Healthcare Facility Maintenance: A guide to getting it right

Facility maintenance is necessary in many industries, and the healthcare industry is no exception. American hospitals spend approximately $60 billion annually on facility maintenance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that among all U.S. facilities, including healthcare facilities, 97% require a maintenance program.

This guide will help you get started on your hospital facility maintenance plan.

Common areas

Common areas are those that are used by multiple patients. Examples include hallways, waiting areas, cafeterias, and restrooms. Hospitals must ensure these spaces are cleaned regularly and disinfected to maintain a sanitary environment.

• Most crews will perform the initial cleaning of communal areas using wet mops or cloths and sprays or solutions that kill bacteria and other germs on hard surfaces, like floors or countertops.
• Common-area cleaning needs to be done frequently because of heavy use by patients, visitors and staff members who have potentially been exposed to illness-causing agents, like viruses or bacteria from previous occupants.

Operating rooms

Operating rooms are a vital part of any hospital. It is critical that these rooms be kept in good working condition and sterilized to prevent any infections from occurring. Operating rooms must be kept at the proper temperature and humidity levels. For example, if an operating room is too hot or humid then this can cause the instruments to rust or corrode faster than normal, making them unusable for surgery procedures. If an operating room is too cold for too long, it could cause hypothermia, increasing the risk of infection in patients undergoing surgery.

Secondly, operating rooms inside the hospital facility or medical office building must be sterilized to protect patients with already weakened immune systems.

Finally, proper maintenance of lighting in an OR is imperative. From bright surgical lighting required for a delicate surgery to more comfortable lighting in a recovery room, patients and doctors rely on effectively maintained lighting and lighting systems.

Emergency rooms

Emergency rooms are often the first point of contact for patients. A critical part of any hospital, they are typically the busiest areas in a facility. The emergency room is a complete system including triage stations, treatment rooms, waiting areas and hallways. The breadth and complexity of the emergency room makes it one of the most expensive areas of any hospital to maintain.

While it may seem like an obvious choice to invest money into this area, there are several other factors to keep in mind when making decisions about your facility’s emergency room maintenance needs.

Supply areas

Stock and supply rooms help to keep the hospital running smoothly, so they must be kept clean, dry, and organized. Supply rooms must also be kept at a constant temperature so that medications do not spoil or become damaged by fluctuating temperatures.

Administration

The administrative desks and area of a healthcare facility must have up-to-date equipment to maintain the patient documents and charts. The lighting, office equipment and computer hardware are all integral parts of keeping up with accurate and timely patient care.

Patient rooms

The best way to keep your facility running smoothly is with a well-stocked patient room. Patients deserve the highest level of care, and this begins with making sure their accommodation is conducive to their personal health and safety. The following are some of the items you should make sure are ready for use in your hospital's patient rooms:

• Medical equipment  
• Medications  
• Linens (to avoid cross-contamination)

These essential items will not only help you maintain an organized environment but can also save lives!

Hospital maintenance is a vital part of keeping patient safety and facility operations running smoothly.

As a hospital administrator, you know how important it is to maintain your facility, the safety of your patients depends on it. Ensuring that all equipment and machinery are in good working order with regular maintenance  helps prevent costly repairs or replacements down the road. Preventative maintenance is an essential part of proper asset management practices; by catching issues before they become problems, you can save money and avoid disruptions in service.

Hospital maintenance plays a critical role in HIPAA compliance—and other areas including patient satisfaction surveys—because it ensures that systems are always functioning properly. If a system fails unexpectedly due to lack of preventive maintenance or poor repairs after failure occurs (or both), this could cause delays at best or endanger lives at worst. As a healthcare professional who takes patient care seriously, these types of issues must be prevented whenever possible through regular inspections followed by timely repairs when needed.

Start Using Computerized Maintenance Management Software (CMMS)

A CMMS is a computer-based system that helps facilities track their building maintenance tasks and schedule. It reduces manual data entry, makes it easier for managers to find information about their property, and provides better overall visibility into the condition of your property.

How does a CMMS work?

A CMMS works by collecting data from multiple sources and compiling it into one location. This allows you to easily access information about your property's condition, as well as track any issues that may arise in the future.

Why should you use a CMMS?

Improving communication between departments within an organization creates efficiency and visibility with all departments accessing the same information at once. Read our CMMS: Ushering in the Era of Cost-effective Maintenance whitepaper to learn more about the benefits of a CMMS

Your facility maintenance program should be strategic, proactive, and well-executed. Installing a computerized maintenance management system like WebTMA can alleviate any unforeseen downtime before it is too late. Manage your critical equipment down to the smallest details, including preventive maintenance, work orders, repair parts, and scheduled failures, including emergency repairs Automate your maintenance program and work order systems with this robust solution so you can focus on what matters most – patient care.

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