Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
HEALTH EDUCATION: CHALLENGES, ISSUES AND IMPACT, ss.203-227, 2010 (SSCI)
Hospitals, being one of the most important organizations of the society, have a distinct role both in the life of the individual and of the society. The control of hospital infections require team work. Housekeeping one of whose responsibilities is the control of infection and sanitation is one of the professional groups which take part in this team. Housekeeping services includes activities aimed to maintain a healthy, clean, orderly, safe and pleasant environment by making the maximum use of the facilities of hospitals. In hospitals cleaning service carried out in accordance with certain provisions not only has a positive effect on the morale, welfare and safety of the patients but also prevents a lot of areas from becoming a source of infection. The Housekeeping Department has a distinctive role, in modern hospital administration, as regards with its functions of cleaning of hospitals, infection control, sanitation, and decoration as well as the administration of the housekeeping staff. There are various factors playing in the development of hospital infections. Controlling of microorganisms, hence of the infections, in hospitals is a multidisciplinary issue. Therefore, an Infection Control Committee ought to be formed in every hospital. This committee should include wide representation from relevant departments: e.g. Management, Nursing, Physicians, Microbiology, Pharmacy, Infection control practitioners and Housekeeping, personnel etc. The Housekeeping Department in hospitals helps in prevention and minimizing of the effect of the microorganisms in the environment by training its staff on regular basis, along with regular controls of cleanliness and applying the programs declared by the Infection Control Committee.