Healthcare facilities are among the most regulated types of buildings when it comes to cleanliness and compliance. For this reason, medical cleaning is a service that requires adequate training, preparation, and application. From cleaning medical offices to terminal cleaning operating rooms, the practices that a company or facility implements can make the difference between life and death. Fortunately, this doesn't have to be a daunting task. Organizations like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have regulations and practices that ensure your facility stays unblemished - even at a microbial level.

To understand just how important cleaning and disinfecting is, let's examine the various pathogens that are common in a healthcare setting. OSHA has determined that healthcare facilities are an area of occupational exposure, that is: 'reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of an employee's duties.' (29 CFR 1910.1030(b)) This means that these facilities pose a significant risk of infection, especially from bloodborne pathogens. These can include viruses like Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which eventually develops into Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). These are only a few of the potential pathogens that wait in blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).

Compliant cleaning protocols are crucial for tackling these biological threats. While there is too much information to discuss in this article, one can begin learning more about medical cleaning by learning OSHA's bloodborne pathogen standard, needlestick prevention standard, hazardous chemical safety standard, and other relevant OSHA and CDC rules and regulations. Being aware of what cleaning chemicals to use in different applications is also an important facet of developing a compliant cleaning program. the IJCSA Medical Cleaning Certification (MCC) is a great resource to obtain the knowledge you need to get started in this field. The IJCSA Business Directory is also a great resource to find companies in your area that can assist with medical cleaning and compliance.

To summarize, healthcare cleaning requires an attentive mind, adequate equipment, and compliant procedures to be successful. While there are many risks of exposure in the healthcare industry, a well planned cleaning schedule can poise your patients and your facility to thrive for years to come.