The top priority for any medical office is to keep employees and patients safe. With the threat of COVID-19 and flu season upon us, maintaining a clean office space is more critical than ever. It is the responsibility of the medical office staff to ensure the cleanliness of their workspace. Having a medical office cleaning checklist is a great way to organize cleaning responsibilities, effectively halting the spread of germs, viruses, and bacteria.
Unfortunately, many medical offices don’t have the training necessary to uphold a healthy environment. This leads to cross-contamination, ultimately making matters worse. This article will discuss proper ways to maintain the cleanliness of healthcare facilities in 2024.
The Benefits of Prioritized Cleaning in Medical Facilities
Cross-contamination occurs when bacteria get moved from one object to another. Without proper cleaning surprise or technique, the risk of cross-contamination increases dramatically. While many people inherently trust that medical offices and healthcare facilities know how to handle the spread of germs, this is unfortunately not the case.
In an article published by CBS, research showed that more than 75% of hospitals were cited for serious cleanliness and sanitation violations. Another set of studies showed that only 40%-50% of surfaces were cleaned properly
In most cases, issues with cleanliness are not due to laziness. They are due to a lack of time and organization, both of which could be supported using a medical office cleaning checklist. Medical cleaning services are a great resource that medical offices can utilize to prevent cross-contamination. Failing to hire a quality janitorial service may lead to many unnecessary consequences.
Medical Office Cleaning Checklist for 2024: What’s Included
A medical office cleaning checklist is a crucial tool for any medical facility. Having a checklist allows medical office cleaning services to disinfect and clean medical offices effectively and efficiently. Here are the details included in a medical facility cleaning checklist.
Exterior Cleaning: Entrance and Walkways
The cleanliness of a medical facility starts and ends with the exterior. This includes entrances and walkways. By maintaining the cleanliness of entrance mats and floors, commercial cleaning services can reduce potential accidents. Debris, such as rocks and dirt, can present potentially dangerous obstacles for patients and employees alike. On rainy days, water can also accumulate, making floors and mats particularly slippery.
Back Office Cleaning: Cubicles, Staffroom, and Kitchen
Another key piece of any janitorial service checklist is back office cleaning. Cubicles, staff rooms, and kitchens are filled with high-touch areas, making them prime spaces for germs and bacteria. This is particularly true in a medical facility. Cleaning back offices includes:
- Sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping floors
- Emptying trash and recycling every day
- Removing unneeded clutter on and around desks
- Sanitizing and cleaning walls, windows, phones, computers, keyboards, microwaves, and refrigerators
- Cleaning bathrooms, sinks, and dishes daily
Entryways, Hallways, Waiting Rooms
Waiting rooms, hallways, and entryways tend to accumulate germs and bacteria. This is due to the number of sick people entering a medical facility daily. Without thorough medical cleaning services, these spaces can be a breeding ground for cross-contamination.
Here are a few ways medical office cleaning services can maintain the cleanliness of entryways, hallways, and waiting rooms.
- Disinfect door handles and sliding windows/doors
- Clean chairs, counters, and tables regularly
- Sanitize waiting room items such as children’s toys
- Sweep and mop floors daily
Restroom Cleaning
It’s no surprise that bathrooms require regular cleaning as well. While this may seem obvious, it’s important to have them at the top of a medical cleaning services checklist. Here are some ways to maintain a clean medical facility bathroom:
- Clean and disinfect handrails, toilets, door handles, counters, and sinks daily
- Make sure there is enough soap, paper towels, and toilet paper at all times
- Regularly check for clogs and leaks
- Sweep, scrub, and mop daily
- Clean walls and mirrors
- Empty trash bin every day or sometimes multiple times a day
- Clean trash bins
Patient Room Cleaning and Maintenance
It’s important to keep patient rooms clean, comfortable, and safe. Failing to do so can spread disease and leave a negative lasting impact on patients, particularly if dirt is visible. A study done by the Journal of Hospital Infection revealed that an astonishing 76% of the 185 hospitals examined had unacceptably high levels of bacteria.
Here are ways to maintain a healthy environment for patient rooms.
- Sweeping, mopping, and scrubbing floors
- Disinfecting counters, chairs, beds, sinks, and faucet fixtures regularly
- Sanitizing walls each week
- Sanitizing door handles and plates daily
Equipment Sterilization and Disposal of Biohazard Materials
Any medical facility must keep its equipment sterilized multiple times a day. Removing potentially harmful biohazard materials is also essential.
All medical waste must be disposed of, depending on specific regulations. All equipment should be sterilized each time before use. Failing to do so may put patients in danger and could potentially jeopardize the license of medical professionals.
How Often Should You Keep Clean Your Medical Office
Commercial cleaning services suggest that medical facilities should be deep cleaned once every 2 or 3 weeks. Due to many other responsibilities, this can be particularly difficult for medical office staff to do independently.
Upholding a certain cleanliness standard is important for all medical offices. This is why it is recommended to hire medical office cleaning services whenever a deep clean is needed.
Why Medical Offices Need Professional Cleaning Services
Cleaning services have the experience and know-how to simplify the deep cleaning process, saving offices time and energy. Medical facilities require more regular cleanings than other facilities due to regulation standards. By sticking to their medical office cleaning checklist, professional cleaning services can clean and sanitize rooms, equipment, carpets, and much more in a timely and efficient manner.
Commercial cleaning companies have an intimate understanding of medical industry health standards. Most medical office employees don’t know every detail necessary, putting patients at risk for various illnesses.
A great professional cleaning service adheres to rigorous safety standards, ensuring that your facility will be safe according to OSHA, CDC, and HIPAA guidelines.
Experience Top-Notch Cleanliness for Your Medical Office with Dallas Janitorial Services!
Medical offices can be a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and germs of all kinds. Without consistent cleanings, illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu can spread like wildfire. That’s why it’s so important to have a trusted professional cleaning service by your side!
At Dallas Janitorial Services, we know what it takes to keep patients and employees safe. By offering thorough deep cleaning of every inch of your medical facility, we ensure that you’ll meet all industry standards. Deep cleaning can be time-consuming and stressful. Let the professionals at Dallas Janitorial Services handle it for you!
Ready to get started? Contact Dallas Janitorial Services today!
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Office Cleaning Checklists
How do you disinfect a medical office?
Medical offices can be disinfected using foggers and sprayers. These devices can reach hard-to-reach spots, allowing for every inch of the facility to be properly disinfected.
How can I clean my medical office fast?
To clean an office faster, declutter the space before cleaning. Then focus on high-traffic areas and clean floors back to front. Try to use multipurpose cleaning products to save time. It is also helpful to develop a routine and schedule to be more efficient.
What is cleaning in healthcare?
Healthcare requires a good hygienic environment to stop the spread of infections and disease. Without proper cleaning habits, healthcare facilities can be a dangerous place for individuals with poor immune systems.
What are the seven steps of cleaning in the hospital?
The 7-step cleaning process for cleaning a hospital is:
- Emptying the trash
- Dusting
- Wipe horizontal surfaces from eye level down
- Clean bathrooms
- Dust mop the floors
- Wet mop the floors
- Check each room for dirt and grime
What are the main duties of an office cleaner?
The duties of an office cleaner include cleaning workspaces, offices, bathrooms, hallways, and common areas. This includes sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, restocking, de-sanitizing, and more.
