Phalgun Kesharaju

I Year – MHM’10,
Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences,
Hyderabad, India.
HOUSEKEEPING - DEFINITION

Housekeeping is defined as the provision of

a clean, comfortable and safe environment
for the patients and public in a hospital
setup.
 AIMS OF HOUSEKEEPING
DEPARTMENT
 Achieve the maximum efficiency possible in the care and
comfort of the patients and in the smooth running of the
hospital.

 Establish a welcoming atmosphere and a courteous, reliable

service from staff of all departments.

 Ensure a high standard of cleanliness and general upkeep in

all areas.

 Train, control and supervise the staff of housekeeping

department.

 Establish a good working relationship with other department.

 Ensure that safety and security regulations are made known

to all staff of the hospital.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF
HOUSEKEEPING DEPARTMENT

 Daily cleaning
 Periodic cleaning
 Trash and garbage removal including proper hospital
waste disposal
 Discharge cleaning
 Exterminating bugs and pests
 Preventing spread of infection
 Safety and security of the hospital
 Creating healing environment
 Gardening
 Interior decoration
ORGANIZATION CHART
ORGANIZING HOUSEKEEPING
DEPARTMENT

 Location
 Facility & space requirement
 Storage areas (e.g. under staircase)
 Cupboards with locks
 Notice boards

 Management information system

 Registers (attendance, asset,...)
 Forms (Indent, requisitions,…)
 Asset list (equipment, materials..)
 Checklist (Quality, Maintenance..)
QUALITIES OF THE HOUSEKEEPER

 Basic knowledge of health care sanitation

 Ability to plan, administer, and develop all phases
of a comprehensive housekeeping program
 Ability to assign, supervises, and evaluates the
work of subordinates
 A pleasant personality
 An interest in people and tact in handling them
INTER DEPARTMENTAL
RELATIONSHIP

 Maintenance department (electricity, plumbing,

carpentry, civil)
 Stores
 Laundry
 Security
 Nursing
 Other departments
MANAGEMENT ISSUES

 Effective communication
 Absent of responsible person
 Work Allocation
 Conflicts Management
 Time Management
HOUSEKEEPING PRACTICES IN KEY
WORKING AREAS IN HOSPITALS

 Out Patient Department and Clinical area

 Operation Theater
 Ward
 Laboratory
 Office area
 Sanitary area
 Outside area
COMMON HOUSEKEEPING
PRACTICES IN KEY WORKING AREAS
 Systematic cleaning operations – Year calendar
 Basic work procedures
 Control of odors, pests, rodent & animal control
 Waste disposal – methods and procedures
 Safety regulation – Accident, fire, electrical
 Care of furniture
 Interior decoration
 Storage procedure for used equipments
PERCENTAGE GROSS TOTAL QUANTITY
OF BIO-MEDICAL WASTES IN AN
HOSPITAL.
WASTES DISPOSAL
LAUNDRY SERVICES

 It is a centralized function coming under the

housekeeping department taking care of all
activities from purchase to linen management to
laundry to condemnation
 Linen Management will vary based on the climate,
culture, systems and procedure of the individual
organization
Hospital can go for
 Inside laundry services - with adequate
machineries
 Inside laundry services – Manual wash by dhobi
 Outside laundry services – On contract basis
FUNCTIONS OF LAUNDRY
DEPARTMENT

 Collection or receiving soiled and infected linen

 Processing solid linen through laundry equipment. This
includes sorting, sluicing and disinfecting, washing,
extracting, drying, conditioning ironing, pressing and
folding
 Inspection and repair of damaged articles, their
contamination and replacement
 Distributing finished linen to the respective user
departments
 Maintenance and control of active and back-up
inventions and processed linen
 Maintaining all type of registers
ORGANIZING LAUNDRY
DEPARTMENT

 Manpower requirement
 Duties and responsibilities of linen in - charge
housekeepers
 Recruitment and selection of dhobi
 Management information system
 Equipments – selection, care
 Linen – selection, care, stain removal procedure
 Work procedure
 Stain removal procedure
 Management issues
TIPS

 Stock the linen materials in 1:3 ratio

 Each day the bed sheet is dusted and the side is
changed when the bed is made. This way both sides
of the sheet is used. On the third day the bed
sheet is changed
 Use all faded and damaged fabrics for dusting and
cleaning windows, furniture etc
OTHER HOUSEKEEPING KNOWLEDGE

 Innovative and decorative tasks like flower

arrangements and pot decoration etc.
 Gardening
 Arranging dinner, tea for guests
 Arranging rooms for conferences, meetings
 Functional arrangements
CONCLUSION

The housekeeping department is a non-revenue-

producing service department in the hospital.
A poorly run department results in money
needlessly spent and creates a negative
impression on patients, visitors and staff,
which will adversely affect their perception
of the quality of care provided by the
hospital.
ALWAYS BE GOOD TO YOUR
HOUSEKEEPER