Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2009 - (Page 15)

sults and compare data from test to test.” Besides assisting in-house service providers with improving their cleaning protocols, ATP devices can help building services contractors as well. As a Regional Manager for Janitronics, Inc., Pat Fragomeni is responsible for all operational and financial aspects of an assigned portfolio of customers. He directs and coordinates all activities of the operation to achieve successful delivery of contracted services; and, his position manages multiple managers and supervisors who supervise on-site personnel. Fragomeni says that using the ATP device has assisted him in several aspects of his responsibilities. First and foremost, his company is focused on “Cleaning for Health,” and strives to go beyond aesthetics to assure children in schools, employees in office buildings, and patients in medical facilities are in a healthy environment. “ATP helps us validate the degree of cleanliness in multiple facility types. Inspection is a proactive element to delivering quality services, and ATP fits very well into our existing Quality Assurance program, where we are currently using automated data collection,” says Fragomeni. “We started out measuring many ‘critical touch’ areas in most market segments (school, office, medical). Once we understood the impact of each surface, we began to measure how rapidly a surface re-soils. This places us in a position to better understand cleaning for health, and allows us to develop the best possible cleaning program.” Fragomeni measures the amount of organic contamination on a restroom sink using an ATP device. CIC, the following test points were established for Flores’ department: doorknobs, bedrails, call buttons, phones, light switches, medical equipment, over-bed tables, sinks, TVs, remote controls, commodes, portable commodes, and toilet grab bars. During initial testing, they first tested a patient room along with the housekeeper, and examined the over-bed table, which had a reading of 43 RLUs. Since this fell within the “Clean Zone,” there was no need to re-clean the surface. Next, they tested the nurse call button, which had a reading of 2118 RLUs. Since this high level fell within the “Unclean Zone,” they employed their cleaning protocols to re-clean the surface, emphasizing the importance of applying friction to the surface being cleaned. They then took a second reading of 212 RLUs—12 RLUs away from the “Clean Zone.” Although they were encouraged by the lower reading, it still fell within the “Warning Zone,” so they decided to clean it again so that it fell within the “Clean Zone.” The last test area they swabbed was (continued on next page) Implementing an ATP System Wondering how to implement your own ATP system at your facility? The following is an example of tests that were conducted with the staff at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital during the pilot stage of their program. The following scale was used: Clean Zone: 0200 RLUs; Warning Zone: 201-300 RLUs; Unclean Zone: 301+ RLUs. With the assistance of the Employee Health & Infection Prevention Director, Sue Sebazco, RN, BS, Faye McMaster, CEH, Manager, measures one of Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital’s test points, the phone, with Sheri Whitworth, EVS Team Leader. March 2009/Executive Housekeeping Today 15

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2009

Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2009 Contents Executive Corner Why Integrated Cleaning and Measurement is Good for the Cleaning Industry Hygienic Green Cleaning - The Next Wave Frugal Housekeeper Integrated Cleaning and Measurement: A New Approach to Housekeeping and Sanitation Feature Article What's in YOUR Janitor Closet? The Green Scene 2009 Convention Information Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside IEHA What IEHA Has Done For Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2009

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