Cleanliness in the workplace is imperative for all professionals, especially in healthcare facilities. By assessing risks and eliminating their potential to harm people, healthcare professionals are able to maintain the highest quality of care no matter what the circumstances bring. So, if you work in a medical setting, it’s important that you follow the rules and do your part to be a careful and capable provider.
Below are five tips for having a sanitary healthcare practice. Each complements the others by creating a safe and hygienic environment for healthcare providers and their patients.
Table of Contents
1: Focus on Hand Hygiene
Healthcare providers work exclusively with their hands. Therefore, you must be trained to use correct hand hygiene techniques prior to providing care for others, such as proper handwashing and wearing gloves. You must also be given access to protective gear for your hands in places where you work. Finally, you’ll want to develop the desire to educate patients on proper hand hygiene because it prevents the spread of disease and accelerates healing.
2: Utilize Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Correctly
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) saves lives when used correctly. Items such as surgical masks, face guards, and gloves provide extra protection between contagious diseases, bloodborne pathogens, and aerosol pathogens. In some medical settings, PPE is provided for patients as a way to protect them and the professionals providing their care. If you work in a healthcare facility, inventorying current supplies of PPE ensures that you never run out of medical equipment before you have a chance to replenish your stockroom.
3: Clean and Disinfect the Building Regularly
A well-executed cleaning and disinfecting program is imperative in healthcare settings. It involves hiring, scheduling, and training individuals to perform cleaning and disinfecting duties daily. By learning which agents are best for the job, housekeepers and healthcare providers maintain a level of cleanliness incapable of causing harm. In addition to correctly using cleaners and disinfectants, everyone working with them should also know how to safely store the products for future use.
4: Have a Plan for Hazardous Waste
Proper biohazard waste disposal remains a top priority for medical facilities handling sharps such as needles, broken glass, and scalpels. It’s also important to address solid waste (gloves, towels, and culture), liquid waste (blood and bodily fluids), and pathological waste (human organs, body parts, and tissues). Medical facilities must have effective training and develop policies and procedures involving the handling of medical waste. That way, waste doesn’t get disposed of improperly and become a risk for patients and medical staff.
5: Promote Vaccinations
Provide vaccination education for healthcare providers and patients by developing proper protocols for the storage and distribution of vaccines. Keep records of vaccinations and future due dates with an established system for future doses. Support vaccinated healthcare workers and patients by being able to answer their questions and refer them to the right tools and resources.
Determining which vaccinations are the most effective in your healthcare setting is an important part of maintaining its safety. Referring to local and world health agencies for advice is something you can do regularly. It allows you to stay up to date on the latest news and safety recommendations while keeping you and the people you work with safe. It’s one more precautionary measure to take when providing health care to people with various medical conditions.
Stay Informed, Prepared, and Protected
A sanitary healthcare practice requires dedication. It involves meticulous monitoring and evaluation of current health threats and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
When you follow the tips listed here, you not only show up to your job better prepared for the day, but you also make it a point to protect yourself, your work colleagues, your patients, and your family.