Method for Promoting Hygiene and Cleanliness

• US 20130035900A1
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Purcell, Ricky Wayne, Williamson, Bruce, Gatto, Jeanne Marie
• Application Number:
  US13/195,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20130035900A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/80 for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics, e.g. flu

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for promoting hygiene in an away-from-home location. The method collects data from an away-from-home location by testing common areas and personal areas within the away-from-home location and takes this data to develop a plan of action to reduce the contaminants within the away-from-home location.

Claims

1. A method for promoting a hygiene in an away-from-home location, said method comprising

a. conducting an initial evaluation of the away-from-home location using a test protocol to collect initial data and determine an initial level of contamination at various locations within the away-from-home location;

b. evaluating collected data to identify specific needs and/or areas of focus within the away-from-home location;

c. developing a plan of action to address the specific needs and/or areas of focus for the away-from-home location;

d. reevaluating the away-from-home location after a period of time by repeating the test protocol to collect secondary data to determine the second level of contamination within the away-from-home location;

e. evaluating the secondary data as compared to the initial data; and

f. providing feedback to the away-from-home location by conveying a change in the level of contamination at the various locations over the period of time.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising repeating the method at several different away-from-home locations and compiling the collected data in a database.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising collecting unplanned absence data from the away-from-home location and compiling the unplanned absence data in a database.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising repeating the method at several different away-from-home locations and compiling the collected data in a database.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the feedback further comprises information relating to unplanned absence data for the away-from-home location compared to unplanned absence data from the database.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing motivational means to engage people within the away-from-home location to drive compliance with the plan of action

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the motivational means comprises e-mails, videos, surveys, contest, prizes for compliance and/or engagement and combination thereof.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising completing surveys on usage of specific products suggested to execute the plan of action.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the feedback further comprises information relating to unplanned absence data for the place of business as compared to unplanned absence data from the database.

10. The method according to claim 1, developing a plan of action comprises suggesting products and method of using the products to help reduce contamination.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the specific products comprise hand sanitizer, surface cleaners, surface disinfectants, surface sanitizers, and facial tissues.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the specific products further comprises hand soaps and disposable hand towels.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the specific products further comprise a computer keyboard cleaning device.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the surface cleaner, surface disinfectant or the surface sanitizer comprises a saturated wipe, a spray, a foam, or a liquid.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the surface sanitizer or surface disinfectant provides surface sanitation which last for more than 2 hours.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein specific products further comprises air filtration or air disinfection.

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing training at least one person at the away-from-home location on the proper use of the products.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising assisting the away-from-home location with implementing the plan of action for a period of time prior to reevaluating the away-from-home location.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the assisting comprises providing motivational means to engage people within the away-from-home location to drive compliance with the plan of action

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the motivational means comprises e-mails, videos, surveys, contest, prizes for compliance and/or engagement and combination thereof.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contamination comprises a virus bacteria, mold, and/or allergen.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the contamination comprises at least one virus and/or at least one bacterium.

23. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing training at least one person at the away-from-home location, wherein the training includes teaching at least one person to collect the secondary data.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein the test protocol is performed by a person trained in the test protocol.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein person performs the test protocol wearing protective gear.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the testing protocols are performed during normal business hours.

27. The method according to claim 1, wherein the test protocol is performed with a cleaning crew normally responsible for cleaning the away-from-home location.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the collected data is shared with the cleaning crew.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the cleaning crew is provided with a second plan of action to address specific needs and/or areas of focus.

30. The method according to claim 1, further comprising repeating steps d, e and f of claim 1.

31. The method according to claim 1, wherein the away-from-home location is an office building, an office suite, a retail stores, a warehouse, a manufacturing facility;

a school, a day care center;

a place of worship;

a hotels, a motel, or a conference centers.

32. A method for promoting hygiene in an away-from-home location, said method comprising

a. conducting an initial survey of an away-from-home location, the initial survey includes determining a number of people using the away-from-home location on a regular basis, determining the type of away-from-home location, determining the type of working arrangements, and the types of commonly used items;

b. comparing the results of the survey to data stored in a database having similar information to identify areas of focus to promote hygiene within the away-from-home location;

c. developing a plan of action to address the areas of focus for the away-from-home location;

d. implementing the plan of action with the away-from-home location to drive compliance with the plan of action.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising sharing the database information with the away-from-home location.