Effective Dust Control in Health Care Facilities
In health care facilities, an effective and comprehensive cleaning strategy is an integral process that requires constant care and attention. Ultimately, without an adequate cleaning system, a facility can be negatively affected from both a safety and reputation standpoint.
Currently, cleaning staffs are being asked to do more with less, while still maintaining the same – if not better – results. In order to maximize both efficiencies and labor, it’s important for facility managers and building service contractors to choose cleaning tools and products that are easy to use and effectively kill bacteria regardless of surface or location.
Patient satisfaction
The quality and appearance of a health care facility is a key component to first impressions and often sets the tone for an entire visit. One of the most noticeable visual offenders is dust, which can remain on floors and surfaces despite thorough cleaning and mopping. A hazy floor or a dusty countertop can cause visitors to question the overall cleanliness of your building, damaging a facility’s reputation and bottom line.
In addition to negatively influencing first impressions, dust can cause systemic issues as it affects a facility’s Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey score. This metric measures a patient’s overall impression and his or her perspective regarding the care received at a specific hospital. A key survey element, cleanliness of the hospital environment, can be either positively or negatively impacted by a variety of factors including overall aesthetics. Unfortunately, since dust is highly visible to the human eye, it can quickly affect a score.
Patient safety
Although the presence of dust can appear innocuous and innocent, it can cause serious harm to a facility’s patients and staff.
In order for health care facilities to prevent the development of health care-associated infections, a cleaning staff must employ effective cleaning methods and maintain sanitary conditions. Remarkably, research has linked the connection of the environment – specifically the buildup of dust and debris on surfaces – to the development of health care-associated infections.[i] As the microorganisms found in dust are able to survive for an extended period of time and are easily transferable to multiple surfaces, it is imperative that hospitals address debris both quickly and efficiently to ensure the safety of both patients and employees.[ii]
Dust and mopping solutions
In an effort to maintain a good reputation and prevent possible health care-associated infections, it’s essential that a proactive floor and surface cleaning strategy that addresses daily cleaning challenges is identified and implemented. A key component of any cleaning plan should include daily dusting with a product such as the 3M™ Easy Trap Duster-Sweep and Dust Sheets to reduce the risk of infection.
When selecting the best tool for dusting, building managers should consider a solution that can easily be incorporated into an existing system to minimize overall costs. In addition, health care facilities should choose a product that can used for any job – including high dusting, surface cleaning and sweeping – and traps hair and debris on dry and wet floors.
By utilizing a product that successfully eliminates both dirt and debris, facility managers will be able to ensure aesthetics while simultaneously maximizing efficiencies and return on investment.
