Close on the heels of setting of norms and regulations for hospitals as envisaged in the National Standard of Cleanliness and Patient Environment Action Teams, it has virtually become imperative for all nursing homes and hospitals to adopt a modern approach to cleanliness as the patients have a right for it. An important part of the strategy to tackle Health Care-Associated Infections (HCAI) stipulates that all hospitals must make cleanliness and hygiene as their “high priority areas”.
The hospital now has a large number of responsibilities, including:
– liaison exists between the infection control team and the facilities management team.
– hospitals designates lead managers for cleaning and decontamination of equipment used for treatment.
– all parts of the premises in which a hospital provides healthcare are suitable for the purpose, kept clean and maintained in good physical repair and condition.https://cleanindiajournal.com/final/wp-admin/post.php?post=10725&action=edit
– the cleaning arrangements detail the standards of cleanliness required in each part of the hospital’s premises and that a schedule of cleaning frequencies is publicly available.
Besides protecting the patients, staff and others from HCAIs, the hospitals are also duty-bound to introduce appropriate management systems for infection prevention and control. They also have to provide and maintain a clean and appropriate environment for healthcare and provide information on HCAIs to patients and the public.
This make the hospitals adopt newer methods of cleanliness rather than stick to the traditional ones. Usual cleaning methods are:
i. Dry cleaning methods
– Dust Controlling
ii. Wet cleaning methods
– Damp cloth
– Damp mop
– Deck scrubber
iii. Water only:
Water + Detergent
Water + Disinfectant
But a total revolution can now be brought in, in the realm of hospital cleaning with the help of ultra-modern technologies.
Ultrasonic Cleaning Technology
- Ultrasonic cleaning machines consist of a generator, a transducer pack and a tank.
- The generator converts electricity into a frequency and feeds it through the transducer, which is immersed in water in the tank.
- The transducer radiates sound waves, which permeate through the water in the tank and produce microscopic bubbles that are imperceptible to the naked eye.
- The bubbles implode, generating heat, and a vacuum is created which lifts dirt away.
- Almost any job can be done faster by ultrasonic cleaning.
- This saves money, time and manpower, and can increase profit margins substantially.
- Ultrasonic cleaning also can be more environmentally friendly than traditional cleaning because fewer chemicals are required.
- Does the cleaning without noise.
- Yet to be widely used in Europe.
- Expensive as of now.
- Health care organization (HCO) Environment.
- The environment’ means the totality of a patient’s surroundings in the HCO premises.
- This includes the fabric of the building and related fixtures, fittings and services such as air, water and electricity supplies.
