By: Liz Jensen

Clinical Director, Direct Supply 

Senior living is entering a new era, and care leaders are rising to meet the challenge with a renewed focus on human connection. 

The pressure on care teams has never been higher. The population of older adults is growing faster than the available workforce. Clinical needs are becoming more complex, and expectations from families, payors, and regulators are increasing. In response, senior living nurse executives are taking bold action. They are leading a digital care transformation built not around technology itself, but around people. 

These leaders are redesigning how care is delivered and documented. They are using data and digital tools to protect staff, improve resident outcomes, and ensure long-term sustainability. The goal is not to layer on more software. It is to align technology and clinical judgment into one integrated system that drives better care. 

Embracing newer technology designed for senior living 

Skilled nursing centers have been using electronic health records (EHRs) for 20+ years, but in Assisted Living/Memory Care communities, it’s relatively newer than technology. Early adopters had limited options available to them; modules adapted from skilled nursing solutions, or platforms built on features that were added to an existing CRM or billing system. Within the last 5 years, new solutions, built specifically for Assisted Living/Memory Care users, are giving nursing executives and leaders improved experiences and new ways of re-designing their care models with data not previously available to them.  

“They’re not just buying more software or signing new contracts. They’re redesigning how care gets delivered, coordinated, and documented in their communities.”  

Today’s forward-thinking executives are shifting their focus. Instead of chasing features, they are asking deeper questions. Does this solution help my team make better decisions? Will it reduce their workload or add to it? Is it built for our environment, or is it a generic tool trying to fit where it doesn’t belong? 

The answers to these questions are shaping investment decisions across the industry. Many providers are moving away from one-size-fits-all solutions. They are choosing systems built specifically for their care settings. These systems are easier to use, better aligned with daily workflows, and more effective in supporting real clinical judgment. 

Four strategies powering digital care transformation

Digital care transformation is not a single project or platform. It is a strategic shift happening across four essential areas of senior living operations.

1. Connected information

Data is only useful if it’s accurate, accessible, and aligned with how care teams work. That’s why nurse leaders are investing in systems that reduce redundancy and eliminate duplicate entry. This creates one reliable source of truth for resident information. 

Purpose-built platforms, like DS smart®,  ensure that the right data flows to the right people at the right time, helping staff respond faster and more effectively. 

2. Smarter workflows and clinical judgment

Smarter workflows and clinical judgment start with technology that truly supports the care team. Nurse executives are looking for tools that support both the knowledge and skills involved in clinical judgment-noticing changes, acting quickly, and communicating clearly with others. 

The Notice – Act – Communicate framework is core to clinical judgement. Technology can play an important role in generating and capturing data needed to inform platform algorithms and user insights for nurses. It reduces missed changes, and gives nurses and CNAs the confidence that their tools are helping, not hindering, care delivery. 

3. An empowered workforce

Time is the most valuable resource in senior living. Staff need tools that give it back. That’s why automation, robotics, and mobile documentation are gaining traction. These solutions take on repetitive tasks and reduce documentation burden, so clinical teams can spend more time where it matters most, with the people they care for. 

Technology is helping nurses and CNAs work at the top of their license. It is also helping organizations rethink roles, responsibilities, and workflows. By reducing the friction of daily tasks, providers are building more resilient care teams and reducing burnout. 

4. Better outcomes and long-term sustainability

Digital tools must deliver results. Nurse executives are focused on reducing safety events, lowering rehospitalizations, and preparing for new models of value-based care. But they are also thinking about sustainability. Every new investment must hold up to real-world demands, from training and implementation to long-term use at scale. 

Cost is more than a line item. It includes change management, staff readiness, and integration with existing systems. Providers are seeking solutions that reduce complexity instead of adding it. They want fewer devices and fewer logins. They are looking for a more unified platform that streamlines the entire care experience. 

Why it matters for the future of senior living 

This digital transformation is deeply human. The goals are clear:  
1. Make it easier for clinical teams to do their best work, caring for residents  
2. Help residents live with dignity, safety, and connection 
3. Build systems that will support the next generation of senior living 

Every nurse, CNA, and team member brings heart and dedication to their work. Our responsibility as their technology-driven solutions provider is to design technology that respects that commitment. When we reduce friction, build smarter tools, and lead with empathy, we unlock better outcomes for everyone.  

