Clean goes green

When it comes to infection prevention and environmental stewardship, long-term care operators are taking a page out of acute care's book. Increasingly, they're trading traditional cleaning products for less toxic, equally effective alternatives, and switching to solutions — and suppliers — that cut product and packaging waste.

It's a move that's not only good for the environment, but also the health and wellness of residents, staff and visitors. Risks associated with conventional cleaning products and methods have been well-documented.

Many products contain high levels of volatile organic compounds that can cause or exacerbate respiratory irritation, headaches and other symptoms in building occupants, according to Practice Greenhealth. What's more, the organization reports that roughly 35% of conventional cleaning products can cause severe skin damage and also damage organs if absorbed through the skin. Furthermore, disposal of some cleaning products contributes to ground and water contamination, jeopardizing aquatic habitats and organisms, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states.

“While acute care is leading the charge in demanding greater sustainability in healthcare, we're seeing increased interest from long-term care,” notes Joe Drenik, marketing communications and services senior director for GOJO Industries.

Read more: http://www.mcknights.com/clean-goes-green/article/242929/