End-of-Day Cleaning for Operating Rooms: Why Precision Matters in Inpatient Facilities

Everyone understands how important cleanliness is in any healthcare environment. Cleanliness and sanitation help to protect patients and staff, and also prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and infectious diseases. 

In operating rooms and surgical suites this is especially important. Cleaning and disinfecting inpatient surgery rooms, equipment, patient rooms, and other facilities are crucial in keeping people safe. This is why there are such high standards for these areas, and why the CDC and Association for peri-Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) have established criteria that must be met. 

Here we’ll look at some of the key operating room steps and areas you must pay close attention to at the end of the day. We will also explore the standards mentioned and the ways that experienced, knowledgeable janitorial services providers like MasterCorp can ensure your facility is in compliance with standards and regulations. 

Key Areas that Require End-of-Day Cleaning in Inpatient Facilities 

End-of-day cleaning for operating rooms and surgical centers is built around the concept of preparing the space for next day’s use. This means ensuring that every area is thoroughly addressed so that the space is prepared for scheduled or emergency surgery needs the next morning. This does not mean that pre-surgery cleaning will not also be needed, but the goal is to minimize the space’s downtime and ensure quick readiness for the next day. 

Daily tasks that adhere to CDC and AORN standards should be broken down into steps. Personnel should be trained on working from the top down in a surgical area, with the floor being cleaned last. Floors also play a crucial part in the appearance and confidence of patients. When a floor surface is stained, looks worn out and and unkept, patients may lack trust in the overall cleanliness of the facility. 

A basic breakdown of proper cleaning procedures for inpatient or outpatient ORs includes the following steps: 

• Dusting hanging lights and other elevated features/fixtures with cleanser or disinfectant
• Using a cloth and cleaner to wash all touched surfaces and storage areas (operating tables, trays, etc.) 
• Wiping machinery, carts, IV poles, monitors, and high-touch surfaces
• Cleaning equipment including microscopes or operating lenses, etc. with equipment-safe material and disinfectant
• Wiping down electrical cables and equipment with a disinfectant dampened cloth
• Cleaning furniture and equipment legs and wheels
• Removal of all furniture, bedding, and medical equipment (towels, sheets, room dividers, blankets)
• Removal and disposal of all disposable items, such as trash, linens, and medical waste
• Inspection of the room for any signs of damage or contamination 
• Washing and disinfecting the flooring surface, working from the inner corner toward the exit doors

Additional Times when Operating Rooms Should be Cleaned

End-of-day duties are very important for inpatient and outpatient surgery rooms alike. There are multiple times of day when areas including operating rooms must be cleaned. These include: 

• At the start of each day before any procedures begin
• In between patient appointments and surgical procedures
• Following the last operation of the day (terminal cleaning)
• When preparing a new operating room for use
• Weekly or monthly deep cleaning (including moving equipment and addressing all areas)

The goal of all cleanliness protocols is to create and maintain a safe environment. And because a room is much easier to keep clean than it is to disinfect from scratch, daily cleaning schedules are highly important. 

Why Expert Commercial Cleaning Services Can Help

Healthcare facility cleaning staff are experienced and knowledgeable. They are trained in handling the necessary tasks associated with cleaning patient rooms, waiting rooms, and high touch areas. 

However, addressing the unique disinfection and decontamination needs of operating rooms and other inpatient facilities requires time, expert training, close oversight and other resources that may not be available to in-house Environmental Services departments. 

Additionally, commercial cleaning companies that focus mainly on standard janitorial duties may not have the specialized training, techniques, and equipment needed to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. Especially when it comes to specialty floor care cleaning services. 

Because protecting patients and staff is of the utmost importance to all facilities, collaborating with a specialized and experienced commercial services provider such as MasterCorp is often the best way to achieve optimal results. The specialized needs of healthcare cleaning requires personnel from multiple backgrounds and disciplines. It also requires a collaborative approach with facilities personnel, environmental services departments, in-house cleaning staff, medical staff, and others. 

MasterCorp staff are trained in the complete range of healthcare facility cleaning, from healthcare systems, hospitals, to dental studios and urgent care centers, assisted living complexes, medical laboratories, and many more. Our team understands the needs and goals of end-of-day terminal cleaning, and works to ensure that each facility room is fully prepared for the needs of the next day. We also strive to understand the unique needs of each healthcare partner, their physicians, nurses, and surgeons, and their patients. By doing this we can develop a service plan that meets safety needs, ensures patient safety and comfort, and creates an environment that helps medical staff perform their duties. 

To learn about MasterCorp’s experience with healthcare cleaning and operating room disinfection, reach out to our team today. We look forward to collaborating with your team to create a safe, welcoming, and compliant space for everyone.