Ambulatory surgery centers need science-based cleaning methods to lower the levels of infectious pathogens.
Both critical and non-critical areas of ambulatory surgery centers represent environments that can be high risk to disease transmission. Germ transmission from surfaces to patients and between patients, staff and visitors is difficult to manage if the center is not cleaned properly to hygienic levels. Ambulatory surgery centers need cleaning providers who use aseptic protocols and science-based cleaning methods to lower the levels of infectious pathogens.
To reduce the presence of harmful germs and help reduce the risk of infection, ambulatory surgery centers need to take a focused look at their outsourced cleaning provider's staff and procedures. Selection of a qualified outsourced cleaning service that uses advanced hygienic techniques, backed by real science, can be a critical part of a center's plan to reduce pathogens.
Challenges for Ambulatory Surgery Centers
While nursing staff handle case cleaning of critical areas throughout the day, many ambulatory surgery centers rely on in-house staff or an outsourced cleaning company to perform both terminal cleaning as well as non-critical area cleaning. The use of outdated techniques, often used by both groups, can promote a non-hygienic environment, cross-contamination and the spread of harmful germs throughout the center.
As contaminated touch surfaces such as countertops, door knobs and light switches receive little or no cleaning, they build up soil levels that are rife with pathogens. Once persistent organisms such as MRSA take hold in an ambulatory surgery center, improper cleaning techniques can actually contribute to dissemination. Simply choosing any outsourced cleaning provider to do the work won't in itself fix a facility's surface hygiene issues. It's vital to find a competent, science-based service provider that uses advanced, measurable aseptic cleaning techniques that are proven to reduce pathogens and lower rates of infection.
Best Practices
Today most outsourced providers simply do not have the expertise to be able to effectively provide aseptic cleaning and actively contribute to infection prevention.
An outsourced cleaning service that is striving for aseptic cleaning needs to follow certain hygienic standards and best practices such as those recommended by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN). For example, they should use only EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectants that are approved by the facility's infection control officer and applied with the proper dwell time, to have a more persistent effect on reducing multiple pathogens. The cleaning service should also utilize microfiber flat mop technologies that are more effective at retaining soil and matter than traditional mops. Equipped with super-absorbent microfiber fabric, these lightweight tools trap and hold soil and microbes. Also important in an aseptic cleaning protocol are the use of multi-filtration vacuums that reduce up to 99.97 percent of dust , dirt and pathogens and touch-free, spray-and-vac systems that are scientifically proven to reduce the presence of soils and pathogens on surfaces that are tolerant of this wet cleaning process.
The Science of Cleaning
While many outsourced cleaning services might espouse their ability to "reduce germs," few have the scientific training or resources to demonstrably backup those claims. Samples from contaminated touch surfaces can be easily analyzed for a "before" and "after" review that will clearly show most cleaning companies are not reducing possible sources of surface infection through proper aseptic practices. There is a distinct relationship between patient, staff and visitor health and a hygienic environment that can only be obtained by choosing a health-focused cleaning provider.
Cost Savings
In an ambulatory surgery center setting, greater cost savings and efficiencies can be realized by outsourcing cleaning to companies that focus on hygienic, aseptic cleaning practices. Advanced techniques allow cleaning crews to properly clean surfaces in a fraction of the time. In restroom cleaning, for example, an advanced spray-and-vac system can clean every fixture in about 1 minute, as opposed to 3 or 4 minutes required for traditional methods. These systems are able to deliver efficiency and also effectiveness proven with science-based measurement.
A cleaner, more hygienic environment can also lead to lower incidences of illness among staff, providing cost savings in terms of reduced staff absenteeism and the resulting healthcare costs from worker illness. Proper aseptic cleaning creates a positive feedback loop, with healthier pre- and post-op patients who have more successful recoveries, and healthier staff members who are better able to perform their critical jobs.
Choose the Right Partner
Many ambulatory surgery centers hire internal janitors or outsourced cleaning companies without considering whether these services are helping them reduce the spread of disease and infectious agents. They might choose outsourced cleaning providers who focus on performing work that is aesthetically tidy and gives the appearance of clean, instead of hygienic cleaning that removes matter and harmful germs. Ambulatory surgery center management needs an outsourced cleaning service that engages in scientifically measurable cleaning that can become a crucial complement to a complete infection prevention plan.
Peter J. Sheldon Sr. is an expert in the building services contracting industry and brings more than 20 years of experience to his position as vice president of operations and development of Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System.
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