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Today, the Five Ws and One H are also becoming the basis for a new way of providing a variety of services to health care facilities. This is especially true when it comes to cleaning. In fact, the Five Ws and One H are now the foundation for what some have termed “the new model of cleaning” in medical locations. The why behind this new approach is simple: the past decade bore witness to a frightening variety of disease outbreaks around the world that included SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), the Norwalk virus, MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), and, most recently, H1N1. Growing concerns about the emergence of new infectious risks to public health have made it obvious to facility managers, cleaning professionals, and public health experts that a new model for more effective cleaning is needed. The where for this new model was also identified rather simply--just about any place where large groups of people gather, but especially medical facilities where there may be very young, very old, and very ill people, all more vulnerable to disease. Identifying the why and where for a new cleaning model has been easy, but what about the other three Ws? Identifying the who. The who in cleaning refers to those who share the responsibility for a health care facility's cleanliness. Historically, this meant the facility's custodial and/or housekeeping departments. But today, we increasingly see the responsibility for cleaning starting at the top and working its way down. Decisions are made by top management and then implemented by the housekeeping department and other staff. This means that a facility's entire staff actually contributes to keeping the facility hygienically clean and stopping the spread of disease. Redirecting the what. Even in medical facilities, which have traditionally placed a greater emphasis on cleaning to protect health compared to other types of facilities, what is cleaned typically focused on those areas that improve the appearance of the facility. In the new model for cleaning, however, much greater emphasis is now placed on hygienically cleaning less prominent areas such as cleaning and sanitizing “high-touch” areas: elevator buttons, light switches, door handles, bedside tables, ledges, and controls. A new look at when. At first glance, one might think that the when in this discussion would refer to the frequency of cleaning. However, it actually identifies two types of cleaning processes and when each should be employed. Routine cleaning, the first category of cleaning processes is defined as preventive cleaning for health; it includes using established but effective cleaning systems when there is no current disease outbreak or specific public health concern. Outbreak cleaning, on the other hand, involves a much more aggressive and frequent cleaning protocol that places a far greater emphasis on disinfecting and sanitizing surfaces. Outbreak cleaning procedures and systems have even been formalized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), especially in the case of disease outbreaks on cruise ships. A Closer Look at How Although the how in today's new cleaning model depends to some extent on what is being cleaned, there are some common denominators that can be applied. For instance, with floors and surfaces such as restroom fixtures and counter tops, studies dating back to the early 1970s indicate that as mops and cleaning cloths become soiled, they can actually spread more contaminants than they remove.* This is one reason why many health care facilities now employ flat-surface cleaning systems that combine chemical injection technologies, microfiber, and a squeegee to clean counter tops. For floors and a variety of fixtures (including restroom fixtures), rags, sprayers, and cleaning cloths have been replaced with what are referred to as no-touch cleaning systems. Recent studies presented at the Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI) indicate that these types of systems, which essentially pressure wash and remove disease-causing germs on surfaces helping to prevent the spread of contaminants, are far more thorough than traditional cleaning methods. It is believed that the "Five Ws and One H" approach to news writing dates back to the first century BC, when it was taught to orators, writers, and attorneys to be used in the art of prosecution and defense. Sometimes referred to as “circumstances,” these points were systematic guides used to make a point or presentation. Today, the Five Ws and One H have found new meaning--one that was not even considered 2,000 years ago--as a way to systematically keep medical facilities clean and people healthy. John Richter is the Technical Director for Kaivac, Inc., developers of the Kaivac No-Touch Cleaning® system. He is a frequent author and presenter discussing hygienic cleaning issues and related topics Richter has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, his emphasis being thermal sciences and fluid dynamics. His background includes management and leadership roles in new product development with leading companies in the electrical distribution industry. He also is a Six-Sigma Green Belt. Six Sigma is a business management strategy, initially implemented by Motorola that today enjoys widespread application in many sectors of industry. *Studies conducted by the University of Ottawa, Canada, and published in the American Society for Microbiology in 1971. Subscribe to our FREE Ezine and receive current Health News, be eligible for discounted products/services and coupons related to your Health. We publish 24/7. HealthNewsDigest.com For advertising or promotion, email: tvmike13@healthnewsdigest.com Top of Page 
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