HWC General Cleaning Policies
Health and Wellness Center General Cleaning Policies
Per shift
- Personnel assigned to a procedure are responsible to clean/scrub and disinfect any surfaces/equipment immediately following use (exam tables, thermometers, stethoscopes, etc.).
- Any equipment requiring specialized cleaning / sterilization should be brought to the attention of the technical staff.
- Strip, clean, and disinfect cages and runs of discharged patients.
- Including bowls, cage doors, and drains.
- Keep wards, treatment rooms, exam rooms, kitchen, and halls free of debris and clean.
Daily
- Treatment rooms cleaned and disinfected and allowed to dry
- Including all work surfaces, counter tops, sinks, drains, carts, etc.
- Strip and disinfect all cages and runs marked as dirty.
- Remove debris from all drains.
- Areas that cannot be hosed down, pour water and disinfectant down drains to ensure proper drain maintenance.
- Strip and disinfect all full runs.
- Strip and disinfect all wards and floors.
- Check disinfection foam dispensers, spray bottles, paper towel holders, and soap dispensers- replace/ refill when necessary.
Weekly
- Strip and disinfect all cages and half runs regardless of use.
- Strip and disinfect main full run drain in back.
- Random nosocomial cultures.
Monthly
- Perform disinfection process of all areas with Accel instead of HDQ.
- Review chart of disinfection tracking (HWC Technician Supervisor)
Rehabilitation Underwater Treadmill (UWT)
- Refer to the Underwater Treadmill Protocols on the G Drive.
- (G:\Shared\Hospital\VHC Services\Rehabilitation\Underwater Treadmill Protocols)
Blood Bank Cats Wards
- Refer to Blood Donor Cats Cleaning protocol located on the G drive.
- (G:\Shared\Hospital\VHC Services\Blood Bank)
Restricted Housing
Reminder that Restricted Housing should be a temporary measure for patients in the HWC (excluding EAMS); used to isolate a patient until it can be discharged or transferred to the Terry Center.
In-patient:
- Cage / run is to be cleaned, scrubbed, and disinfected.
- If the patient’s cage requires frequent cleaning, additional cages should be assigned for exclusive use by the patient.
- PPE is to be worn during cleaning of cage or run, in compliance with Restriction PPE policies.
- All trash is discarded in biohazard bags to be incinerated.
- All bedding is placed in biodegradable red bags and placed in laundry bins for removal.
- All equipment used is designated to that patient (i.e. thermometer, stethoscope,etc.)
- PPE is to be discarded after use; in compliance with Restriction PPE policies.
- Area must be clean, organized, and free of debris at all times to prevent possible contamination of other areas.
Discharged patient Housing
- Cage or run marked as Do Not Use.
- All medical supplies are cleaned and disinfected, or discarded by the technician
- PPE is to be worn during cleaning of cage or run, in compliance with Restriction PPE policies.
- All trash is discarded in biohazard bags to be incinerated.
- All bedding is placed in biodegradable red bags and placed in laundry bins for removal.
- Cage / run is to be cleaned, scrubbed, and disinfected.
- All equipment is to be cleaned, disinfected and / or autoclaved.
- Step 6 is performed two times. A gown is not necessary for the second disinfection cycle.
- Cultures are taken after cage / run dries and the cage / run is marked as “Culture Pending”.
Definitions
- Strip – remove all loose debris; to expose the surface for degreasing or disinfecting.
- Disinfect – disinfectant should be applied (per manufacturer guidelines) to a surface free of all debris and allowed a 15 minute contact time. It is then thoroughly rinsed and the surface allowed to dry.
- HDQ is the standard disinfectant and used for all non-infectious applications
- Accel is used for Restriction, Isolation, and any suspect infectious situations