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In This Issue:
This Week’s Focus: Clean and Safe Care Environment
A main focus of the upcoming regulatory surveys will be to ensure a clean, safe and accessible patient care environment. To address this issue, the following steps are recommended: • Work with your Environmental Services Division staff to adjust the frequency or content of the cleaning schedule of your unit. Note that ESD staff are not expected to move staff clutter in order to clean around it. If you would like the unit cleaned thoroughly, staff must do their part first.
• Work with Materials Management staff to control supply ordering. Do not overstock supplies–this practice only adds to the clutter. Continue to scan areas for outdated supplies and work with Materials Management to have them returned.
• Do not store supplies on the floor, or within 18 inches of a sprinkler head. JCAHO, as well as DPH, will be looking for this.
• Work with Biomedical Engineering to have broken or excess equipment removed from patient care areas.
Know that all staff play a role in improving the cleanliness and safety of work and patient care environments.
For further resources, visit www.bwhpikenotes.org and look for “Compliance Corner” under “Need to Know” on the left side of the homepage.