Ms. Cathy Mowat1, Ms. Sally Castle1
1Central Gippsland Health, Sale, Australia
Biography:
Completing a post graduate certificate in Sterilisation and Infection Control through Mayfield Education Centre in 1996, Cathy has worked as an infection Control Clinical Nurse Consultant for 23 years in a sub-regional hospital in rural Victoria. Attaining the TAFE certificate in Healthcare Cleaning Standards Auditing in 2009, Cathy has many years of experience in conducting visual hospital cleaning audits. Now leading NQSHS Standard 3, following completion of the Master of Health Administration at Australian Catholic University in 2022, Cathy has an interest in quality improvement, patient safety and change management.
Abstract:
Cleaning education was neither standardized nor evidence-based, with existing cleaning staff training new starters, resulting in variable practices between clinical areas. Cleaning schedules were also variable and not being routinely utilized. The project aim was to improve healthcare cleaning through standardized, evidence-based staff education, training and resources. An evidence-based cleaning education package, based on Australian and State Healthcare Cleaning Guidelines, was developed to deliver standardized cleaning processes and to improve cleaning performance within our healthcare organization. Key stakeholders collaborated to revise our Cleaning Training Manual and develop an online learning package, ensuring the inclusion of organizational context to maintain local relevance. Cleaning schedules were reviewed and redeveloped. Cleaning staff evaluated the manual, learning package and schedules, making changes as required. Evaluation currently occurs through visual cleaning auditing. Confusion associated with different cleaning practices between areas was commonly expressed by new starters but the Cleaning Training Manual and revised schedules now direct standardized, evidence-based practice. Competency assessment, conducted by cleaning staff working in different areas, will be introduced as the next evaluation phase, and is expected to further prevent variable practices becoming established in the future. Use of a buddy system is useful but only when complemented by a standardized, evidence-based education program. Tasking staff from different workplaces with the competency assessment of their colleagues is projected to reinforce standardized practice.