Here are 4 ways you can ensure your environment is kept clean.
Set high standards
The first step is to create hygienic standards that are suitable for a medical practice environment. Take a look around your current location and think about aspects could be improved to raise your standards.
It is important to make sure that everyone working in your practice understands the relevance of these standards and how they can help to maintain them. Each employee should be aware of his or her responsibilities and why they are needed to provide prime healthcare.
Minimise spread of infection
Infections spread throughout clinical environments place an unnecessary burden on the health system, particularly as many cases may be prevented with adequate cleaning standards.
In particular, it is important to ensure that all surfaces are cleaned sufficiently with the use of a disinfectant. Additionally, keeping patients and medical instruments that may carry an infection separated from other patients is essential.
Read more about the prevention of infection in healthcare
Enforce adequate hand washing
Hands are able to carry bacteria between patients and medical equipment easily. For this reason, hands should be washed every time medical professionals move between different patients or areas of the practice. Patients and visitors should also be advised to wash their hands.
The technique is also important and a suitable option that many medical practices utilise is an alcohol-based disinfectant hand wash. This is more effective than using soap and water, in addition to offering more convenience.
Read more about hand washing in a medical practice
Dispose of waste responsibly
Much of the waste in a medical environment is contaminated and may result in the spread of infection. In order to manage this, responsible waste disposal is essential.
This includes medical equipment that is intended for one-time use, as well as all sharps and devices used for injection. These should be disposed of in a separate bin that is cleaned regularly with appropriate precautions.
Additionally, when medical liquids or bodily fluids are accidentally spilled in the practice environment, these should be taken care of immediately. All spills should be removed and then cleaned with soap, water and disinfectant.
