Monitoring cleaning of surfaces
DCFirst Claim
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1. A method for improving cleaning of an environment comprising:
- (i) applying a transparent marker to one or more target sites located on one or more surfaces within an environment, the transparent marker capable of being viewed when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation;
(ii) determining if the transparent marker remains on the one or more target sites after one or more opportunities to clean the one or more surfaces by one or more environmental services staff members;
(iii) establishing a quantitative baseline level of cleanliness for the one or more surfaces within the environment, the quantitative baseline level of cleanliness being based, at least in part, upon steps (i) and (ii);
(iv) instructing the one or more environmental services staff members on cleanliness issues; and
(v) evaluating whether the cleanliness of the environment has improved after instructing the one or more environmental services staff members by repeating steps (i) and (ii) to establish a post-instruction level of cleanliness and comparing the post-instruction level of cleanliness to the quantitative baseline level of cleanliness.
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Abstract
A method for monitoring cleaning of a surface includes applying an amount of transparent indicator material to an area of a surface and measuring the amount of transparent indicator material remaining on the surface. The transparent indicator material may be fixed on the surface by drying and, when a fluorescent material, may be measured through exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method for improving cleaning of an environment comprising:
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(i) applying a transparent marker to one or more target sites located on one or more surfaces within an environment, the transparent marker capable of being viewed when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation; (ii) determining if the transparent marker remains on the one or more target sites after one or more opportunities to clean the one or more surfaces by one or more environmental services staff members; (iii) establishing a quantitative baseline level of cleanliness for the one or more surfaces within the environment, the quantitative baseline level of cleanliness being based, at least in part, upon steps (i) and (ii); (iv) instructing the one or more environmental services staff members on cleanliness issues; and (v) evaluating whether the cleanliness of the environment has improved after instructing the one or more environmental services staff members by repeating steps (i) and (ii) to establish a post-instruction level of cleanliness and comparing the post-instruction level of cleanliness to the quantitative baseline level of cleanliness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for improving cleaning procedures comprising:
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(i) applying an amount of transparent indicator material to one or more target sites located on one or more environmental surfaces within a first institution; (ii) determining if any of the transparent indicator material remains on the one or more target sites after one or more opportunities to clean the one or more environmental surfaces by one or more environmental services staff members; (iii) determining a pre-intervention level of cleanliness in the first institution, the pre-intervention level of cleanliness being a baseline and based, at least in part, upon whether transparent indicator material visibly remains, when exposed to UV radiation, on the one or more target sites; (iv) altering existing cleaning procedures to enhance the first institution'"'"'s cleaning and disinfecting program; (v) determining a post-intervention level of cleanliness in the environment of the first institution by repeating steps (i) and (ii); (vi) comparing the pre-intervention level of cleanliness to the post-intervention level of cleanliness to determine a change in cleanliness; and (vii) providing feedback regarding the change in cleanliness to the one or more environmental services staff members. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for inspecting the cleanliness of an environment and training environmental services staff comprising:
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pre-marking a plurality of high touch surfaces within an environment using an invisible indicator; providing an opportunity for environmental services staff to clean the environment; examining the pre-marked high touch surfaces using a source of UV radiation to determine whether the invisible indicator remains on the high touch surface after providing the opportunity for environmental services staff to clean the environment; identifying high touch surfaces that require additional cleaning based at least in part on whether the invisible indicator remains on the high touch surface; and providing training to the environmental services staff regarding cleaning of the environment. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for controlling transmission of nosocomial pathogens within an environment of a facility comprising:
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implementing a baseline environmental evaluation system to provide a pre-intervention level of cleanliness within the environment, the pre-intervention level of cleanliness being determined by applying an amount of transparent indicator material to one or more target sites located on one or more surfaces within an environment and determining if any of the transparent indicator material remains on the one or more target sites after one or more opportunities to clean the one or more surfaces by one or more environmental services staff members; implementing a program enhancement system, the program enhancement system including training at least one of facility administration and the one or more environmental services staff members on the baseline level of cleanliness within the environment, and providing a post-intervention level of cleanliness; and implementing a program comparison system, the program comparison system comparing the pre-intervention level of cleanliness with the post-intervention level of cleanliness. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification