Where Are Germ Hot Spots in Hospitals?
Healthcare workers are busy sustaining the wellbeing of their patients. For these occupied workers, it’s virtually impossible to disinfect every area twenty-four hours a day. But knowing the location of germ hot spots is important, so turn to medical office cleaning services for the best cross-contamination protection.
Germ Hot Spot Locations
Placing hand sanitizers and signage around your healthcare facility is a good start, but it’s not enough to break the pattern of germ transmission. Patients of all conditions need facilities clean, and the first step is locating germ hot spots, including:
Door Handles, Elevator Buttons, Handrails
Used to access every part of the building, handles, buttons, and handrails come into human contact twenty-four hours a day. These healthcare facility features are the most commonly touched, as you see them everywhere you look. And medical office cleaning is impossible to provide throughout the day.
Because of this, studies show large amounts of bacterial colonization on elevator buttons throughout hospitals, while handrails and pull handles are among other leading germ hot spots.
Waiting Rooms
As you probably know, waiting rooms are constantly exposed to human contact. Visitor traffic with potentially infectious patients and little disinfecting care makes waiting rooms a leading germ hot spot.
Specific waiting rooms around areas like ICUs are even more contagious. In hospital rooms with limited visitation, much more traffic gathers in the waiting area. Clipboards, pens, remotes, and toys are common contaminants, and they need cleaning and disinfecting after usage.
Beds, Curtains
Bed linens change between patients, but contamination can spread past sheets. Bacteria can permanently seep into mattresses after repeated usage, not to mention the physical strain on hospital beds over time. Many hospitals have begun replacing mattresses after a certain period.
Privacy curtains may be the most overlooked germ hot spot in any medical facility. Necessary for comfort, curtains are another feature touched constantly. With attention to detail often focused on patients and equipment, curtain sanitation and replacement can be neglected in certain healthcare facilities for over a year.
Studies show many hospitals have started replacing curtains monthly, while 13% of medical offices only change once a year.
Floors, Shoes
You may have never noticed, but healthcare workers commonly change their shoes before leaving their shift. Surfaces, especially in patient rooms, are one of the leading germ hot spots in any hospital.
Lab Coats
The white coat of your doctor symbolizes protection; however, without the proper care, lab coats are among the leading germ hot spots in medical offices.
The daily washing of lab coats is often an afterthought. According to this survey, doctors meet with over 20 patients a day. If a coat goes unwashed for a few weeks, hundreds of exposures are at risk of cross-contamination.
Don’t miss a spot cleaning and disinfecting. Contact a provider like Brenner Facility Services for more information today.
Medical Office Cleaning Checklist
Healthcare facilities offer the best patient care possible, but common germs can go undetected. Providing peace of mind to your staff, patients and visitors is invaluable. And germ prevention isn’t just recommended, OSHA requires it. Check out these medical office cleaning tips:
Entryways, Waiting Rooms
Sweeping and mopping all floors is a top priority. These surfaces are among the most contagious in any healthcare facility. Cleaning and disinfecting handles, rails, and buttons every few hours prevent permanent bacteria contamination, unlike daily sanitation. Waxing or stripping floors entirely once a year is also effective.
Modern technology in waiting rooms can help eliminate germs. Installing monitors that personal devices interact with limits physical touch. Avoid providing toys for children.
Restrooms
Stock bathrooms with toilet paper, soap, and paper towels for longer than 24 hours. Disinfect all toilets and sinks thoroughly. Don’t skip over cleaning faucets, which are one of the most significant reported germ hot spots in hospitals that go unsanitized.
Patient Rooms
If there is one box to check from our previous points, it’s that you should replace privacy curtains as often as possible. Walls are overlooked, too, but monthly scrubbing prevents permanent bacteria contamination. Changing out beds while disinfecting all surfaces, knobs, and sinks provides a healthy environment for new patients.
Medical Office Cleaning Services
Knowing the location of germ hot spots and understanding cleaning and disinfecting techniques significantly reduces the risk of transmission. Medical services need to provide the best healthcare quality, while germ maintenance can often go overlooked. One of the best options is to partner with a commercial cleaning service. Brenner Facility Services takes the burden off your shoulders.
With over 35 years of experience, Brenner Facility Services excels in accountability, communication, and quality. Read on to learn about commercial services BFS provides—and these are just the beginning.
Day Porter
Day porters are on foot throughout standard business hours, providing a consistently clean environment. All-around helpers, porters offer assistance in anything from disinfecting bathrooms to maintenance fixes.
Custodial and Janitorial Services
Medical offices are one of the few businesses requiring around-the-clock care. Janitorial services are your go-to option after hours.
Deep Cleaning Services
Floors and walls in healthcare facilities gather more bacteria than most other germ hot spots. BFS attacks all corners with our deep cleaning services, working to schedule cleanings that work best for your facility.
Clean Room Services
Trust the professional cleaners at Brenner Facility Services for the best quality cleanliness. With the priority to eliminate germ hot spots, BFS’s clean room service utilizes the highest-grade chemicals in mopping and disinfecting.
Water Restoration, Emergency Services
With patient care as the priority, property damages in hospitals can often take a back seat. But water leaks and ceiling damage can threaten staff, patients, and visitors. Unlike other medical office cleaning services, Brenner Facility Services offers unmatched damage restoration.
BFS Eliminates Germ Hot Spots in Your Facility
Never miss another germ hot spot in your healthcare facility. Contact Brenner Facility Services to schedule your medical office cleaning today.