As the cold weather approaches, it is important that we remind ourselves to take extra care when practicing proper sanitation. While healthcare professionals are always expected to follow standard sanitation guidelines, the spread of viruses peaks as the weather gets colder, so it’s best to stay mindful during the winter months. Hand hygiene and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces including medical carts are some of the best ways to help prevent the spread of viral infections.
Hand Hygiene Practice
According to the CDC, hand hygiene is for protecting both healthcare workers and patients, by preventing the spread of deadly germs and reducing the chances of healthcare workers carrying or catching infections passed on by patients. This involves cleaning hands thoroughly with soap and water, or using antiseptic hand rub (alcohol-based foam or gel hand sanitizer).
Entirely preventing the spread of viral infections may not be realistic, however, consistent hand hygiene helps reduce the risk of spreading germs to patients and healthcare staff.
The CDC provides the following recommendations for hand hygiene in healthcare settings.
Know when to clean your hands:
KbPort™ also has interactive, self-paced, educational modules (Virtual Study) designed to educate aspiring pharmacy technicians. An example of a course included in the Pharmacy Technician Basic Program is proper hand cleaning and garbing as it is an essential skill for learners to practice when performing in a laboratory environment.
Cleaning and Disinfecting Medical Carts
Medication carts and computers are used by multiple people throughout the work day, so it is essential to clean them regularly.
For example, our SimCartRx™ Standard is a medical grade workstation paired with an antimicrobial Cybernet monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Our medication carts were designed to be easy to clean, disinfect and maintain, making them perfect for a classroom setting with many learners.
Many educational facilities keep hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes on hand for learners to clean between uses, ensuring they continue to build a habit of consistent sanitation processes for patient safety. With our largest peripheral package to date, our SimCartRx™ Elite comes equipped with a glove box rack and wipe dispenser among other accessories.
Along with disinfectant wipes, any non-abrasive or diluted products are strongly recommended to clean plastic components. This may include using soap and water or diluted alcohol. For touchscreen monitors, it’s recommended to avoid using any liquid cleaning agents, as it may risk causing malfunction or damage.
As keyboards and computer mouses tend to collect dust and dirt, it’s best to utilize a brush or a miniature vacuum designed for keyboards, followed by a disinfectant wipe to ensure thorough cleaning.
Download this pdf for more information on cleaning your SimCartRx™.
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