7 Questions You Need to Ask Before Hiring a Professional Cleaning Company for Your Healthcare Facility
Before choosing a healthcare cleaning company for your facility, you should have total confidence that the cleaning professionals you pick can help protect the health and safety of your practitioners and patients. There should be open, honest communication between your facility supervisors and janitorial service provider – starting from the very first interview. During the interview process, you should be given the opportunity to clearly explain your facility’s needs and discover the tools, services and level of experience each healthcare cleaning company is equipped to provide.
The healthcare cleaning experts at ServiceMaster Clean compiled this handy list of seven essential questions to ask when choosing between the healthcare cleaning companies on your list. Use our questions to uncover crucial information that will aid in your decision.
What training does your cleaning staff receive?
Before a healthcare cleaning company can effectively clean a specific facility, their service technicians should be given extensive industry-specific training. Service providers should have a solid grasp on the differences between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting and when, where and how to implement each decontamination method. Requirements can vary depending on the type of facility – from dentist offices to physician offices to medical clinics and outpatient surgical centers – so make sure you’re up to date on the standards for your specific facility.
What cleaning products and equipment do you use?
For maximum elimination of harmful bacteria, your healthcare cleaning company should use EPA-approved, hospital-grade sanitizers and disinfectants, including sporicidal disinfectant. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also recommends using HEPA vacuums and filters for better air quality and microfiber mops and cloths to trap pathogens. Reusable products may be suitable for some tasks, while disposable supplies may be required for others to prevent cross-contamination.
What safety precautions do you take?
Healthcare cleaning companies should provide their staff with the necessary protective equipment, including gloves, masks and even hazmat suits, if needed. Aside from protecting the cleaning technicians who service your facility, protective gear protocols and safety checks can help reduce the spread of infection when used in conjunction with proper hazardous waste disposal methods.
How will you address the unique needs of my healthcare facility?
The type of healthcare facility you manage will dictate its sanitation requirements. A professional healthcare cleaning company should know how to address the different needs of physicians’ offices, dental practices and outpatient surgical centers. For example, high-risk environments like surgical centers will need a higher degree of sanitization and disinfection than a dental office. The medical cleaning service you choose should be able to articulate specific cleaning procedures they would perform for your facility rather than a generalized cleaning plan.
How did you develop your sanitation standards?
Healthcare cleaning companies’ safety and sanitation standards should align with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the environmental cleaning policies recommended by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Protocols should also comply with local and state rules and regulations, along with recommendations from other federal agencies, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and OSHA.
How will you help my practice increase patient satisfaction and return on investment?
A sanitary environment, fresh appearance and safe cleaning standards will help contribute to higher scores on patient satisfaction surveys. As the healthcare industry shifts toward value-driven payment models, a better experience for patients means a bigger return on investment for you. Find a company that understands the healthcare evaluation system’s current landscape so you receive patient-centered healthcare cleaning that is designed to improve patient comfort and satisfaction.
Can your company work around my schedule?
Providers and patients should reap the benefits of superior environmental cleaning without being disrupted by the cleaning process. Choose a cleaning company with flexible scheduling options to avoid interrupting your practice and detracting from the patient experience. Your janitorial service provider should be able to work around your facility’s hours of operation.
The healthcare cleaning professionals at ServiceMaster Clean are available 24/7/265 to ensure our patient-centered cleaning program addresses each of requirements above. Get quality performance you can trust. Visit us online or contact your local ServiceMaster Clean franchise today to customize a cleaning plan for your healthcare facility that meets your unique needs and budget.