The High Cost of Pressure Injuries

Treating a single Stage 2–4 pressure injury can cost between $44,000 and $90,000, not including penalties for quality-of-care deficiencies or extended hospitalizations¹. Beyond the financial burden, these injuries can severely impact residents’ health and comfort, increasing the risk of cellulitis, sepsis, gangrene, and death².

Despite decades of awareness and clinical training, pressure injuries remain common. Prevalence rates in skilled nursing settings average 20–30%, and more than 2.5 million patients in the U.S. are affected every year³.

But here’s the good news: up to 95% of pressure injuries are preventable⁴. A proactive, multi-pronged approach can significantly reduce risk and improve overall resident outcomes.

Root Causes and Smart Interventions

Cause #1: Prolonged Pressure on Bony Areas

Prolonged sitting or lying without repositioning compresses tissue and impairs blood flow, leading to skin breakdown — especially for areas like the heels, sacrum, coccyx, elbows, and shoulder blades.

Intervention: Pressure Redistribution Surfaces

Foam and air mattresses help distribute weight across a broader surface area to reduce pressure points and are commonly used for wound prevention as well as treatment of up to Stage III wounds.

Dynamic air mattresses use alternating pressure and low-air-loss technology to shift load and manage skin moisture. These surfaces have been shown to reduce new injury occurrence by up to 45% in high-risk populations⁵.

Key stat: Foam mattresses can reduce pressure injury risk by up to 60%, compared to standard hospital mattresses⁶.

Cause #2: Microclimate and Moisture Buildup

Excess heat and moisture at the skin surface can accelerate skin breakdown.

Intervention: Skin Microclimate Management

Low-air-loss air mattresses help wick away heat and moisture.

Moisture-Wicking Fabrics: Use underpads, gowns, or linens made from fabrics designed to wick moisture away from the skin.

Breathable mattress and cushion covers improve airflow around the skin.

Gel-insert cushions help draw heat away from high-pressure areas to limit perspiration and friction-related injury.

Cause #3: Skin Shear from Friction or Movement

Sliding down in a bed or slumping in a wheelchair can cause shear forces that damage skin below the surface.

Intervention: Anti-Shear Positioning Tools

Auto-contour beds raise the knees and head simultaneously to prevent sliding.

Glide sheets, transfer boards, and low-friction fabrics reduce shear during repositioning.

Contoured cushions and lateral supports maintain better posture in seated residents.

Sleeve-style arm protectors help prevent rubbing against wheelchair parts.

Cause #4: Lack of Movement and Mobility

Limited movement causes constant pressure on vulnerable areas and slows circulation and healing.

Intervention: Repositioning, Movement & Strength Support

Specialized wheelchairs and recliners offer multiple positioning options to help redistribute pressure and reduce prolonged skin contact with high-risk areas.

Innovative wheelchair designs can also promote more independent repositioning by assisting residents into partial standing positions, giving them greater mobility and control.

Lifts and transfer devices enable safe, frequent repositioning for residents with limited mobility, reducing strain on caregivers while protecting skin integrity.

Strength and balance equipment can be incorporated into daily routines to support mobility and stamina, helping residents stay active and lowering the overall risk of pressure injuries.

Evidence-based insight: Daily mobilization has been shown to reduce pressure injury risk by up to 50%⁷.

Cause #5: Compromised Skin from Dehydration

Dehydrated skin is more fragile and prone to breakdown, especially in older adults with diminished thirst cues.

Intervention: Promote Hydration and Monitor Risk

Insulated hydration mugs and hydration carts keep fluids accessible throughout the day.

Routine vitals monitoring (including weight, temperature, and blood pressure) can help detect changes early.

One study found that in 32% of pressure injury cases, vital sign changes preceded visible skin damage⁸ — offering an early opportunity to intervene.

