HEALTHCARE SPONSORED

Tackling cleaning challenges in healthcare Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) has led the way in pioneering commercial microfibre cleaning systems, helping many healthcare facilities in Australia overcome the many challenges of keeping their environments hygienic and healthy. Australians come into contact with the healthcare system more than they may realise, from simply visiting the local GP for a prescription, to more acute conditions or complex treatments such as a trip to the emergency department or operating theatre. The rise in Australia’s contact with the healthcare system is evident in rising costs, which have grown significantly in recent years. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s 16th biennial report revealed spending has grown by 50 per cent, between 2006-07 and 2015–16, from $113 billion to $170 billion1. Australians expect high quality health care at every touchpoint. Overall, most Australians receive excellent healthcare and have very positive healthcare outcomes. Yet, some patients acquire infections, which can lead to serious harm. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur through contact with microorganisms – such as bacteria and viruses – in a healthcare or aged care environment. In 2008, Cruickshank and Ferguson (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care) estimated about 200,000 HAIs occurred each year in Australia2, making it the most common complication affecting patients. In a critical sector such as our healthcare system, daily challenges such as HAIs can have potentially serious consequences for patients and staff. Effective prevention practices can protect everyone coming into contact with the healthcare system and greatly improve patient safety. Every HAI is preventable. The recommended strategies include a combination of hand hygiene, the appropriate use of antibiotics and immunisation of health care workers. Strong, effective and standardised cleaning practices also play a major role in removing potentially harmful microorganisms from touchpoints and surfaces. 30 INCLEAN May/June 2019

The National Safety and Quality Healthcare Service Standards (NSQHS)3 aims to protect the public from harm and improve the quality of the health service. The standards included cleaning as a crucial component of a healthcare organisation’s infection prevention and control systems (3.11). Every health service organisation must demonstrate it has processes to maintain a clean and hygienic environment and is equipped to respond to environmental risks, can clean and disinfect the environment in line with recommended cleaning frequencies and provides training for specialised personal protective equipment. A healthcare environmental services team, responsible for maintaining the health and hygiene of the environment, are on the front line of infection prevention every day, solving the ongoing challenges for hospitals or healthcare facilities by maintaining impeccable standards and efficient daily practices. While they are protecting patients and healthcare workers, it’s vital the environmental services cleaning staff experience high standards of workplace safety, to be protected from injury and illness as well. Modern cleaning technology assists the healthcare industry to protect patients, healthcare workers and environmental services staff, through a total solution that addresses every aspect of hygiene and safety in an innovative way. This new integrated system – based on the power of superior microfibre – tackles every element of the cleaning protocol – from efficacy to durability and ergonomic and sustainability. Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) has led the way in pioneering commercial microfibre cleaning systems, helping many healthcare facilities in Australia overcome the many challenges of keeping their environments hygienic and healthy.