Urgent Care Facility Cleaning: The CDC's Best Practices

Maintaining the highest level of cleanliness and disinfection is a top-level priority for today’s urgent care facilities. Working with a certified cleaning company equipped with the technologies and expertise it takes to deliver optimal results can help ensure your facility is getting adequate care. 

Abiding by The Centers for Disease Control’s best practices also provides comprehensive, actionable directives that can be implemented and assessed at regular intervals. First, the right tools and the latest technologies need to be utilized, such as Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) and EPA-registered disinfectants. Secondly, cleaning professionals and clinical staff members need to use proper cleaning techniques and protocols to provide optimum hygiene standards. Lastly, the cleaning program must align with the needs of various areas within the care center.

The Centers for Disease Control Guidelines

The CDC’s guidelines on best practices for environmental cleaning in healthcare facilities are designed to minimize the risk of pathogen transmission, cross contamination, Healthcare-associated infections (HAI), and ensure a safe, hygienic environment for all patients, staff members, and visitors. 

The CDC advises clinical staff members and cleaning service providers to assess the three main risk categories to determine suitable cleaning frequency and procedures. Those risk factors include the probability of pathogen contamination, the vulnerability of the population to infection, and the specific needs of immunocompromised individuals such as those with underlying diseases and health conditions (diabetes, HIV, cancer, etcetera), including burn victims and newborn infants.

The CDC’s specific risk factors for cleaning protocols & frequency include the following: 

• Probability of contamination with pathogens

• Vulnerability of the patients to infection

• Number of immunocompromised individuals

As an urgent care facility that serves the general public, it is a fact that individuals of all levels of health and wellness, including immunocompromised patients, will receive treatment within your care center. For this reason, it is imperative that the proper cleaning and disinfecting protocols are put in place to limit the transmission of infections and maintain a clean and safe environment.

High-Risk Areas That Require Frequent Cleaning & Disinfection

To be clear, all areas of an urgent care facility require correct cleaning and disinfection on a regular basis. There are, however, specific areas that require more frequent treatment with an EPA-registered disinfectant to help prevent germs, bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other pathogens from being spread throughout the care center area.

High-Touch Areas

Urgent care centers often see hundreds of patients and visitors every single day of the week. “Touch points” i.e, high-touch surfaces, routinely come into contact with patients, staff, and visitors. These commonly include door handles, door edges, telephones, call bells, bed rails, light switches, walls around toilets, and the edge of privacy curtains. Regular cleaning and disinfection of these potential pathogen reservoirs minimizes the chance of spreading infection, viruses, fungi, bacteria and other microbes throughout the facility and into the community beyond its premises.

General Patient Areas

General patient areas often look clean and tidy to the naked eye. Nevertheless, exposure to infectious agents is a very real concern, especially when you consider a myriad of different unwell and injured persons have spent time awaiting treatment in these locales. If left disinfected, seats and armrests can play host to various bacterial strains that cause illness. Waiting and admission areas, consultation and examination rooms, minor operative procedure rooms, patient area toilets, and patient area floors all have the potential for exposure to infectious agents. Effective healthcare cleaning and disinfection protocols must be implemented to maintain a clean and safe environment in these areas.

Specialized Patient Areas

Specialized patient areas within medical facilities include operating rooms, general procedure areas, pharmacy and medication preparation areas, sterile services areas, special isolation units, and burn unit treatment areas all require meticulous cleaning and disinfection due to the high-risk nature of the procedures or conditions being treated. Stringent adherence to the highest standards, using the latest technologies powered by clinical staff and informed, well-trained cleaning technicians is of paramount importance to minimize the risk of cross contamination and maintain optimal patient safety, care, and recovery time.

Providing Urgent Care Cleaning Services for the 21st Century

When you work with a commercial cleaning company with the tools, technologies, and knowledgeable team members required to do the job well, maintaining a clean and hygienic environment is an achievable goal that safeguards patients’ health and prevents spiraling medical costs. 

At Spotless Cleaning Chicago, we know urgent care center cleaning is about far more than fostering a clean-looking environment. We work with you to customize a comprehensive cleaning plan that works for your facility. Our dedicated, carefully trained team members abide by all CDC guidelines, wear PPE, use hospital-grade EPA-registered solutions, and meet AORN, AAMI, and CMS requirements. This becomes important when cleaning high touch points and restroom facilities. We can help you remain compliant with guidelines, recommendations, and requirements established by CDC, EPA, and OSHA. Contact us today to discuss your needs and learn more about our exceptional and reliable cleaning services.

Sources:

1. “CDC: Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning in Healthcare Facilities.”
2. “EPA: Selected EPA-Registered Disinfectants.”