Vet hospital cleaning demands human hygiene standards

Dateline: 22.06.2009
Author: Lorraine Day

Jayme Davey of cleaning contractors PKL Asset Maintenance Pty Ltd, which has been cleaning Adelaide Animal Hospital for about 12 months, said the main challenge in cleaning a veterinary establishment is the abundance of animal hair.

"Stressed animals shed their hair readily," Davey said. "It just gets everywhere, so we have to be very thorough with vacuuming, especially in corners where it accumulates, and high dusting is done on a regular basis."

For the staff at Adelaide Animal Hospital, one of South Australia's largest providers of healthcare and veterinary services for dogs, cats, small pets and native animals, cleanliness and hygiene are of utmost priority.

The Adelaide Animal Hospital, formerly known as Magill Road Veterinary Hospital, is one of only 30 across Australia to be accredited with the status of Hospital of Excellence by the Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association, a globally acclaimed accreditation scheme.

According to practice manager Lara Casanova, the hospital is currently undergoing the accreditation renewal process to ensure it maintains the quality of care and service. "Cleaning is most important," she noted. "The accreditation criteria are very strict."

Practice owner and head veterinary surgeon since 1992, Dr Warren Foreman, purpose built the spacious Magill Road facility in 1998, having previously operated from smaller premises in a converted house a few doors away. The hospital is open every day of the year with a vet on call until midnight. There are 35 staff including veterinarians, veterinary nurses and trainees, animal caretakers, client relations and administrative staff.

PKL cleans the premises six days a week from 4 am to about 6.30 am, predominantly tiled floor areas including waiting room, consulting rooms and treatment room.

"I inspect the hospital three times a week," Davey explained. "The floors need to be disinfected daily, and the sinks in each of the treatment rooms are disinfected and bleached daily.

"We also check that bins are not contaminated with medical waste, for infection control."

Davey pointed out that the chemicals used are supplied by the animal hospital. In addition, PKL's cleaners use commercial bleach, and a special grade disinfectant gel is used in the washrooms.

"Because the risk of contamination is high, we have to make sure the chemicals are A1," he emphasised.

While PKL cleans most of the facility, a lot of the cleaning is done by staff, especially the sterile operating theatre and isolation ward, as well as consulting rooms and treatment room after each procedure, and any spills during the day.

Adelaide Animal Hospital also includes an on-site laboratory, pharmacy, an x-ray and ultrasound suite, separate dog and cat wards, a hydrobath, and a cat boarding area.

"Special detergents are used each time an animal comes out of a cage or kennel," Casanova said, "and we have a book to communicate special cleaning requirements to the contractor, or any other concerns.

"We maintain strict housekeeping procedures for daily, weekly and monthly cleaning tasks. As we do chemotherapy, we have to be especially careful and we have proper spill kits, gowns, and so on, like a normal human hospital.

"A meeting of all staff is held every Wednesday for two hours to discuss housekeeping issues," she added.

The Adelaide Animal Hospital introduced recycling about 12 months ago and, in the past three months has switched to using linen service company Ensign to supply 300 clean towels a week rather than using their domestic washing machine.

"Hopefully, this is more economical and more environmentally friendly," Casanova stated.

"One of our receptionists, or client relations staff, is the safety officer and has done an Occupational Health and Safety course," she said.

Adelaide Animal Hospital is also one of the few veterinary hospitals to have a procedural manual on the Intranet for staff, covering everything from cleaning cages and kennels to special requirements for sterile areas.

Following the Black Saturday bush fires in February, Adelaide Animal Hospital donated $1500 to the Victorian Wildlife Fund and the RSPCA to assist with the rehabilitation of the injured animals.

Davey explained that while the Adelaide Animal Hospital, which the contractor began cleaning 12 months ago, is the first veterinary hospital PKL has cleaned, the company cleans several medical centres, shopping centres and corporate offices.

PKL has a full-time staff of 15, mainly supervisors and managers, and more than 100 permanent part-time staff. A major part of the business is hotel housekeeping.

"Our first major contract was the North Adelaide Meridien Hotel," Davey said.

After completing a university degree in business management, Davey spent four years as a franchisee with Fab Professional Cleaning before establishing his own business, which was incorporated about 18 months ago. In just five years, the business has grown from an initial turnover of $60,000 a year to about $3 million.

Pictured are Lara Casanova, practice manager for Adelaide Animal Hospital, and PKL's Jayme Davey

Vet hospital cleaning demands human hygiene standards