Health Facilities

More than just cleaning

Medical, dental, acute, and many other healthcare facilities require a specific type of cleaning and maintenance, and Gremac Maintenance has established a program that ensures high standards are met on a daily basis. Our staff delivers cleaning and maintenance services that disinfect, sanitize, and clean all surfaces for a healthy and safe environment.

INFECTION PREVENTION & CONTROL MEASURES

Our team is regularly trained in modern advancements in infection control methods, handling bio-hazardous waste, proactive hand
hygiene practices, and WHMIS health & safety protective measures to ensure the highest level of infection prevention and control.

Infection Prevention & Control Policy

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANING BEST PRACTICES

We train our staff in the best practices for cleaning and disinfection within all healthcare facilities. We perform our services with
a priority for the health and safety of patients and staff by utilizing Personal Protective Equipment, safe hand hygiene practices,
cleaning techniques that promote best results for surface disinfection.

Environmental Cleaning Policy

BIOMEDICAL/HAZARDOUS WASTE HANDLING

We provide a full range of bio-hazardous waste collection and disposal services which can include waste disposal containers
and protective bags and cardboard, preparation for pick up and disposal of waste collection. We ensure duties are performed with
health and safety their own health, the health of staff, and the health of patients.

Biomedical/Hazard Policy

AREAS & ROOMS WE CLEAN AND DISINFECT

Exam Rooms
Washrooms
Kitchens
Offices
Meeting Rooms

Program Rooms
Medicine Rooms
Multipurpose Rooms
Reception Areas
Waiting Areas

Storage Rooms
Garages & Bsmts
Corridors & Vestibules
Waste Rooms
Laboratories

health associated infections

dissecting the solution

Each year in Canada, more than 220,000 Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI’s) result in 8,500-12,000 deaths and/or illnesses. Since 2011, over 13% of health clinics inspected in Ontario have either failed to meet cleaning, disinfecting, and/or sanitizing requirements, or have been given warnings for improvement, some clinics have been forced to close their doors until a safe standard of cleanliness has been established.

Some of the factors helping to improve some rates of health associated infections has been improvements in infection control measures, improved testing and monitoring, more judicious use of antibiotics, more frequent hand washing, and more frequent and intense cleaning of health facilities.

RATES OF C.diffifficile TRENDING DOWNWARD

Clostridium diffificile is one of the most common HAI’s in Canada. It has shown to last on surfaces for up to 4-5 months at a time, and produces a toxin which causes inflammation of the colon. This microbe also creates difficult-to-eradicate spores, which can contaminate surfaces and spread from room-to-room in health facilities. Recent efforts in improving cleaning & disinfection methods have lead to decreased average HAI rates.

SURVEILLANCE IMPROVEMENTS CAUSE RISE IN MRSA RATES

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium found on the skin and in the nose of many healthy people and can become resistant to most antibiotics. It can cause many types of infections including wound and surgical site infections, bloodstream infections and pneumonia. Many actions are taken at the health facility level to help combat the spread of MRSA, and one of the most important elements is professional cleaning and disinfection services.

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANING A KEY FACTOR IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HAI’S

An IPAC cleaning program must target surfaces based on their risk profile and level of soil or dirt. Duties should be performed in the most effective order to reduce the spread of infectious agents throughout the facility, and should be divided according to risk
management, usually with an emphasis on surface disinfection.

infection prevention & control

One of the most crucial parts of cleaning and maintaining a healthcare facility is the infection prevention and control program that is in place and adhered to by all staff and visitors. Our team are certtified in core competencies for IPAC, and trained in a number of key focus areas for IPAC management.

Our Infection Prevention & Control system includes:

Developing Cultures of IPAC Awareness throughout our team
Hand Hygiene Safety Practices
Inspection and Surveillance Programs

Administration of IPAC Programs Joint Health & Safety Committee
Involvement
Staff and Patient Safety

BioHazard/medical material waste handling

A large part of cleaning and maintaining a health facility is regularly checking and changing bio hazardous waste from all rooms to ensure staff an patient safety at all times. Our team is trained for the safe handling and preparation for pick up of bio hazardous material and waste.

