Learn How Clear Patient-Provider Communication Is Vital To Receive High HCAHPS Scores
Learn How Clear Patient-Provider Communication Is Vital To Receive High HCAHPS Scores
 

Don’t Let Your Patient Room Whiteboards Become a Means to Spread Infections

Mar 13, 2020

Patient Room Board

Controlling the spread of viruses and bacteria is a large concern for every hospital. Hospital acquired infections (HAI) impact 1.7 million patients per year, according the to the CDC, and the causes ranged from improper sanitation of hands to inefficient cleaning of surfaces in a facility, particularly in patient rooms. 

Stopping the spread of infections begins with patient room design and ends with implementing best cleaning practices to limit the spread of HAIs in a facility. When designing or remodeling a facility, considering products that reduce the transmission rates of bacteria is paramount. Studies show that successful transmission rates from inanimate objects to human hands were 90% effective.

Whiteboards within patient rooms are one of the inanimate objects that are frequently interacted with. Choosing whiteboards that are not only easily cleaned but also do not require special cleaners helps reduce the spread of bacteria.

How to Clean Hospital Whiteboards to Limit HAIs 

Patient room whiteboards are frequently touched by nurses, physicians, patients and even visitors, which is why it’s so important to keep them clean. 

Note: to avoid damaging the surface of your whiteboards, do not use household items (e.g. nail polish remover, oil, etc.) or cleaners that contain bleach, ammonia, or hydrogen peroxide. Cleaners with an alcohol content of up to 6% can be used freely. 

Some of the cleaners that can be used on hospital whiteboards (these have all been tested and approved on Ghent Healthcare whiteboards) include:

 

  • Glance® SC Glass & Multi-Surface Cleaner 
  • Dispatch® Hospital Cleaner Disinfectant with Bleach 
  • CaviWipes 
  • Goo Gone® 
  • Clorox® Bleach or Germicidal Wipes 
  • Steriplex® Wipes 
  • Virex 256 One Step 
  • A-456 II 
  • OXIVIR 
 

You can also see a list of recommended dilutions for these cleaners, as well as some other general tips for keeping whiteboards clean here. 

Consistency is Key 

One of the most important factors in keeping whiteboards clean is consistency. While whiteboards don’t need to be wiped down every time a person enters and exits the room, daily cleaning and disinfecting between patients can go a long way in preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses. It’s also an easy habit for care teams to adopt, as whiteboards can be wiped down and disinfected before they are updated each morning. 

Invest in High Quality Whiteboards That Are Easy to Clean 

Hospital whiteboards should be easy to clean using hospital grade cleaners, allowing staff to keep patient rooms free of bacteria without worrying about damaging or reducing the life of their whiteboards. Choosing a surface that is easy to clean and also protects against ghosting, fading and other defects will allow nurses to write clearly and erase completely. By doing this, nurses will keep sensitive patient information private.

With every Ghent Healthcare patient room board manufactured in our Ohio-based facility, we are able to control the manufacturing process and take great care in using high quality materials. Our durable surfaces, glass and porcelain with VividShield coating, are both non-porous and help limit the spread of bacteria and debris. See our care and cleaning instructions for more information on proper care of your patient room board.

 

Questions about cleaning our whiteboards or the materials used to make them? Get in touch with us today! 

 

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