Understanding AI’s supportive role in clinical care 

AI technology is increasingly being designed to support and empower care teams, and as the technology develops, new capabilities will continue to surface. It can streamline time-consuming tasks, automate repetitive processes, and provide critical insights, allowing care teams to spend more time delivering meaningful, person-centered care. Thoughtfully integrating AI in senior care helps assisted living and memory care communities enhance quality, efficiency, and regulatory compliance while maintaining the personalized care that individuals and families value most. Just as important as these benefits is building trust from the start. That means implementing AI solutions on secure platforms, being transparent about how data is used, and providing the training care teams need to feel confident using new tools. 

Enhancing direct resident care with AI applications in healthcare 

Medication management is one of the most complex and critical workflows in assisted living and memory care. While support levels vary from full administration to prompting and self-management, AI is beginning to show real promise in enhancing this process. 

Early innovations in this space are: 

• Automating medication tracking: Streamlining medication workflows from ordering through administration to improve accuracy and compliance 

• Delivering real-time alerts: Mobile apps and smart devices provide timely reminders to promote adherence 

• Reducing risk of errors: AI-driven systems can support safer practices by offering prompts, confirmations, and documentation support 

At Direct Supply, we’re actively exploring AI’s evolving role in this area to help providers enhance safety, reduce workload, and support regulatory requirements. While these innovations are still emerging, we’re focused on identifying and shaping practical tools that will drive meaningful change. 

Unique opportunities with AI in assisted living EHRs 

Electronic health records (EHRs) are increasingly an invaluable tool to support assisted living providers, and AI is playing an important role in that by: 

• Resident care insights: AI is detecting trends and patterns in resident care and staff workflow, offering valuable insights into staff time allocation and resident care needs. For example, DS smart® enables vitals to transmit directly to the EMR in under 2 minutes, complete with accurate timestamps. This allows care teams to respond faster, reduce errors, and capture a more complete picture of resident health, supporting earlier interventions and data-informed decision-making. 

• Accurate billing and resource management: By understanding how staff spend their time, AI technology helps optimize resident billing based on actual care provided. Because these systems manage sensitive resident and operational data, it’s essential to choose solutions that meet rigorous security requirements, like HIPAA compliance. Clear, measurable performance metrics help ensure these tools deliver value without compromising privacy. 

• Optimized staffing decisions: AI-driven analytics can inform staffing decisions, helping management balance resource allocation against resident needs and regulatory staffing requirements. 

AI’s role in improving clinical operations 

In assisted living and memory care, clinical operations must remain responsive, agile, and supportive. AI operational tools are starting to streamline workflows and show promise for simplifying regulatory compliance by: 

For example, pac-IQ® is an AI-enabled referral management platform designed specifically for senior care providers. It helps care teams streamline one of the most complex areas of operations: care transitions from hospitals to assisted living or memory care. By reducing referral processing from hours to minutes and automating intake and eligibility workflows, pac-IQ® enables faster, more informed decisions. It integrates with existing platforms, supports HIPAA compliance, and helps staff keep residents and families at the center of the process. 

A phased rollout with thorough testing helps ensure these tools operate effectively without disrupting daily workflows. Pairing adoption with ongoing education builds trust, helps teams understand AI’s capabilities and limits, and reinforces how resident privacy is safeguarded. 

Your trusted partner in AI-driven senior living innovation 

At Direct Supply, we help assisted living and memory care communities successfully harness AI technology to optimize resident care, empower care teams, and confidently meet evolving state regulatory requirements. Our innovative senior care technology solutions are designed with your care teams in mind, ensuring technology always enhances human connections and outcomes.

Defining AI’s role in clinical care 

AI in clinical care encompasses technology designed to simplify workflows, provide real-time decision support, and improve resident outcomes.  

AI is currently best viewed as an assistant to streamline routine tasks, and as these tools mature, we may see them take on even more sophisticated functions alongside care teams. It complements human judgment, empowering caregivers with critical insights without diminishing their essential role in compassionate, personalized care. As these tools evolve, ensuring they’re implemented with strong privacy safeguards and transparent performance measures will be key to maintaining trust between caregivers, residents, and families. 

