1. Color code equipment for specific areas. According to Mr. Sheldon, cleaning equipment should be kept specific to certain areas in the ASC. Cloths, buckets and mops should never be used for both the waiting room and the treatment area because transferring the equipment from one area to another increases the spread of infection. He says color-coding equipment can help staff members remember which equipment should be used for which area. For example, if waiting room cleaning supplies are colored blue and your ASC marks the waiting room with a blue poster, inappropriate cleaning supplies will automatically seem out of place. “You want to isolate areas that are higher-risk than others,” he says. “Having colors to identify those different areas can increase awareness of cross-contamination risks.”
2. Sing the “happy birthday” song twice while washing your hands. It might sound silly, but Mr. Sheldon estimates that hand washing should take around 20 seconds — about as long as it takes to sing the “happy birthday” song twice. He says ASC employees and physicians should also be using soap and water and following hand-washing guidelines, but the length of time it takes to wash hands properly is often forgotten or underestimated.
3. Focus on the waiting room as well as the treatment area. ASC staff members often overlook the waiting room in favor of focusing on the treatment area, Mr. Sheldon says. By identifying high-risk surfaces in an area where patients are exposed to many different people, your staff can become more vigilant about infection control. “In any outpatient setting, you need to focus on the waiting room, especially surfaces like seating, chair rails and handles and children’s toys,” he says. He adds that administrative areas, such as the front desk, should also be handled carefully. “The staff isn’t immune to carrying illness on their hands,” he says. “Light switches, doorknobs, computer keyboards and computer mice have the highest propensity for infection in a non-clinical area.”
Learn more about Coverall.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.