What Does Medical Office Cleaning Entail?
A lot of germs and illnesses come into the medical office every day. While regular cleaning and sanitization of surfaces may be a norm at your office, some are hidden and you may not have noticed or thought of cleaning. These may include
- Armrests on chairs in the office, waiting rooms, or patient exam rooms
- Kids’ toys, chairs, books, and tables
- Pen and chart boards
- Door handles throughout the office
- Water fountains
Medical office cleaning entails deep cleaning of the office to make sure all areas are free of germs. This also includes overlooked areas such as countertops, windows, and light switches to make sure they are smudge and germ-free.
A comprehensive doctor’s office cleaning checklist usually contains tasks that ensure every surface and corner of the facility remains spotless. The list may include:
- Office Cleaning Procedures: Sanitizing high-traffic and high-touch areas such as light switches, doorknobs, call equipment, and elevator buttons
- Regular Cleaning of Exam Room: Roughly cleaning the examination room after each use
- Deep-cleaning Restroom: This includes the toilets, sinks, and floors
- Dusting of Furniture: All furniture should be dusted and wiped, including the toys and magazines
Top Medical Office Cleaning Tips
Some areas in your medical office may go without normal cleaning simply because they look clean. However, germs tend to linger on all surfaces and can be easily touched and breathed on. Therefore, medical office cleaning involves focusing on both areas that appear clean or look dirty.
As a rule, adhering to OSHA and CDC industry standards helps in keeping the medical office clean at all times. The standards have been set out to ensure the safety of the staff and patients while lowering the risk of healthcare-associated infections. General, the following few tips are a good place to start:
1.Wipe Down All the Surfaces
Cleaning the doctor’s office requires to be as meticulous as possible. Since most germs are not visible to the naked eye, they can hide anywhere in plain sight. By wiping down all the surfaces in the office, you are more likely to get rid of as many germs as possible. This includes all the areas that the patients and staff come into contact while at the office.
2.Disinfect High-traffic Areas
Areas such as the waiting room are prone to collecting germs, bacteria, and dust mites. Wiping these areas with EPA-registered disinfectants helps get rid of the germs, making them safer for patients and staff. In the doctor’s office, high-traffic areas may include cabinets, drawer handles, sinks, chairs, and faucets. In the reception, more attention must be given to cleaning phones, door handles, clipboards computer equipment, and counters.
3.Clean Examining Rooms
These are usually susceptible to cross-contamination between patients, doctors, and nurses. When cleaning the examination room, extra attention should be given to countertops, lights, and treatment chairs. It is important to make sure that the room is cleaned after every use by wiping all the areas to prevent potential accidental infections. Occasionally, the room will also need deep cleaning to ensure that all the areas that may have been missed are addressed.
4.Stock Sanitizing Supplies
Cleaning a medical office involves the use of lots and lots of sanitizing supplies. In addition to regular cleaning, sanitizing is needed most of the time to ensure the hygiene of your facility. Make sure these supplies are within reach at desks, reception areas, and restrooms:
- Hand-cleaning gels and sprays
- Disinfectant wipes
- Disinfecting cleaning sprays
- Plenty of soap
- Paper towels
It also helps to create a schedule for the staff to constantly review restroom and patient areas for cleanliness. The supplies will be stocked on time and the areas cleaned as well.
Get Specialized Medical Office Cleaning Services
Cleaning a medical office may take longer and become costly if done improperly. Your staff may also miss or overlook some areas that contain germs simply because they look clean. That’s why it is important to entrust this job to expert cleaners like DMS Janitorial who are well-trained in proper medical cleaning procedures. Whether you are looking for cleaners for your hospital, urgent care centers, surgical centers, dental offices, or doctor’s offices, we will send you professional cleaners will make sure all areas are clean and safe for your staff and patients.