Transforming documentation and EHR usability

AI enhances Electronic Health Record (EHR) documentation to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and usability. New automation tools and early AI-assisted documentation capabilities are being explored and deployed by EHRs to: 

• Validate completed clinical tasks quickly and accurately, ensuring thorough documentation and compliance. 

• Reduce the administrative burden on care teams, minimizing burnout and increasing confidence.  

• Improve data entry accuracy, minimizing costly errors or omissions. 

These advances depend on secure, HIPAA-compliant systems that protect resident information while streamlining workflows. As EHRs integrate AI, communities will also need clear metrics to validate the accuracy and reliability of automated documentation. Accurate and complete documentation means improved regulatory compliance, and reduced liability and risk for providers. 

This innovation is already improving outcomes today with DS smart®. It connects directly to your EMR, capturing vitals and clinical data in real time, eliminating duplicate logins and retyping. 

With DS smart®, your skilled nursing community can: 

• Eliminate redundant manual data entry for up to 40% time savings and fewer errors 

• Improve compliance with direct, at-the-source documentation 

• Access real-time data to enable faster, more informed decisions 

• Standardize workflows across staff and shifts so your team can focus on resident care 

As AI continues to evolve, solutions like DS smart® demonstrate the power of applied technology to enhance care team performance, streamline documentation, and improve care delivery. 

Enhancing clinical decision support 

Clinical decision support (CDS) powered by AI offers timely, informed assistance. Emerging AI-driven CDS systems can already: 

• Rapidly analyze vast clinical data, identifying trends or risks caregivers might overlook. 

• Proactively manage resident conditions, such as identifying individuals at risk for hospital readmissions, enabling early intervention. 

• Balance and standardize clinical knowledge, ensuring consistency in care delivery. 

One practical application is pac-IQ®, an AI-enabled referral management platform that helps streamline care transitions. By reducing manual review time from hours to minutes and automating eligibility checks and documentation, pac-IQ® supports fast, accurate admission decisions, empowering clinical teams with the data they need, exactly when they need it. 

These kinds of AI-enabled tools strengthen decision-making while enhancing operational efficiency. Building caregiver trust in these systems requires ongoing training and transparent performance measures to ensure accuracy and adoption. 

Revolutionizing medication management 

Medication management remains one of the most time-consuming and high-risk areas of clinical care. From ordering to administration, the process is complex, and any misstep can impact resident safety. 

AI is beginning to reshape this critical workflow with emerging capabilities that show strong potential to: 

• Automate medication workflows to reduce manual steps and minimize errors 

• Act as “another set of eyes,” offering accuracy checks, side effect alerts, and documentation reminders 

• Arm caregivers with the right information at the right time, accelerating issue resolution and ensuring timely medication administration 

While many of these tools are still in development or early adoption stages, they highlight a growing trend: using AI to reduce risk, increase accuracy, and free up time for hands-on care. At Direct Supply, we’re actively exploring and evaluating these innovations to help skilled nursing communities prepare for what’s next, while continuing to focus on safe, efficient care delivery. 

Building intuitive, supportive care environments 

AI extends beyond clinical systems to transform care environments. Integrating AI with building management systems provides: 

• Smart sensors and ambient monitoring technology that alert staff to safety concerns, like falls, without intrusive monitoring. 

• Predictive analytics anticipating resident needs, proactively adjusting lighting or climate control for comfort. 

• Enhanced workflow management, guiding caregivers through tasks based on real-time data. 

With any technology that collects and analyzes resident data, robust privacy protections are essential. Communities should pair these innovations with clear protocols and visible outcomes to reassure staff, residents, and families.  

As AI capabilities evolve, often faster than anticipated, we expect to see new applications that contribute to more intuitive and responsive environments that improve outcomes, significantly impacting resident safety, comfort, and operational efficiency. 

Robotics and adaptive technology 

AI-enabled robotics are emerging as powerful tools to address workforce challenges, reduce repetitive strain on caregivers, and enhance the resident experience. As this technology evolves, it’s increasingly being used to: 

To help communities turn these possibilities into outcomes, Direct Supply offers robotic meal delivery and cleaning solutions. These tools enable care teams to spend more time on resident care, while increasing consistency, reducing task load, and supporting a safer environment. 

