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“We train the boys in multiple tasks. When there is deficiency of workforce in any of the areas, we change roles and shift staff from one department to another. For example, a person in the housekeeping may have to do ward service or admin duty and so on.”
– Ammin Rajqotwala
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Housekeeping
Every hospital has a different cleaning protocol, says Ammin Rajqotwala, CMD, Rare Hospitality and Services Pvt. Ltd, the facility management company maintaining Saifee Hospital.
“The infection control committee of the hospital decides the cleaning standards that are to be set. The nature and frequency of cleaning, identifying the areas that needs to be cleaned, the process of dealing with each area… For example, for infection control in the high-risk areas, what chemicals to be used, how it has to be used, etc., are decided by the committee. We work very closely with them and are bound to match those standards. Hence, each hospital has a protocol which we need to follow.”
In order to keep up with the standards laid down, Rare Hospitality emphasises on regular training session, off-site and onsite, for the entire team working in the hospital. Following the training, the staff is also tested and the outcome is shared with the client. “At any point of time when there is some shortcoming, we sit with the client and get it rectified,” he explained.
“The bottom line for Saifee is hygiene, cleanliness and no infection.” There are constant tests conducted to ensure standards. “There are swap tests carried out. When it comes to grooming and discipline among the staff or handling of patients, the hospitality extended by the staff, proper handling of patients in the suites, etc., are constantly monitored and rectified.”
There are about 450 staff members with 25 supervisors who work from morning 7am with defined duty schedule to maintain the hospital. The staff work on all the nine-storeys besides the upper storey and the three levels below ground where the laundry and CSSD departments are located. As part of the services offered, Rare Hospitality also handles patient care.
“We train the boys in multiple tasks. When there is deficiency of workforce in any of the areas, we change roles and shift staff from one department to another. For example, a person in the housekeeping may have to do ward service or admin duty and so on.” Hence, they all receive training on how to handle patients right from moving them into a wheel chair to putting them comfortably on their bed.
“The staff is assigned for a day or week or month and are exposed to the nature and demands of the work. So that the work is carried out smoothly.”
“It is a wonderful experience working with Saifee, since the management is particular about patient experience in terms of both handling and hospitality. Together we make a good team. And must mention that Huzaifa Shehabi is a very knowledgeable and a wonderful person to work with. With him, we never stop learning and always feel can do better.”
CSSD
Cleaning in the healthcare sector involves processes which include disinfection and sterilization. CSSD or the central sterile services department is the heart or the backbone of the hospital. It is an integrated place in hospitals and other health care facilities that performs sterilization and other actions on medical devices and equipment.
“Lack of knowledge in the hospital staff about sterilization procedure is one of the primary reasons for the rise of infection,” says Sadashiv P. Gaonkar, Senior Manager – CSSD, Saifee Hospital.
Maintenance and reprocessing of advance surgical instruments and equipment in modern era of medical science is a challenging experience. The job is demanding and CSSD plays a key role in controlling the surgical side infection in a hospital. “Surgical technique is continuously evolving and surgical instruments have kept pace with technology. While modern instruments have expanded the range of surgical procedures, the technology has also dramatically increased the difficulty in cleaning, decontaminating and sterilizing. These newly designed costly devices create processing challenges because they often contain complex structural anatomy, fragile components like fibre optic cables, lenses, cameras, scopes, etc., usually long and narrow lumen with multiple joints, valves mostly made up of heat sensitive material. Specially minimally invasive instruments, which require changes in sterilization processes.”
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“Surgical technique is continuously evolving and surgical instruments have kept pace with technology. While modern instruments have expanded the range of surgical procedures, the technology has also dramatically increased the difficulty in cleaning, decontaminating and sterilizing.”
– Sadashiv P. Gaonkar
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Most of the super speciality hospitals import very expensive CSSD equipment & sterilizers. “However, they do get trained staff in India as we do not have recognized CSSD training program.”
For a surgeon, it is difficult to assess the sterility of an instrument, as it cannot be judged sterile by the naked eye. The surety of cleaning, assembly, packing, sterilization, storage, transportation and proper documentation proof with quality assurance test can only be provided by CSSD. To create awareness in Mumbai, we have a Hospital Sterile Services Association (HSSA) which is a registered body formed in the year 2000. Sadashiv Gaonkar is also the president of this association.
“CSSD at Saifee hospital is one of the best in Mumbai with state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure. We maintain proof of documentation for quality assurance according to international protocol and guidelines. We give sterility assurance level 10-6 which is internationally accepted. We have well-experienced and trained staff. Validation and quality assurance is done by monitoring physical, chemical and biological parameters.”
In February 2017 in Thailand, Saifee Hospital along with two other hospitals from India have been designated as the laureate of APSIC CSSD Center of Excellence Award 2015-16. “Our hospital has demonstrated outstanding leadership in delivering quality disinfection and sterilization services. This is matter of great honour to us that our hospital represented India at this prestigious program and has been selected for the top prize as the Gold winners in best practices in sterilization. APSIC auditors are also impressed with our in-house innovations, trainings and awareness programs.”
