Hospital cleaning is a different type of service than house and commercial cleaning, but it’s just as important.
Healthcare facilities such as hospitals and clinics are full of people who are already sick or recovering from surgery, so it’s essential to keep medical facilities clean and sterile to prevent further illness.
This is where healthcare cleaning services come in.
What are healthcare cleaning services?
Since a hospital is a place where people are being treated for illness, a medical facility cleaning service has to take specific precautions for disinfecting hospital rooms.
These facilities have specific guidelines for what they need to be cleaned and how often the service providers should come in.
Hospital cleaners or janitorial services will clean everything from floors, doors, windows, bathrooms—even garbage cans to ensure everything stays clean and sterile.
That means all the common areas like lobbies, hallways, break rooms, or even a medical office are cleaned by cleaners several times a day.
Difference between Medical Facilities Cleaning Services and Housekeeping Services
The difference between medical facilities’ cleaning services and regular housekeeping is that hospital janitors must be certified in bloodborne pathogen training.
This special certification teaches how to safely clean up bodily fluids, which can often contain dangerous viruses like HIV or hepatitis.
Housekeepers typically don’t need this type of certification because they are not exposed to these dangers.
In addition, hospital cleaners have different guidelines about what they should clean and how often—which means it takes a bit longer for them to get through each room.
How does cleaning get done in a healthcare environment?
A healthcare facility such as a dental clinic, operating room, or even a medical office is cleaned and sanitized multiple times daily.
Cleaners use hospital-approved disinfectants to clean all the room’s surfaces, including floors, walls, and ceilings.
Any equipment that can be taken apart is also disassembled and thoroughly cleaned.
Additionally, healthcare facilities and medical office cleaning services also follow strict cleaning practices, guidelines, and protocols for handling and disposing of biohazardous materials and medical waste.
Cleaning companies that offer this kind of service usually abide by protocols established by organizations such as CDC (Center for Disease Control), EPA (the United States Environmental Protection Agency), HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability), and OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration).
In addition to cleaning hospital rooms, hospital cleaners also have responsibility for regularly scheduled patient room maintenance. For example, they might empty all the trash cans throughout the day; keep bathrooms stocked with supplies like soap or paper towels; dust tabletops, vacuum rugs; shampoo carpets; and clean the windows.
So hospital cleaning is a specific service that is important for keeping healthcare facilities clean and sterile.
If you’re looking for a hospital-approved cleaning company to provide this kind of service, be sure to ask about their training certifications to make sure they are qualified to clean in a healthcare environment.
It’s one thing to clean a hospital room—but it’s another to do it safely and according to hospital guidelines.
Why are healthcare facility cleaning services critical?
Healthcare facility cleaning services are vital because they help to prevent the spread of germs and illnesses.
In a hospital, patients can be susceptible to many different types of healthcare-associated infections—and hospital janitors have the crucial job of helping to keep these areas clean and sterile.
Just a side note, hospital cleaners are trained to follow hospital guidelines and protocols for disinfecting hospital rooms—but they might not be able to do it as quickly or thoroughly as regular housekeeping because of the need for extra safety precautions.
How much does it cost to hire a medical facility cleaning service?
Compared to residential and commercial cleaning services, hospital cleaning services are more expensive.
Cleaners have to go through extensive training and certifications—and they also use special equipment that regular cleaners do not need—which is why it costs extra for this kind of service.
Additionally, healthcare facilities are also busy places that require hospital cleaners to be available around the clock.
This means medical facility cleaning services are often at a premium cost because of this availability. Still, it is worth it because they help keep hospital patients safe and healthy.
Hospital cleaners are also exposed to diseases and illnesses that hospital patients might have—which is another reason that cleaners need to be properly trained and certified before they can clean a hospital room.
What to look for in a medical-grade cleaning service
If you are interested in providing a healthy environment for your patients and employees, here are a few things to look for in a hospital-approved cleaning service:
Reputation and credibility
Make sure to do some research on the company and read reviews. You wouldn’t want to hire a cleaning service that hasn’t been around long or has a bad reputation for sloppy work. Hospital cleaners are responsible for keeping hospital areas such as patient rooms and surgical centers clean and sterile.
Training
Find out if the medical facility cleaning service you’re interested in has gone through an extensive training program that will prepare them to work in a hospital setting. If they have, this is probably a good sign that their hospital cleaning standards follow all of the necessary guidelines and protocols.
Cleaning equipment
Hospital and medical office cleaning equipment are often necessary to properly clean and disinfect hospital areas. Make sure the cleaning service you’re interested in has access to this type of equipment so they can do their job effectively.
Insurance
This one is a no-brainer—any type of cleaning service you hire should have liability insurance in case something happens while they’re working on your property.
If you’re looking for a hospital-approved and certified medical facility cleaning service, be sure to ask about their training certifications, reputation, and equipment before making your decision.
Availability
Hospital cleaners are often required to work odd hours, weekends, and holidays. Make sure the medical facility cleaning service you’re interested in is available when you need them.
Cleaning certifications
The company should have several hospital-approved certifications (OSHA, HIPAA, and EPA). They may also offer an additional guarantee to help protect your business in case of any accidents during the hospital cleaning process.
Final Thoughts
Healthcare cleaning services are a critical component of any hospital or clinic’s ability to provide the best care possible.
If you’re in charge of keeping your facility clean, make sure you know what healthcare cleaners can do for you and how they might be able to help improve patient outcomes.