These applications demonstrate the growing potential of robotics in skilled nursing and reflect our commitment to identifying and implementing practical innovations that improve care quality and operational efficiency. 

Your trusted partner in AI-Driven innovation 

Direct Supply partners with skilled nursing communities to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape, delivering solutions that address today’s needs while adapting to the opportunities and challenges still on the horizon. Our deep understanding of clinical and regulatory challenges uniquely positions us to help your community effectively leverage AI, improving resident outcomes and operational efficiency. 

Referral Management, Solved

Efficiency and trust are everything in the high-intensity, demanding world of post-acute care. This is especially true for managing patient referrals. For skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), every minute counts. Every detail matters, and every lost referral is a missed opportunity to deliver care and fill a bed.

pac-IQ has solved referral management with its innovative platform. The patent pending software solution saves time, money and helps staff focus on providing high-quality care.

Experienced registered nurses created pac-IQ. The founders designed it specifically for the needs of SNF operations. pac-IQ helps providers improve admissions, increase occupancy, and make better decisions quickly. But what truly sets pac-IQ apart isn’t just the AI powered workflows or real-time reporting – it’s the customer experience.

We sat down with Kelli Collins, VP Admissions & Intake at Brickyard Healthcare and Tricia Whaley, Senior Director of Provider Relations at CHR Consulting Services, Inc. to hear how pac-IQ has impacted their workflows, census growth, and team satisfaction. Their stories reflect a platform built on listening, partnership, and results.

Faster Referral Management. Better Care.

Before using pac-IQ, both organizations had a common problem. They dealt with slow, manual processes. These processes made referrals take longer and left staff feeling overwhelmed.

With pac-IQ, healthcare organizations get a user-friendly platform that supports teams with intuitive AI-driven workflows. For providers like Collins and Whaley, building informed care plans becomes fast and easy – improving quality of care and the overall patient experience.

“pac-IQ has really sped up the process,” Whaley shared. “By using referral-IQ, the average referral time is now decreased to five minutes. It would have taken 10 to 15 minutes – or longer – just to log in to our old system, download the documents, and print them.”

That speed isn’t just a convenience – it’s a competitive advantage.

“In our world, whoever gets to ‘yes’ first usually gets the referral,” Collins emphasized. “With pac-IQ, we’re responding to referrals faster, and in some cases, the AI tool responds immediately. That’s a game-changer.”

AI That Addresses Clinical Needs

While AI has become a buzzword in post acute care settings, clinical input built pac-IQ’s intelligent systems. By listening to the needs of those we serve, we tailored pac-IQ to address the evolving demands of post-acute care.

“Some of our referrals are 300 pages long,” Collins explained. “Our RNs used to have to read every page. The AI tool pulls out the important things from the beginning of the admission… It helps our call center team, who aren’t nurses, make faster, better-informed decisions.”

This smart automation does not replace the human touch. Instead, it empowers care teams to take healthcare systems to the next level. Instead of spending hours pouring over paperwork, teams can work faster with electronic health records.

Post Acute Care Referral Management Technology – Built for You

One common theme in customer conversations is the high-touch support pac-IQ offers. Many products or services offered in the industry focus on signing new clients, but neglect to support them beyond the initial onboarding phase. With pac-IQ, the support is strong not just during onboarding, but at every step.

“The onboarding was really smooth – from the set up to sending pac-IQ the user information, to getting the user set up” Whaley noted. “I give the customer service ten stars.”

Collins echoed the sentiment: “pac-IQ has developed workarounds for every obstacle we’ve had… They’re just very responsive! It’s refreshing to have someone at your fingertips who has the answers to questions.”

The pac-IQ team’s deep industry experience roots their commitment to meet customer expectations. All three founding members of pac-IQ are registered nurses. They understand the challenges of the industry and how to solve unique and complex problems.

“The knowledge and understanding of the industry is just an overall plus.” Whaley shared about the pac-IQ team. “Their excitement, their knowledge and their partnership has been great. And we continue to see that… it’ll be a year that we’ve been working with Adam, Lee and Tasha and it’s the same level from day one.”

