CM/Spotlight: infection control case study Advanced Vapor Technologies LLC A Tradition Of Excellence Modernized Without the use of chemicals, environmental services strives to protect health at one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals. S Seattle Children’s Hospital is a 250-bed facility specializing in meeting the physi-cal, emotional and developmental needs of children. Mitch Birchfield, director of environmen-tal services, believes the hospital’s 100-year tradition of excellence should extend to the way the environment is cleaned and maintained. “The quintessential issue is the patients: Children. Their tolerance is very low,” says Birchfield. Since asthma and chemotherapy patients constitute the two largest groups receiving inpatient care, the ambient envi-ronment during and after cleaning is vitally important. Training Fosters Perfection Given the versatility of the equipment, Birchfield says that training of internal staff is key, and vendor training support is critical. “Our vendor provides very thorough initial and follow-up training, spending perhaps an hour per session getting our technicians up to speed and providing documentation that the training occurred and was effec-tive,” opines Birchfield. “It’s important to mention, though, that the machine is relatively easy to use. Instead of using chemicals that you mix or add into a machine, it’s a compact, self-contained system that just needs water. Staff does not need to go back to the supply closet for more chemicals, saving time and labor,” proclaims Birchfield. Using steam is often much easier than teaching people the dilution ratios and pH levels of chemicals, plus it eliminates the problem of chemical disposal. “With help from our vendor, we have developed a regular, standardized proce-dure, and the staff is confident in their abil-ity and the machine’s ability to get the job done well,” shares Birchfield. Disinfecting chemicals — though nec-essary for compliance in some cases — where used unnecessarily are expensive in more ways than one. “It just does not make sense to be using unhealthy products in a health care envi-ronment when there are safer processes available,” concludes Birchfield. CM Circle Product Information no. 151 Vendor training support is critical. Chemicals To The Wayside Birchfield has selected less chemically-intensive ways of cleaning and disinfecting while ensuring that hospital-acquired infec-tions are kept in check. Steam vapor sanitation devices equipped with a thermally accelerated nano-crystal sanitation (TANCS) water treatment mod-ule were chosen because they clean and disinfect rapidly using only tap water — and without chemicals. The TANCS module converts minerals in tap water to nano crystals energized by heat and delivered by the low-moisture, low-pressure steam to disinfect within sec-onds of contact time. Seattle Children’s now has five units used regularly in patient rooms, restrooms and in food service areas. The steam vapor units are self-con-tained on a compact rolling cart with tools, enable continuous re-filling and, impor-tantly, work quickly. Birchfield, whose staff also now use steam vapor for deep cleaning patient rooms and public restrooms, adds: “One of our central themes is to use products or tools with a safer process. For patient discharge room cleaning, we don’t want to bring in intermediate-level disinfectants because, while they destroy pathogens, they impair indoor air quality — and you need to allow time for proper air exchange before the rooms can be used again. With steam vapor, you can turn the room 25-30 percent faster with similar hygienic out-comes based on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and other testing.” In restrooms, Birchfield says that labor times are comparable to older methods, but that deep cleaning using steam facilitates restorative and preventive maintenance. This content was provided by Advanced Vapor Technologies as part of a paid advertisement. For more information, please contact Advanced Vapor at 1-800-997-6584 or www.AdVap.com. 20 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • February 2012
CMM – Archives Feb 2012: 20
