Cleaning a doctor’s office requires following protocol for best practices as set forth by the CDC, OSHA, and similar entities. It’s vital for the health of the staff and patients that cleaning products are chosen and prepared correctly and procedures are followed precisely. To help you get started, read on to learn how to clean a doctor’s office.
Environmental cleaning, when done appropriately, will limit the risk of spreading a wide variety of illnesses, including COVID-19. At 360clean, we clean more than one million square feet of healthcare facility space every night, and our teams abide by industry best practices for cleaning in the healthcare niche. For a free quote for your doctor’s office, contact us today.
Preparing Environmental Cleaning Products
Most of the time, environmental cleaning products and solutions are sold as concentrated formulas that have to be diluted by combining them with water before they are used. Failing to dilute them appropriately can be harmful.
Always prepare products according to the manufacturer’s instructions in designated service areas that are not used for any other purposes. Each cleaning program professional, whether in-house or external, should be provided with proper training and instructions that are simple to follow.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) must always be worn when preparing and using solutions, and all containers used must be appropriate for their uses. You can prepare the solutions in batches in large containers as long as they are clean, clearly labeled, and have an expiration date clearly marked.
Supplies for Cleaning Doctor’s Offices
The CDC has stated that essential equipment and supplies for cleaning doctor’s offices can include:
- Surface-Cleaning Supplies: Bottles and buckets for storing and applying solutions
- Floor-Cleaning Supplies: Mops, brooms, squeegees, and cloths
However, the CDC also advises that certain supplies should not be used for the disinfection of environmental surfaces. These supplies include brooms and dry mops, foggers and fumigators, and spray bottles (squeeze bottles are to be used instead).
Facilities can use reusable supplies and equipment, or they can choose to use disposable supplies.
Cleaning supplies must be:
- Properly used
- Well-maintained
- Suited for the intended purpose
- Cleaned and stored dry when not in use
Certain equipment, such as floor polishers, may need to be inspected and repaired by maintenance staff and qualified professionals, and service records must be kept.
Environmental Cleaning of Offices
Each floor of a doctor’s office building should have a storage and prep area, which should have:
- A biohazard sign on the door
- An appropriate water supply
- Floor drains/utility sinks for safe solution disposal
- A dedicated handwashing sink
- An eyewash station
This area should be well-ventilated, brightly lit, and free of clutter. The walls, floors, and counters must be able to be cleaned as well.
Doctor’s Office Cleaning Procedures
There are three elements that determine how doctor’s offices are cleaned, how often, and with what:
- Probability of contamination
- Potential for exposure
- Vulnerability of the patients to infection
Of course, the higher the risk of contamination, the more rigorous the cleaning must be. Every doctor’s office cleaning staff must develop cleaning schedules that include key information. This information should be updated each and every shift, at minimum. This information includes:
- The frequency
- The method
- The name/signature of the person responsible
- The standard operating procedure for cleaning
In addition, the CDC also recommends certain environmental cleaning procedures be used, as well as some general strategies.
General Cleaning Techniques for Doctor’s Offices
When cleaning doctor’s offices, the CDC mandates five steps to be taken to properly disinfect areas:
Visual Assessment
Conduct a visual inspection of the site in order to determine whether any patient’s status could pose a challenge to cleaning the area safely. See if there is a need for extra supplies or PPE, and note any obstacles, including any damaged furniture or surfaces, that could pose a challenge or need to be reported.
Proceed from Cleaner to Dirtier
Go from cleaner areas to dirtier ones to avoid spreading germs and dirt. For example, clean patient examination areas before cleaning patient toilets, and clean low-touch areas before high-touch surfaces.
Clean from High to Low
Preventing microorganisms and dirt from falling or dripping onto already-cleaned areas can be done by working from top to bottom. This includes cleaning bed rails before the legs of beds, cleaning floors last, and cleaning environmental surfaces before floors.
Proceed in a Systematic Manner
Working in a methodical manner will help you avoid missing areas accidentally. You can work clockwise or left to right, for example. If you are cleaning a doctor’s office with multiple patient zones, clean each one in the same manner.
Immediately Address Fluid Spills
Clean body fluid spills right away using distinct protocols set forth by the facility and state regulations.
Never double-dip cleaning cloths into portable containers, and always use fresh cleaning cloths.
Make Cleaning Doctor’s Offices Easier
As you can see, a lot of work goes into maintaining a healthcare facility with best practices. To lighten your workload, let the professionals at 360clean take care of everything when it comes to cleaning your doctor’s offices. Contact us today for a free quote!
