It is a well-known fact that hospitals are a place where people go to get themselves or their families treated of various diseases; but they have also been known to cause difficulties as people still face an overwhelming assault from germs and bacteria in hospitals. Mopping and swabbing is definitely not the only selection in today’s day and in an age where the world is advancing and medical tourism growing at 30 per cent in India alone.
An industry which is booming and contributing to two billion through medical tourism alone, no chances can be taken whatsoever. India is known to offer world class healthcare treatment that costs substantially less than those in developed countries and surgeries are performed by qualified, experienced and renowned doctors. When there are no compromises made on technologies and treatments then why a delay or negligence in upgraded standards in cleaning mechanisms?
Hospitals are mushrooming in India as they are being built and operated by leading industrial houses like Tatas, Hindujas, Birlas, Hiranandanis, Wockhart etc. Today people are visiting India for medical tourism not only to visit hospitals, but also diagnostic centres, medical centres, pathology laboratories, dentists, ophthalmologist etc. There is a need for advancement in cleaning technologies in these areas as well.
Specialised technologies and cleaning techniques have become more essential to battle the newest strains of virus and diseases found in hospitals. So, is there a need to combine basic and traditional modes of sweeping and mopping in hospitals?
Every patient visiting a hospital carries a host of viruses which need to be prevented from spreading to other patients, doctors and visitors. How one can put an end to this activity if the cleaning procedures are basic and mundane? Therefore, the need for expert and mechanised cleaning arises out of the necessity to maintain an organised and clean environment in hospitals. This provides a strong foundation for quality communication, effective management and increases work efficiency of any business.
Tt is important for facility heads to primarily understand the need for professional cleaning equipment, tools and chemicals as an essential pre-requisite for better work environment and efficiency; and secondarily, to know whether the products engaged by the end users or the service providers are the right ones.
There is also a constant need to continually adapt to newer approaches and means to combat the most deadly pathogens found in healthcare facilities. Moving with the trend for better and specialised technologies help facility managers locate the areas where these pathogens reside and the best procedures for eradicating them that causes illness and infections. The cleaning crews in hospitals should espouse and modify various cleaning methods across hospitals and every chamber and every bit of equipment’s that is being cleaned. Traditional cleaning in rooms where patients are being treated day and night could cause serious problems to them due to lax of professional cleaning.
Need for high level of cleanliness within hospitals
When an estimated 150,000 people from world over travel to India for healthcare procedures every year, can health experts take any chances? When class and quality sets in can one have a casual approach towards something as critical and important as cleanliness in hospitals?
Today, cleanliness has gained top importance with medical professionals to curb the spread of numerous diseases and protect patients from life threating infections. Hospital safety is one of the most important factors in the medical field, it is vital to ensure safety and sterilisation in hospitals every day and every time. Hospital safety and cleanliness is significant for all patients as well as the staff working at the hospital. Effective care is needed to clean out hospitals because everyday patients bring in germs, which may be dreadful if not, dealt with on time. Today, there is a pressing need to enhance the awareness about the sector specific cleaning needs. In hospitals every single thing needs to be cleaned up hence giving immediate attention needs to be given to cleanliness. Apart from this, there is a need to provide disposal refuse collection products, washroom hygiene facilities, cleaning agents, cleaning tools, cleaning equipment and machinery most required for hospitals safety.
Technologies and innovations
One of the most common equipment used for commercial application in any premises is the vacuum cleaner. A hospital will not prefer vacuums with high noise levels or people tripping over cables of vacuums or wet floor owing to improper suction power. Spending on right cleaning solutions is as essential for a healthy environment as much as the right food is for the healthy functioning of the body. Recognising its importance and the need for newer technologies and innovations, Clean India Show has created a platform to bring forth latest innovations in cleaning technology, industrial cleaning, hygiene solutions, sanitation and professional cleaning in pest management, waste management, environment management and washroom hygiene management.
Power-saving, low noise vacuum: Clean India Show displays dry vacuum cleaners which are eco-friendly and make less noise. While most of the cleaning requirements can be met with the low power option, the operator can switch the suction motor to high performance, if required. When switched off the unit always starts in the e-save mode.
Water saving and energy efficient scrubber driers: Scrubbers come in varied models like scrubber-drier, ride-on, walk-behind, battery-powered, industrial and so on. These machines breaks water economy and detergent saving barriers, allows the reuse of washing solution after the first cleaning cycle, with a series of benefits from greater run time, shorter loading-unloading of water and rationalised use of water and detergent necessary to wash.
Walk behind scrubber: It enables removal of deep dirt and grouts between tiles. The positioning of the brushes and its contra rotational movement help in self propelling the machine, so that it can be moved with ease without any breaking sweat. The special inbuilt “hopper pre sweep feature” eliminates the need to sweep before running the machine. Being a battery operated machine, it does not fall slack of its wired cousin in any aspect. It gives an operator the freedom of movement as there are no cords attached.
Healthcare infection control through cleaning and sterilisation
It is now being widely accepted that efficient cleaning is essential in the sterilisation process. Mishandling and improper sterilisation of the instruments can be fatal. Safe and effective disinfection and sterilisation can be guaranteed with clean medical products.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at any time, more than 1.4 million people worldwide are affected by infections acquired in hospital cleaning. Disinfection and sterilisation saves lives and improves patient outcomes. Less frequently cleaned, contaminated surfaces in healthcare facilities may contribute to the spread of healthcare-associated pathogens.
Contaminated surfaces can act as sources from which healthcare workers contaminate their hands, and in some instances, patients acquire pathogens following direct contact with contaminated equipment or other surfaces. Providing patients with a safe environment of care requires a high level of compliance with recommended hand hygiene policies and appropriate cleaning and disinfection of medical equipment and environmental surfaces
Right use of chemicals for maintaining hygiene and infection control in hospitals
Though mechanised cleaning with just soap and water will remove visible dirt, the efficacy of the cleaning will be optimal with the use of anti-bacterial chemicals to prevent cross contamination and hospital acquired infections. In general use of chosen disinfectant at the accurate measure and appropriate concentration is needed to kill pathogenic microorganisms rendering an object safe for use by patients and visitors.
Recognising the need for newer technologies and innovations, the annual Clean India Show has created a platform to bring forth latest innovations in cleaning technology, and hygiene management. The Clean India Show 2012 will be held in Bangalore from December 13-15.