As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on, the importance of maintaining a clean and safe environment in medical offices has never been greater. One key aspect of this is using a professional pesticide service to eliminate pests and reduce the risk of contamination. In this blog post, we’ll explore the best practices for utilizing such a service to keep your medical office as sanitary as possible Whether you’re a healthcare worker or the manager of a medical facility, these tips will help you ensure that your space is free from pests and the diseases they can carry.
Pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses pose a constant risk to medical facilities. They can cause diseases that require treatment, and if left unchecked, some can lead to severe complications. The coronavirus, for instance, has developed into a highly infectious strain, prompting medical professionals to seek effective methods for decontaminating their offices in the event of a COVID or any other disease outbreak. One proven effective solution is hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a safe and straightforward disinfectant that can be easily produced and applied in a medical setting.”
Why Medical Offices Need to be Disinfected
Naturally, a hospital is one of the most vulnerable places to diseases and infections if not properly disinfected. This disease may even emerge from the most unexpected places like a medical office. Ensuring that a medical office is clean and meets the standards set by organizations such as the CDC and OSHA is an important responsibility for staff members. A clean and welcoming environment is important for patient satisfaction and maintaining the safety and health of both patients and staff. By following research-based cleaning procedures, medical offices can reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections, lower the chances of cross-contamination, and ultimately, keep everyone safer. It is crucial for medical office staff to focus on the following key areas when cleaning the clinic
Where to Disinfect in the Hospital
High-traffic places should be disinfected.
Furniture and other surfaces in heavy traffic areas, such as the waiting room, are susceptible to the accumulation of bacteria, dust mites, and other germs. When cleaning, employees must adhere to industry standards by using EPA-registered disinfectants. The most typical high-traffic places in medical offices are drawer handles, faucets, cabinets, seats, and sinks. The same is true for specialized rooms such as X-ray or suturing sections. Phones, computer equipment, clipboards, door handles, and counters should be cleaned first at reception.
Surfaces covered in dust
When dust collects on surfaces, people question how clean the remainder of the office is. Dust accumulation in medical offices can aggravate respiratory issues and transfer bacteria that cause illness. Dusting surfaces throughout the clinic regularly is an easy method to keep the room clean while preventing dust mites and germs from entering the air.
Avoid the use of a feather duster. All these tools do is move the dust about without actually collecting it. Use a dampened cloth, a tiny handheld vacuum, or a microfiber duster. Never wait until dust appears on surfaces. The longer you wait to clean, the more probable bacteria will accumulate on these surfaces. Dust can aggravate allergies in patients. Therefore disinfect at least three times per week to keep your patients safe.
Disinfect the Examining rooms
Another place susceptible to germs and pest is the examining room. After each use, all parts of the examination rooms must be thoroughly cleaned. Because these places are prone to cross-contamination between doctors, nurses, and patients, they require special care during the cleaning. Using the appropriate disinfectants, clean the lights, counters, and treatment chair.
Wipe down all doorknobs, cupboards, light switches, and other high-touch areas after each patient leaves. These places are particularly vulnerable to germs since they frequently go unnoticed when cleaning. Keeping these locations clean gives patients peace of mind and allows staff to protect them from dangerous diseases.
Maintain the cleanliness of the restrooms.
It may seem obvious to maintain the bathrooms clean, but when the office is busy, these spaces sometimes need to be addressed more often. The state of your clinic’s restroom displays its attitude toward cleanliness. Patients who use your restroom and notice paper towels strewn around, soap sticking to sinks, and other filthy locations may decline treatment in that practice. All medical clinics must conduct frequent restroom checks. Make a cleaning routine for countertops, toilets, sinks, and other fixtures. Always keep soap, paper towels, and toilet paper on hand in the bathroom.
Prepare the welcome area.
It’s crucial to have a well-organized greeting room, but it doesn’t have to be sterile or frigid. You can maintain cleanliness while maintaining the friendly, welcoming atmosphere that people expect when seeing the doctor. Keep the reception area free of clutter because it is where patients get their initial impression of the office. Clear the reception desk of any unneeded paperwork, pens, and clipboards. Put any files that are no longer in use in their rightful location. Most importantly, clean the surfaces on which patients fill out forms or other documents. Patients will recall reception as the last section of the clinic. Keeping the reception desk clean will make a positive impression on the patient’s visit.
The medical office reflects your service and demonstrates your attention to detail. Keeping a clean medical clinic is advantageous to the patients and demonstrates that you care about the environment in which you work. Even if you hire a professional cleaning service, don’t leave these places untouched. Implement these cleaning strategies to provide better patient care and keep them returning for years to come.
How to Use Hypochlorous Acid to Disinfect the Hospital
HOCI, or hypochlorous acid, is a disinfectant used in hospitals and other healthcare settings to kill germs and prevent spreading infections. Here are some steps to use HOCI to disinfect a hospital: How to disinfect your hospital after COVID, or how do you institute a routine, non-invasive disinfecting protocol?
Here are some best practices:
- Dilute the HOCI solution according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It is important to use the correct concentration of HOCI to ensure that it is effective at killing germs and safe to use.
- Wipe surfaces with the HOCI solution using a clean cloth or sponge. Be sure to cover all surfaces, particularly to high-touch areas such as door handles, countertops, and bed rails.
- Allow the HOCI solution to sit on the surfaces for the recommended time specified by the manufacturer. This will allow the solution to kill any germs on the surface.
- Rinse the surfaces with water to remove any residue and allow the surfaces to air dry.
- Dispose of the cloth or sponge used to wipe down the surfaces in a designated waste container.
It is important to follow proper infection control practices when using HOCI or any other disinfectant in a hospital setting. This includes wearing protective equipment, such as gloves and a gown, and following proper hand washing techniques.
Other Uses of Hypochlorous Acid
We said earlier that hypochlorous acid is a general disinfectant. These are the other things that hypochlorous acid can be used to disinfect:
- Food Produce
- Meat
- Furniture
- Surgical/Medical Equipment
- Livestock
- Water
- Seafood
- Poultry
- Household furniture and fittings
- Toilets and bathrooms, among others.