Are you searching for duties and responsibilities in the hospital housekeeping system? Read on to gather information about the ways to become a part of this hospitality service.
The need of hospital institutions to maintain health and wellness has always been of prime importance. Moreover, with the passage of time, the maintenance of environmental sanitation has become a critical aspect in hospital housekeeping.
The Joint Commission of Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH) has set a standard for all medical institutions to ensure excellence in hospital sanitation by maintaining a sanitary, safe and a healthy environment. Some new expectations have been added recently to reduce the chances of any threat to the patients and employees working in the hospital.
These guidelines also enable efficient cleaning services and public healthcare, to cut down the possibilities of infectious diseases and threats of similar nature.
Hospital and Housekeeping
Systems
Few years ago, the responsibilities regarding the cleanliness and maintenance of hospitals were merged with the nursing department. But due to the raising concern of the hospital environment, a separate and a centralized system was designed, known as the hospital housekeeping system (HHS), which was held responsible for the daily housekeeping operations.
These changes generated the need of housekeeping officers who were entrusted with all managerial responsibilities that are equivalent to the duties of hospital administrative managers.
HHS provides acute care and support service solutions to the medical and healthcare institutions. HHS provides high quality and cost-effective service and fulfills the expectations of the customers regarding the cleanliness and hygiene in the hospitals.
Duties
The duties of the hospital housekeeper includes the proper maintenance of the medical institution. The prime duty is maintaining cleanliness in the hospital according to the strict codes of the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Hospitals.
Hygiene: Hospital housekeepers are responsible for cleaning, mopping, and sterilizing all the areas in the hospital that includes patient's room, waiting room, staff's room, operation room, diagnostic room, and pathology room.
Ward Rooms: The housekeeper should clean the bathroom, make the beds, clean the surface and the windows of the patient's room. The patient rooms are sanitized with a medicated cleaning agent, which is a significant part of the overall patient care.
Linen: S/he should make sure that the bed linen are changed regularly and old ones are replaced or discarded, if they are in a tattered condition and cannot be mended.
Garbage and Waste: The waste bins should be emptied and cleaned daily. Disposable medical wastes and recyclable things should be sent for the same as per the hospital regulations.
Miscellaneous Duties: The other duties and responsibilities also include periodical maintenance of the heating and cooling systems, as well as the sewage system.
Apply for a Job
Hospital housekeeping jobs are now in great demand due to immense career growth and benefits that they offer. These include, a handsome pay package, medical benefits, low turnover, and all, job satisfaction!
Some of the hospital job profiles are the environmental services technician, director, supervisor, and an on-floor provider. There are a number of ways to apply for hospital jobs.
Apply Online: You can get ample of information regarding job opportunities in this field through the internet. Most of the hospitals post their vacancies online with the job requirements for quick responses.
Local Hospitals: Contacting the local hospitals is an option for job search in this field. Fill out an application form and submit it in the concerned department along with your contact number so that they can contact you in case of an opening.
Advertisements: The information about the vacancies in the hospitals can also be traced out through the local newspapers or the employment newspapers.
To perform the various activities, the individual should be technically sound and dedicated towards his or her work. He or she should also be able to manage the responsibilities efficiently and coordinate with the various programs of the housekeeping system in the hospitals.