Our Bio hazard/medical material waste handling includes:

segregation of items such as sharps, syringes, needles, blood, feces, etc.
Proper use of packaging
Use of single-use and reusable
containers

Colour- coding and labeling
In-house movement of waste
Proper storage

emergency cleaning

Many situations arise in healthcare facilities that require more attention, more effort, and more skills and knowledge in order to implement an effective strategy. Our staff are trained to handle emergency situations which commonly occur in healthcare facilities. We are trained in cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing surfaces to restore safe working environments.

Our staff are prepared to handle emergency situations such as:

Outbreaks such as C.diff, VRE, MRSA
Grey water or sewage water overflows
Biological spills such as blood or bodily fluids

Infestation sanitation
Water overflows from rain, sewage
Random situations

BIOMEDICAL WASTE AND SHARPS MANAGEMENT

Biomedical waste is estimated to constitute approx 7% of all healthcare waste. However, it is an extremely dangerous part of waste which requires detailed attention to the collection, transport, and storage of all biomedical and hazardous waste. Our staff are trained in the guidelines set forth by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, and perform in accordance with our Biomedical Waste Policy.

CLEANERS, DISINFECTANTS, & EQUIPMENT

Selecting the right group of chemicals is essential in maintaining an effective cleaning and disinfection program. Our collection of
chemicals have Drug Identification Numbers from Health Canada, used to manufacturers recommendations and MSDS Safety Sheets. Our disinfectants are hospital grade and help minimize the spread of HAI’s within healthcare facilities.

FREQUENCY OF ROUTINE CLEANING

Although any surface can become contaminated, to which extent depends on the frequency of handling or touching by hands, sneezing, skin conditions, and other forms of transmission. High touch surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected more frequently, We perform our services daily, and can customize a scope of work that is as extensive as your budget desires.

HOTEL VS. HOSPITAL CLEANING

Areas of a healthcare facility come with different risks to exposure, and therefore need to be treated differently. Hotel cleaning is a measure of cleanliness based on visual appearance, whereas, Hospital cleaning takes into account a disinfection stage in the cleaning process and is typically reserved for rooms that come with higher risk of exposure to microorganisms, such as exam rooms, waiting rooms, and washrooms.

CARE AND STORAGE OF EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES

Cleaning tools & equipment are cleaned & disinfected after each use to promote a safe work environment. Supplies are stored in a manner that eliminates exposure or personal injury. Chemicals are labelled in accordance with WHMIS, and MSD sheets are always on site for instructional or emergency situations. Tools are not shared room-to-room. Cleaning carts and stock rooms are maintained in a clean and organized fashion.

LAUNDRY & BEDDING MANAGEMENT

Laundry areas must be kept clean. Items should be checked for excess gross soil, and laundered to manufacturers recommendations. Considerations must be made regarding time & temperature, mechanical action, chemical use, water quality, rinsing requirements, volume of loads, model of washers/dryers, equipment being used, air control, clean containers and bags, and safe practices with regards to handling laundry,

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Our team is dedicated to protecting ourselves and each other while performing work duties. Considerations are made for chemical safety, ergonomics, tools and equipment. We practice the use of gloves, goggles, face masks and ventilators, slip-resistant shoes, and full body protection suits for emergency cleaning situations

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Waste management in a healthcare facility requires a system that accounts for regulated containers for the collection of waste, including garbage, recycling, and organics. Special considerations must be made for the collection, storage, handling, and preparation of biomedical waste including bagged containers for soiled waste, sharps containers and medicine waste containers.

ROUTINE BEST PRACTICES

General principles must be upheld by all staff while performing duties. Important factors include good hand hygiene, use of PPE, safe management of sharps, distinction of duties for high vs. low touch surfaces, and soiled vs. non-soiled rooms. Our staff adhere to policies and procedures relating to outbreaks and emergency cleaning, infection prevention and control, sufficient staffing, and other related policies & procedures.

HAND HYGIENE PRACTICES

Hand hygiene is the most effective measure to prevent the spread of healthcare associated infections. Our staff practice good hand hygiene practices throughout our duties, frequently changing gloves, washing hands, and using hand sanitizer when necessary.