5 Ways to Disinfect a Doctor’s Office

A doctor's office should protect patients and visitors from when they arrive at the facility to when they leave. All surfaces patients come to contact with should be disinfected to protect them from germs. Healthcare facilities have various options, including UV disinfection. Here are some practical ways to keep pathogenic microbes away from your office and facility using UV disinfection.

• INVEST IN UV DISINFECTION

The germicidal potential of ultraviolet and violet-blue light is well documented. UV disinfection can sterilize water/fluids, surfaces, and spaces. Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation and comes in three main types; UVA, UVB, and UVC. Standard UV disinfecting setups and lamps produce UVC, the most powerful radiation wavelength. UVC light can eliminate up to 99.9% of microbes, including E. coli, Salmonella, MRSA, C. diff., Coronavirus, and more.

UV effectively kills up to 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogenic microbes that could be found in a doctor's office. The solution can provide autonomous disinfection when no one is around. UV light also eliminates the need to use harsh chemicals and bleaches. It is practical, safe, and cost-efficient and doesn't damage your surfaces. The top two UV disinfection options include:

• INSTALLED UNITS

You can use installed UV units to address whole room disinfection needs in the doctor's office. Installed UV lamps can be fixed in drop ceilings or using mount brackets. In addition, the units feature advanced programming capabilities for scheduling, integration with building automation systems, and autonomous cleaning. Motion detectors also ensure the unit only works when the doctor's office or area is unoccupied. There are two installed UV disinfection lamps:

• Vantage II - Whole Room UV Units: These UV lights are powerful and offer coverage for high-touch surfaces and spaces. Full room units can disinfect an area of up to 12' x 12'.

• Vantage I - UV Micro Units: The micro-units are perfect for doctor offices as they offer a smaller coverage (10' x 10' at a time) and can be fit in hard and drop-down ceilings.

These units are perfect for rooms that require frequent disinfection, like exam rooms.  You can schedule the disinfection process to run between patients.  You can also use the UV micro units to disinfect high-use areas like the drinking fountain or the bathroom. 

• MOBILE SOLUTIONS

UV disinfection doesn’t have to be installed permanently. You can find portable units for use in various places. Mobile solutions are perfect for sanitizing any room on demand. They are designed to bring powerful germicidal UV light to any area and are height adjustable. Mobile UV units also feature different configurations to accommodate targeted or whole room disinfection. The top option is the Flash M3 Mobile UV Disinfection System.  You can use the flash UV lamps for 360° disinfection. They feature three microlights facing different directions and come with adjustable-height tripod stands.

You can move these mobile solutions between areas or rooms to save costs of having to buy one for each room.  The portable unit works well when you might have to disinfect a room that isn't generally used except for emergencies or special procedures.  

For those wanting multi-layered disinfection strategies, there are solutions to use UV to provide continuous air disinfection for the office. These could be installed into the duct system or stand alone in a room.  You could benefit from continuous disinfection of the air without the use of expensive and polluting chemicals.

• USE A DISINFECTION/SAFETY PROTOCOL

The doctor's office and hospitals are required to perform cleaning following outlined protocols.  A doctor's office has a well-established cleaning routine to keep the floors, counters, sinks, and other contact surfaces germ-free. These protocols using cleaning chemicals are not effective if not followed correctly. 

Disinfecting a doctor's office involves cleaning and sanitizing various surfaces. Think waiting area, examination rooms, personal office surfaces, counters and objects, washrooms, sinks, bins, and more. The cleaning staff should sweep, dust, mop, vacuum, and wipe all surfaces with a specific amount of chemicals for a specific amount of time. To ensure the surface or object being cleaned is free from germs, there are disinfection options like UV sanitizers which are up to 99.9% effective.

• DISINFECT EVERYWHERE AROUND THE OFFICE

When disinfecting a doctor's office, focus on high-traffic areas and surfaces, places people access or touch most. The cleaning team should prioritize the doors, door frames, tables, countertops, light switches, desks, phones, keyboards, and cabinet handles. The washroom sinks and counters also need regular disinfection to keep the germ count low. Other high traffic areas include the examination room, TV remote, nurse call button, call cord, and drapery pulls.

Disinfect all key areas regularly and establish the correct procedures for round-the-clock sanitization. Following the proper cleaning protocols should ensure the cleaning and disinfection efforts yield the intended result; killing all pathogens.

UV disinfection units like Violet Defense's one-of-a-kind Pulsed Xenon lights can provide full-time automated sanitization. They work when the room is empty, eliminating pathogens before the next use.

UV DISINFECTION FOR HEALTHCARE

Disinfecting the doctor's office involves keeping germ count low from the first to the last contact. Maintaining sanitized hallways, waiting areas, and bathrooms are just as crucial as cleaning the immediate surroundings of the office. Disinfecting the office alone won't suffice if the entrance, reception areas, hallways, and washrooms are oozing with pathogens.

One way to ensure all keyspaces are germ-free is through UV disinfectants. You can leverage installed and mobile UV and violet-blue lamps to provide scheduled and autonomous disinfection around the facility.  Make sure all areas are sanitized regularly, preferably between every use.

Healthcare facilities can leverage modern eco-friendly disinfection techniques to reduce harsh chemicals and reduce pathogenic microbes. At Violet Defense, we harness the germicidal potential of UV light to kill up to 99.9% of SARS-CoV-2, MRSA, C. diff, Norovirus, E. coli, and S. enterica. Our Pulsed Xenon solution works autonomously to disinfect doctor/healthcare offices and other settings. We have fixed and portable units, so you’re covered on all fronts.