Did you know?
According to WHO UNICEF, half of health care facilities globally lack basic hygiene services
In healthcare settings, maintaining high hygiene standards is essential for safeguarding patient health, supporting staff well-being, and ensuring the overall quality of care. However, a recent report by WHO and UNICEF, revealed that half of healthcare facilities worldwide lack basic hygiene services, highlighting an urgent need for consistent and rigorous cleaning practices.
With around hundreds of thousands Australians affected by healthcare-associated infections annually, it’s clear that prioritising cleanliness in healthcare facilities directly impacts health outcomes, reduces infection rates, and strengthens patient trust.
In healthcare facilities, cleanliness directly impacts patient safety and staff well-being, as well as patient perceptions of the quality of care they receive. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) has identified that proper hygiene and infection control practices are essential for reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which can result in longer hospital stays, added treatment costs, and significant health complications.
Table of Contents
Impact to the Community
Significance on Health Outcomes
According to a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) affect 165,000 hospital admissions each year, due to these infections. Research has consistently demonstrated that rigorous cleaning practices in healthcare facilities reduce infection rates.
Implementing rigorous cleaning practices in healthcare facilities can mitigate these community-wide effects, reducing infection rates and promoting a safer environment not only within hospitals but in surrounding areas as well.
Regulatory Compliance
Australian healthcare facilities are regulated by numerous authorities, which set strict hygiene standards to ensure patient and staff safety. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) serves as the primary authority overseeing safety and quality advancements in healthcare.
The Department of Health and Aged Care and the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) standards are the other bodies governing healthcare institutions. Failure to comply can result in penalties, reputational damage, or even the suspension of a facility’s operating licence. Regulatory authorities inspect facilities for adherence to hygiene protocols, making it critical for healthcare providers to prioritise cleanliness.
Patient Perception and Trust
A hygienic environment significantly enhances patient trust, satisfaction, and experience. Patients appreciate visible cleanliness in hospitals which helps increase their confidence in receiving quality care. Conversely, poor hygiene and unsanitary conditions may deter patients from returning or even filing complaints, which can have a lasting impact on a facility’s reputation.
Ensuring hygiene across all areas within a healthcare facility requires an organised approach, particularly in high-traffic and patient-care spaces. These include common areas, hallways, patient rooms and waiting areas, which are considered to be the most high-traffic areas in this industry.
Given their high usage, restrooms and waiting areas are hotspots for germs and require frequent sanitisation. These areas must be thoroughly cleaned to prevent cross-contamination. Regular cleaning tasks include changing bed linens, disinfecting surfaces, sanitising medical equipment, and mopping floors.
Restrooms: A Vital Focus for Hygiene in Healthcare Facilities
Restrooms in healthcare facilities are essential areas for maintaining hygiene standards due to their high usage by patients, staff, and visitors. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), poor sanitation is linked to the transmission of serious diseases, including diarrhoeal diseases like cholera and dysentery, as well as typhoid, intestinal worm infections, and polio. These conditions are preventable with proper hygiene and sanitation practices.
One of the most critical elements of maintaining proper hygiene is ensuring that restrooms are kept clean and sanitised. Clean restrooms play a vital role in reducing the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses, especially in high-traffic areas.
Professional hygiene services can significantly support this effort by providing deep-cleaning solutions, regular maintenance, and specialised sanitation techniques that eliminate contaminants effectively. By investing in professional hygiene services, businesses and facilities can maintain a healthier environment, prevent the spread of disease, and contribute to overall community health.
Impact Hygiene’s Impact Clean™. To further enhance the effectiveness of these hygiene efforts, facilities can rely on Impact Hygiene’s Impact Clean™ service. We offer a specialised approach that includes the use of high-grade disinfectants proven to combat pathogens effectively, while our hygiene supplies ensure that all sanitation needs are continuously met. This combination not only supports rigorous cleanliness standards but also aligns with health and safety regulations, providing a comprehensive solution for maintaining optimal hygiene in healthcare facilities.
Benefits of Professional Healthcare Hygiene Services
Hiring professional healthcare cleaning services offers numerous advantages in ensuring consistent cleanliness and infection control.
Infection Control
Professional restroom cleaning services help prevent HAIs by following strict protocols and using hospital-grade disinfectants. Advanced disinfection techniques such as electrostatic spraying and UV sanitisation have been shown to reduce bacteria and viruses by up to 99%. This can definitely help reduce infection rates in facilities that implement UV disinfection protocols.
Improved Patient Safety and Outcomes
When healthcare facilities are thoroughly sanitised, patients experience fewer infections, leading to better health outcomes and shorter hospital stays. Research shows that professional cleaning and hygiene services with a specific approach can lead up to 50% reduction in HAIs, highlighting the impact of hygiene on patient health.
Enhanced Facility Reputation
A clean facility builds a positive reputation. Patients are more likely to give high ratings and positive reviews to healthcare facilities that prioritise cleanliness.
Efficient and Cost-Effective
Investing in professional hygiene maintenance is cost-effective as it helps prevent outbreaks that can lead to expensive treatments and potential lawsuits. Outsourcing these tasks also frees up internal resources, allowing healthcare providers to focus on patient care.
Impact Hygiene: Our Specialised Cleaning and Hygiene Process for Healthcare Facilities
At Impact Hygiene, we recognise the critical importance of maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene in healthcare environments. Our specialised hygiene process is meticulously designed to provide safe and healthy restrooms for both patients and staff. We begin by crafting customised cleaning and hygiene plans for healthcare establishments’ restrooms, considering their unique needs to minimise disruptions to medical services while thoroughly addressing the specific cleaning requirements of each area’s restrooms within the facility.
Our teams consist of trained and certified staff who are well-versed in healthcare cleaning and infection control protocols. This ensures that our restroom cleaning approach is performed in accordance with the highest sanitation standards required in healthcare settings.
To enhance our effectiveness, we employ advanced cleaning techniques including modern, environmentally-safe equipment and specialised disinfectants. Only available through Impact Hygiene, we use a unique system that combines no-touch cleaning technologies with automatic chemical mixer metering and injection, an indoor pressure washer, and a powerful wet vacuum, providing a comprehensive deep clean that traditional methods can’t match.
To maintain our commitment to excellence, we conduct regular inspections and audits, and actively seek feedback to ensure our services continue to meet the evolving standards of healthcare cleanliness. With our comprehensive service maintenance and premium hygiene supplies, including high-quality hand towels, toilet paper, and sensor-operated sanitary units, Impact Hygiene is dedicated to delivering top-tier hygiene solutions that keep healthcare facilities sparkling and safe.
Conclusion: Ensuring Patient Safety Through Proper Hygiene
In healthcare facilities, cleanliness is a responsibility. Every area within the facility, from patient rooms to staff areas, requires diligent attention to prevent infections and maintain a safe environment. Professional cleaning services offer a proactive solution to managing hygiene, reducing risks, and improving outcomes for patients.
As healthcare providers, prioritising hygiene is essential to quality care and regulatory compliance. Impact Hygiene’s specialised cleaning services are designed to support healthcare facilities in this mission, contributing to a safe and sanitary environment that patients and staff can trust.
Protect Your Patients with Our Cleaning Services
Ensure a safe and healthy healthcare facility for your patients and staff today! Contact Impact Hygiene to experience our specialised restroom hygiene services, premium hygiene supplies, and dedicated maintenance programs, tailored to meet the unique needs of healthcare environments.
Let us partner with you in providing the highest standards of hygiene, so your facility can focus on what matters most—quality patient care. Reach out now to learn how we can support your hygiene goals! Call ☎️ 1800 494 369 | https://impacthygiene.net/contact-us
