Hospital Cleaning Checklist: A Comprehensive Guide
Patients who come to your healthcare facility expect to receive the medical attention they need to recover after an illness or injury. However, the threat of hospital-acquired infections or HAIs is real, and failing to keep your facility clean and germ-free can put your patients at risk of developing more health complications.
This is why hospital cleaning in Upstate NY, or any other area, is crucial. A clean hospital reduces the chances that your patients and their guardians will come into contact with disease-causing microorganisms. It ultimately prevents the spread of infection and helps deliver a positive patient experience.
This fundamental hospital cleaning checklist is an excellent resource you can use to enjoy the benefits of a clean, safe, and healthy healthcare environment.
The Basics of Hospital Cleaning in Upstate NY: A Checklist
Before delving into the different tasks that should be included in your healthcare cleaning checklist, ensure that your cleaning associates practice proper hand hygiene.
They should at least use a hand sanitizer or clean with soap and water when entering and exiting a patient’s room. Moreover, they must thoroughly clean their hands and wear gloves before every cleaning task. This is one effective way to help prevent the spread of pathogens inside your facility.
With this out of the way, let’s go through the fundamental tasks that your staff or hospital cleaning company must perform to maintain a safe environment.
Patient Room Cleaning
Daily Tasks:
- Wipe down high-touch surfaces.
- Spot clean countertops, walls, and floors.
- Sweep and mop floors as necessary.
- Empty the trash if necessary.
- Perform quick dusting and tidying.
Weekly Tasks:
- Disinfect high-touch areas, including bedside tables, bed rails, IV poles, and door handles.
- Mop the floors.
- Dust air vents and other surfaces.
- Organize the room until it’s tidy and organized.
- Dispose of trash properly and reline trash bins.
Monthly and Periodic Tasks:
- Disinfect all areas and surfaces.
- Mop the floors and vacuum rugs or carpeted areas.
- Polish surfaces as necessary.
Waiting Area Cleaning
Daily Tasks:
- Mop any spills or wet areas immediately.
- Vacuum dirty rugs or carpeted areas as necessary.
- Wipe down frequently touched surfaces.
- Perform quick dusting and tidying.
Weekly Tasks:
- Sweep and mop the entire floor.
- Clean and sanitize all surfaces.
- Dispose of trash properly and reline trash bins.
Cafeteria Cleaning
Daily Tasks:
- Mop any spills or wet areas immediately.
- Sanitize tables, chairs, and food service areas
- Dispose of trash properly and reline trash bins.
- Perform any quick dusting and tidying as necessary.
Weekly Hospital Cafeteria Cleaning
- Sweep and mop the entire floor.
- Clean and disinfect food service areas, tables, and chairs.
Since people regularly frequent hospital cafeterias throughout the day, it’s also essential that you observe cafeteria use in your facility before performing these tasks. Doing so lets you determine the best time for your hospital cleaning company to get to work.
Terminal Cleaning
Once your patients are discharged or moved out of a room, terminal cleaning must be done to prepare the room for the next person. Take these steps to ensure you welcome new patients with a clean, healthy, and comfortable environment:
- Clean and disinfect the entire bed area, including the frames, rails, tray table, and bedside table.
- Remove and replace all bedding material.
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces.
- Dispose of trash and disinfect and reline trash bins.
- Vacuum and mop floors as required.
- Disinfect all medical equipment.
- Conduct a visual inspection to ensure no debris is left behind.
Best Practices and Tips
We strongly recommend hiring professional hospital cleaning services for your hospital or medical center, as healthcare cleaning requires specialized skills, techniques, and equipment. Still, here are some best practices you can follow to maintain your facility while you search for a reliable hospital cleaning company.
- Move from clean to filthy. Beginning with areas less dirty than others makes spreading harmful viruses and bacteria less likely.
- Work your way from top to bottom. When you clean from top to bottom, you keep dirt, debris, and microorganisms from falling into areas that have already been cleaned.
- Follow a cleaning system. A clear and systematic cleaning process makes it easier for you to cover all necessary areas and perform adequate cleaning.
Hot To Get Comprehensive Hospital Cleaning Services
Maintaining a clean hospital environment is crucial in helping patients recover quickly and keeping healthcare providers safe. However, keeping your center free of dirt and germs requires consistent, coordinated efforts and the right cleaning supplies. More importantly, hospital cleaning in Upstate NY entails strict compliance with the state’s health and safety regulations.
Fortunately, first-rate and comprehensive hospital cleaning services are within your reach. Contact a JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting certified franchisee today at (585) 302-2739 to get started. They will gladly answer your inquiries and develop a custom program for your hospital’s unique needs.