Housekeeper

POSITION OVERVIEW:

This position is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the Medical Center by, cleaning, gathering municipal and infectious waste, and supplying linens for patient care.  Also responsible for outside maintenance of grounds and ensuring aseptic conditions in all patient care areas.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF JOB: (other duties may be assigned)

1. Clean patient rooms.

• Using universal precautions, disinfect nightstand and over bed table, window sills, shelves, telephone, chairs, doors and door jams, dust mop, wet mop, empty trash, disinfect trash can and check sharp container daily.

• Replace all furniture in proper place before leaving room and lock beds.

• Clean the bathroom, disinfect sink, mirror, tub, shower, walls, commode, and floor and stock supplies.

• Totally house clean patient rooms twice a year: Spring and Fall.

2. Monitor containers that hold sharp objects to be disposed.

• Replace containers when they are ¾ full (i.e. when needles appear in the window).
• Place container in Biohazard Container provided in each department.
• Follow standard precautions.

3. Gather soiled linens and deliver clean linens.

• Monitor soiled linen carts in each department and collect them when full.
• Store all soiled linens in the soiled utility room for commercial laundry transport.
• Collect specialty items to be laundered in house.
• Transport clean linens to the clean linens room.
• Remove linen from the carts and place on shelves.
• Count all par levels.
• Distribute linen to each department and cover all linen while transporting.

4. Gather trash.

• Pick up and dispose of all garbage and empty boxes throughout the hospital three times a day or as needed.
• Place recyclable in recyclable dumpster (such as boxes, etc.) and garbage in the garbage dumpster daily.
• Gather all trash from area of responsibility

5. Maintain floors by using wet scrub techniques and clean/extract carpets.  Clean tile floors.

• Use wet floor signs, dust mop, pick up debris, run automatic scrubber or bucket ringer daily.
• Clean and replace all equipment to its proper place after each use.
• Vacuum rugs, remove all soiled spots, clean and replace equipment to proper place daily or as needed.
• Dilute liquid according to instruction and clean rugs immediately when soiled.

6. Refinish floors.

• Use wet floor signs, gather equipment, dilute chemicals per instruction, apply solution to floor, operate automatic scrubbers, pick up solution with wet vacuum to save drying time and rinsing
• Clean water rinse the floor and apply three coats of floor finish using the wax system equipment.
• Clean and replace equipment to its proper place after each use.

7. Buff floors.

• Use wet floor signs, dust mop floor, wet mop floor, dilute chemical, apply solution to the floor, let dry, and buff floor with the buffer.
• Pick up debris, clean and replace all equipment to its proper place weekly.

8. Clean satellite offices.

• Report to worksite, gather trash, operate vacuum cleaner, mop floors, dust furniture, clean bathrooms and stock supplies every day, Monday through Friday.
• Supply linens as needed and return soiled linen for processing.

9. Cross train in other functional areas of the department and WMC.

• Follow procedure in all areas.
• Report to the area as scheduled and perform necessary task in specific area.
• Replenish all stock needed

10. Perform outside maintenance duties.

• Sweep sidewalks and steps, cut grass, trim hedges, empty trash receptacles, pull weeds, rake leaves, remove snow from entrances, clean windows and vacuum carpets
• Clean doors, door jams, and polish brass weekly.

11. Gather infectious waste

• Monitor each department that houses infectious waste.
• Dispose of full containers of infectious waste as needed and prepare them for shipment three times daily.
• Daily monitor waste in all departments and place in proper container.
• Remove all infectious waste from work area
• Follow universal precautions.

12. Perform weekly high dusting/disinfecting.

• Disinfect all light fixtures, vents, televisions, baseboards, pictures, chair rails, vertical blinds, windows, computer wires, walls when soiled, and ice machines
• Clean elevators and tracks, scrub floor and vacuum tracks and clean walls when soiled

13. Perform total housekeeping of isolation areas.

• Remove all infectious waste, take down and launder cubicles, disinfect walls, ceiling, lights, furniture, patient equipment, vents, windows, bed, cubicle tracks, and floor as needed.
• Clean the bathroom by replacing shower curtain, disinfect sink, mirror, tub, shower, walls, commode, and floor per policy.

14. Provide miscellaneous services.

• Clean and defrost patient refrigerator, exercise equipment, litters, wheelchairs, set up for meetings, prepare non-allergic linens.
• Clean water fountains.

15. Perform patient discharge cleaning.

• Use standard precautions, disinfect all furniture, over bed stand, bedside stand, window sills, ledges, shelves, closets, lamps, walls, complete bed cleaning, all patient equipment and all wires.
• When the room is left vacant, second shift must make sure room and bathroom are cleaned for next patient.
• Clean bathroom, mirror, sink, shower, commode, and empty all trash.
• Not responsible for rented patient equipment

16. Perform cleaning duties in sterile areas, central service, and operating room suites.

• Perform routine cleaning on a daily basis.
• Clean all vents, lights, and machine scrub floors on a weekly basis.
• Clean all walls monthly or more often depending on procedures

17.  Manage supplies.

• Weekly evaluate inventory of supplies.
• Check staff and department par levels.
• Replenish supplies as needed.
• Order necessary depleted items

OTHER DUTIES OF JOB (not all inclusive):

1. Perform other related duties as assigned or required.
2. May assume some administrative tasks in Supervisor’s absence.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Supervision is received by the Director of Environmental Services.

SUPERVISION ADMINISTERED:

This position typically does not require the supervision of staff.

MENTAL/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF JOB:

This position typically requires:

The ability to manage multiple projects/tasks, provide close attention to detail, adapt to a constantly changing work environment, work a predictable schedule, establish own goals, work closely with others.  The ability to constantly stand, walk, communicate orally, hear conversation, and use color vision.  The ability to frequently lift approximately 40 pounds, carry approximately ten pounds push approximately 100 pounds, pull approximately 65 pounds, climb stairs, repeatedly bend, reach, use repetitive finger movement, and withstand repetitive twisting or pressure involving wrists or hands.  The ability to occasionally lift approximately 25 pounds, climb, stoop, use rapid mental/muscular coordination simultaneously and operate a motor vehicle.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position typically requires:

Constant working outside and inside, exposure to cleaning chemicals, contact with patients and exposure to blood and bodily fluids; frequent work outside, exposure to grease/oils, work with machinery with moving parts, work with moving vehicles, work with hands in water, and working alone; occasional exposure to temperature changes, wetness, and exposure to fumes.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

This position typically requires:

            Respirator, eye protection, and gloves.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Education/Training/License/Certification:

High school diploma or equivalent.

1. Work Experience:

One to three months related experience and/or training preferred.

1. Driving Record:

If deemed a driver in your position, a valid Driver’s license is required. Motor Vehicle Record checks will be performed upon hire, in addition to annually thereafter.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

1. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.
2. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
3. Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10’s and 100’s.
4. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
5. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
6. Effective written and verbal communication skills as well as interpersonal skills.
7. Knowledge of standard precaution, Center for Disease Control, Department of Environment Protection records, rules and regulations.