3 Details to Consider When Hiring Commercial Cleaning for Your Medical Facility

When a new patient enters your medical office, the cleanliness of the space can influence their first impression of your healthcare facility. A clean, uncluttered space properly invites the patient into your medical office and gives them confidence in your office's abilities. Proper disinfecting procedures also reduce the spread of illness. To keep your space looking its best, hire a commercial cleaning crew.

Search for a crew with experience cleaning medical facilities. The average cleaning crew is not equipped to handle the unique needs of a medical facility. Here are a few details to keep in mind when hiring a commercial team to clean your medical office.

1. The Crew's Experience Following OSHA Guidelines

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has strict guidelines that individuals who work around bloodborne pathogens need to follow. These guidelines also include the people who handle the cleaning tasks for medical facilities.

These guidelines cover multiple aspects for employees who work around bloodborne pathogens, including recommendations for vaccinations, rules for handling contaminated laundry, and the required cleaning procedures for bodily fluids that can potentially spread HIV and other bloodborne diseases.

Your cleaning crew should have experience dealing with potential hazards in a medical office, including the proper handling of sharps, what protective equipment they should wear (and when they must wear the protective items), the proper housekeeping procedures for a medical environment, and what steps they should take in the event of an exposure to potentially dangerous materials.

Stick with a reputable cleaning company that ensures its employees adhere to vaccination requirements and receive the necessary training to understand OSHA’s rules. The cleaning crew should also understand the importance of disinfecting their cleaning tools to prevent spreading illness.

2. Any Preferences Regarding Cleaning Products or Techniques

You need to confirm that the cleaning crew will clean your facility using your preferred cleaning products or techniques. The crew must sanitize contaminated areas using an approved disinfectant.

However, you may have a preference regarding the type of disinfectant. Some healthcare professionals feel that a multipurpose product works best for their facilities. These products permit the cleaner to clean and disinfect a surface at the same time, decreasing the amount of time it takes to clean a space.

Areas outside of the medical space are another consideration. You might prefer that your crew use "green" products that minimize the use of chemicals and help the environment. You may have preferences regarding which type of equipment you want the crew to use.

For example, certain vacuum cleaners may be more effective at removing dust and allergens from your facility. If you have patients with sensitive medical needs, it is essential to reduce allergens as much as possible in your medical office.

3. Expectations Concerning Which Areas the Crew Should Clean

Before hiring a commercial cleaning crew for your medical facility, dictate specifically what tasks you expect of the crew. In buildings that house multiple businesses or even several healthcare offices, clarification is necessary regarding which areas the crew is responsible for cleaning.

For example, many building owners might hire a general cleaning crew who handles common areas such as hallways, lobbies, and restrooms, and exterior tasks such as washing the windows.

In addition, you may also wish to have the cleaning crew take care of waiting spaces, employee restrooms, the employee break room, and areas reserved for administrative tasks. Clearly communicating your expectations helps the cleaning service properly price the job and see that it devotes enough employees to your cleaning sessions.

Need an experienced cleaning crew for your medical office? Contact Janitorial Services Atlanta today for a quote.