.
To enhance the quality of the reception area, it is recommended to remove unnecessary paperwork, pens, and clipboards from the desk. Any files that are not in use should be properly organized and stored.
Additionally, it is crucial to regularly clean the surfaces that patients interact with, such as when filling out forms or handling other materials. The reception desk is the final impression patients have of the medical clinic, so maintaining a clean and organized environment will leave a positive and memorable impact on their visit.
The appearance of your medical office is a reflection of the exceptional service you provide and demonstrates your meticulous attention to detail. Maintaining a clean and tidy clinic not only benefits your patients but also showcases your dedication to creating a pleasant working environment.
While it is important to enlist the help of a professional commercial cleaning service, don’t solely rely on them to handle all the medical clinic cleaning tasks. By implementing these effective office cleaning techniques, you can enhance the level of patient care and ensure their continued patronage for many years to come.
Frequency of Cleaning a Medical Clinic
Medical cleanliness is paramount to a patient’s safety and well-being. To maintain the highest standards of cleanliness, medical clinics and offices need to implement a regular cleaning schedule.
It is recommended that medical clinics should be cleaned at least once per day, focusing primarily on high-traffic areas such as examining rooms, bathrooms, reception areas, waiting rooms, and hallways. However, some areas may require more frequent cleaning due to their exposure to bodily fluids such as examination rooms and restrooms.
For thorough cleanliness, it is important to mop floors and vacuum carpets at least twice a week. Additionally, all surfaces should be wiped down with an appropriate disinfectant daily or when visibly soiled. You can hire a professional commercial carpet cleaner to do this part of the cleaning.
Graspable surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, countertops, and faucets need to be wiped down at least twice a week. Dusting should also be part of the regular cleaning schedule, with special attention being paid to window sills and high surfaces.
By following these Best Practices For Cleaning a Medical Clinic and developing a comprehensive medical clinic cleaning routine, medical offices can effectively safeguard their patients from potential health hazards and ensure a clean and safe environment.
Patients can trust that their health is in good hands when visiting a clinic that takes cleanliness seriously. With proper upkeep of medical clinics, patients will enjoy peace of mind knowing they are being treated in an immaculate and orderly space.
Maintain Cleanliness In Between Patients.
- Armrests on chairs
- Beds (e.g., examination table)
- Blood pressure cuff
- Electronic monitoring devices, if shared (e.g., glucometer)
- Imaging equipment (e.g., ultrasound transducers, mammography paddles, film cassettes)
- Ophthalmoscope
- Orthopedic equipment (e.g., crutches)
- Otoscope
- Reflex hammer
- Scales (infant)
- Stethoscope
- Toys
- Transport equipment (e.g., wheelchairs)
Perform Cleaning Tasks at the End of the Day and Whenever There is Visible Dirt or Grime.
- Bathrooms
- Carpets (vacuumed)
- Chairs, couches
- Doorknobs
- Floors
- Light switches
- Mirrors
- Overbed lamps and lights
- Scales (standing)
- Tables
- Telephones
- all-mounted items (e.g., soap and ABHR dispensers, paper towel holders, glove box holders)
Follow a Regular Cleaning Schedule And Address Visible Dirt Promptly.
- Appliances (refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers)
- Baseboards
- Carpets (steam cleaning)
- Ceilings and air vents
- Exterior surfaces of machines and equipment
- Furnishings in office spaces (e.g., desks, cabinets, bookcases)
- Ice Machines
- I.V. poles
- Lockers
- Privacy curtains
- Radiator
- Sterilizers
- Televisions
- Toy boxes and cupboards
- Walls
- Window air conditioners
- Windows, window sills, window coverings
Restrooms: Cleaning A Medical Clinic Essentials
- Perform thorough cleaning and disinfection twice daily, and if feasible, consider increasing the frequency.
- Regularly disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as faucets, toilets, handles, doorknobs, and light switches, using suitable disinfectants.
Electronics encompasses a wide range of devices, including tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls, and point-of-sale machines.
- If feasible, opt for a cover that can be easily wiped clean.
- Please refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and disinfecting. If there are no specific instructions provided, you can use wipes or sprays that contain 70-90% alcohol. Ensure that the surface is thoroughly dried afterward.
- The OCFP has offered recommendations on how to effectively sanitize mobile phones while maintaining their functionality.
Gowns, Garments, Towels, Beddings, and Various Other Textiles
- Please ensure that items are laundered by the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
- Utilize the most suitable warm water setting and ensure thorough drying of items.
- It is recommended to wear disposable gloves while handling soiled laundry, especially from an unwell individual. Before and following glove usage, it is important to wash hands thoroughly.
- Avoid shaking soiled garments.
- Follow proper guidance to effectively clean and disinfect clothes hampers, ensuring surface safety and cleanliness.
Why You Should Hire Professionals for Cleaning a Medical Clinic In Vancouver
Professional medical clinic cleaning services can provide comprehensive deep-cleaning tasks that may not be possible to conduct in-house. These include scrubbing walls and baseboards, buffing floors, spot-cleaning carpets, and sanitizing equipment. It is also worth noting that some of these activities require the use of special equipment or toxic chemicals that are best handled by qualified personnel.
Hiring a professional commercial cleaning company in Vancouver will also help to ensure that the job is done right. Experienced commercial cleaners are trained to identify hard-to-reach, often overlooked spots where bacteria and viruses can lurk over time. Furthermore, they use hospital-grade disinfectants which are more effective at killing germs than regular household products.
Medical clinics should also be aware of local health regulations when cleaning a medical clinic. Professional commercial cleaners are familiar with these regulations and can help ensure the clinic meets all necessary requirements when cleaning a medical clinic.
In conclusion, medical clinics must prioritize cleanliness and safety for their patients, and professional commercial cleaning services in Vancouver can play a major role in achieving this goal. With the right personnel and commercial cleaning equipment, these services can guarantee optimal disinfection to help keep everyone safe from potential harm.