Darrel Hicks is internationally recognized as one of the subject matter experts in infection prevention and control as it relates to cleaning. He has written and published numerous articles in professional and healthcare related journals as part of his commitment to providing a cleaner, safer and healthier indoor environment.
Darrel has a specific interest in soft surfaces and what he calls “The Patient Hot Zone”. That is the hospital bed and the 36″ around it. There are high-touch surfaces here that can be difficult to clean and require some imposition on the patient (i.e. cleaning their bed rails while they’re in the bed).
Today we’ll learn about:
- The Patient Hot Zone
- Cleaning soft surfaces
- How proper cleaning can improve patient satisfaction scores (I.e. HCAHPS)
- The new CMS / Joint Commission requirements for patient mattresses – which came into effect January 1, 2017 – provide a new challenge to healthcare accreditation and safety/quality programs.
- How 1 well-trained housekeeper can prevent more infections than a room full of doctors.
- Why it’s important to raise the stature of the housekeeping staff in the hospital – not the first time we’ve heard this.
- How proper cleaning and treatment of soft surfaces can save hospitals large sums of money.
About Darrel Hicks
Darrel Hicks is the author of “Infection Prevention for Dummies”, a 43-page, pocket-size book that is focused on keeping the hospital’s environment healthy.
He began his career in the management of housekeeping services in 1981 and recently retired as Director of Environmental services at a 500-bed, award-winning hospital in the United States.
Darrel is nationally recognized as one of the subject matter experts in infection prevention and control as it relates to cleaning. He has written and published numerous articles in professional and healthcare related journals as part of his commitment to providing a cleaner, safer and healthier indoor environment.
You can order a copy of Infection Prevention for Dummies on the site!
Also mentioned on the show:
Colleen Sweeney, RN conducted a survey on patient fears about the hospital.
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About the Infection Prevention and Control Series
This episode is part of The #HCBiz Show’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) series. We’d like to thank our partners InfectionControl.tips and the Center of Excellence for Infection Prevention and Control (COE IPAC) for their support and guidance with the series.
About InfectionControl.tips
InfectionControl.tips is a Pan-Access journal that extends globally and touches locally. www.IC.tips is: Free to Publish. Free to Access and provides Accessible Scientific Services.
About Center of Excellence for Infection Prevention and Control (COE IPAC)
Center of Excellence for Infection Prevention and Control (COE IPAC) is a collaborative effort to accelerate and support new solutions that hold the promise of significantly advancing infection prevention and control. On a quarterly basis, the Center of Excellence will evaluate at least 3 international innovations – giving them access to independent testing, publication as well as a US commercialization site
The #HCBiz Show! is produced by Glide Health IT, LLC in partnership with Netspective Media.
Soundtrack credit: Acid Lounge by FoolBoyMedia