---
title: Just Clean It!
description: Just Clean It!
---

<https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources>

# [Just Clean It!](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2014/11/just-clean-it.html)

 Written by [Nicole Kenny](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/author/nicole-kenny) | Nov 7, 2014 3:33:00 PM

<http://static1.squarespace.com/static/595689fc9de4bbc892200518/t/59568aca5fd63b5f292877a5/1498845564889//img.png.com/static/595689fc9de4bbc892200518/t/59568aca5fd63b5f292877a5/1498843850941/1000w/> I love writing, but admit there are times when I stare my  
 computer screen watching my cursor flash on a blank page waiting and hoping for  
 inspiration to hit. Last month I was in Tampa, FL at AHE's annual conference -  
 Exchange 2014.  One of the sessions I was  
 fortunate to attend was "Disney's Approach to Service and Culture"  
 given by Patrick Jordan, a "cast member" (aka employee) at Disney.  
 Part of the descriptor behind the session was, *"It starts with  
 extraordinary attention to detail in hiring and training, which ensures Disney  
 on-boards people who fit the culture and consistently do what their roles ask  
 of them.....you will gain insights to help you not only hire the right people,  
 but also develop them into employees who are comfortable in their roles and  
 know their purpose."*

Wow.  Is this not  
 the struggle all employers face daily regardless of the market they are  
 in?  

From a cleaning and disinfection perspective in  
 particular, nothing could be truer. We struggle daily with cleaning and  
 disinfection of environmental surfaces and shared patient care equipment.  
 Cleaning and disinfection is critical to reduce the risk associated with  
 pathogens, and yet often times we find there are not clear roles and  
 responsibilities as to who does what, when it needs to be done, and how to do  
 it. Inevitably someone is breathing down someone's neck yelling "Just  
 Clean It!" or "Why is it taking so long!"

We know there is strong evidence to demonstrate that  
 daily cleaning and disinfection of surfaces in a patient’s room, such as bed  
 rails, can significantly reduce the transmission of pathogens to healthcare  
 workers' hands.  We also know that there  
 is evidence to prove that a room previously occupied by a patient with a  
 multiple drug resistant organism significantly increases the risk of the next  
 patient to acquire an HAI. If we have proof to show that the investment of time  
 for daily cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces and shared  
 patient care equipment can decrease the risk for coming in contact with a  
 pathogen and prevent the transmission of HAIs, why do we struggle so much to do  
 it?

Could the answer be as simple as, *"It’s not the  
 magic that makes it work; it’s the way we work that makes it magic.”*  Perhaps we need a paradigm shift in our  
 thought process.  What if we stopped  
 chasing after the silver bullet - that disinfectant that kills everything, that  
 room decontamination device that we use as a fail-safe measure because we do  
 not trust our staff to do the job they are supposed to do the first time? What  
 if instead we focused on ensuring that we are hiring the right people?  Where we ensure that the people we have hired  
 are comfortable in their roles, understand what they are expected to do, and  
 know how important their job is and its impact on the health and well-being of  
 the patients, colleagues, and other employees. 

What would HAI rates look like in a facility that had  
 100% compliance in cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces by  
 housekeeping staff?  What would the HAI  
 rates look like in a facility that had 100% compliance in cleaning of shared  
 patient care equipment? 

Perhaps you'll join me next week on Wednesday November  
 12th for a webinar hosted by ICT as part of their Science Summit on [Emerging Pathogens Disinfection Toward Perfection.](http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/digital-summits/2014/11/emerging-pathogens.aspx)   
 The webinar will address potential challenges faced in cleaning and  
 disinfecting of healthcare surfaces and equipment, and strives to outline how  
 these challenges can be overcome using evidence-based practice and thought  
 leadership.

Personally, I think it's the work that makes it  
 magic.  The magic of marrying people with  
 products and processes!

*Bugging Off!*

Nicole

[View full post](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2014/11/just-clean-it.html)

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