Real Numbers. Real Impact.

Beyond improving workflows, pac-IQ delivers measurable results that matter to leadership and finance teams alike:

• Referral processing time reduced by more than 85%, from hours to just 5–7 minutes per referral
• Hundreds of overturned denials converted into admissions
• Thousands of hours of labor offset across customers in 2024
• Real-time referral reporting, enabling data-driven decisions by the hour – not the quarter

With built-in dashboards, facilities can easily track referral volume, response times, acceptance rates, and census trends. “Now we can give accurate reporting numbers without having to do everything manually, which is cost savings and gives us greater labor efficiency” Collins explained.

Transparency, Trust, and Long-Term Partnership

In an industry where vendors often make impressive promises but fail to deliver, pac-IQ has earned customer loyalty while quickly becoming the gold-standard in referral management software. We commit to this standard by being honest, involved, and reliable.

“They sold us a product that did what they said it would do,” Collins said. “Transparency in our industry is crucial and pac-IQ has been very transparent.”

It’s Time to Work Smarter, Not Harder

The world of skilled nursing is complex and high-pressure – but managing referrals shouldn’t be. With pac-IQ, SNFs can work smarter, respond faster, and elevate every step of the intake process.

Want to grow your census, reduce admin work, or visualize your referral pipeline? Our customers agree that pac-IQ is the trusted solution.

Interested in an improved referral management process? Contact the pac-IQ team to schedule a personalized demonstration.

Why efficient healthcare foodservice matters 

Efficient food delivery in hospitals is critical. Whether managing specialized dietary requirements, operating round-the-clock meal services, or ensuring stringent hygiene standards, the pressure is constant.  

High-performance kitchen equipment addresses these challenges head-on, streamlining workflows and enabling hospital foodservice teams to perform at their best. Direct Supply’s foodservice solutions are specifically engineered for the unique needs of hospital kitchens, ensuring high throughput, ease of sanitation, and operational reliability.

Efficient hospital food prep starts with the right equipment 

Before cooking begins, food preparation needs to be fast, consistent, and safe. Mixers, slicers, and worktables can enhance productivity by simplifying the prep process, ensuring consistency, and minimizing fatigue among kitchen staff. 

Benefits include: 

• Consistency: Achieve uniform slicing, mixing, and portioning for reliable meal quality. 

• Ergonomic Design: Reduce workplace injuries and staff fatigue. 

• Sanitation: Meet strict healthcare hygiene standards effortlessly with easy-to-clean surfaces. 

Investing in prep equipment is a direct investment in productivity and food quality. 

Cook with confidence: Ranges, Ovens & Steamers for Hospital Kitchens 

Hospital kitchens demand cooking equipment that offer reliability, speed, and precision.  

A wide range of cooking equipment built for high-volume food production in healthcare environments can help empower hospital kitchen operations. Whether it’s preparing therapeutic meals or bulk cooking for entire wings, equipment like ranges, convection ovens, and steamers help streamline the process. 

These key pieces of hospital kitchen equipment are built for: 

• Precision – essential for dietary compliance. 

• Durability – suited to the demanding nature of hospital kitchens. 

Hospitals can rely on these tools to keep food service running smoothly, even during peak hours. 

Hospital Ice Machines & Dishwashers: The unsung heroes 

Behind every well-run hospital kitchen are two key players: ice machines and dishwashers. 

• Hospital ice machines support both patient hydration and food prep needs. Direct Supply offers reliable machines that maintain high sanitary standards while keeping up with demand. 

• Hospital dishwashers enable fast turnover of trays, utensils, and cookware, supporting infection control efforts and minimizing downtime. 

These vital pieces of healthcare kitchen equipment are often overlooked, but their role in maintaining food safety and operational flow is indispensable. In addition to ice machines and dishwashers, don’t forget these other hospital foodservice essentials. 

Why floor care matters for hospitals

Think of how many staff members, patients, and visitors walk across your floors every single day. Effective floor care is fundamental in hospitals for infection control, patient safety, and reducing indirect costs. Floors are among the most significant investments a hospital makes, and proper maintenance helps extend their lifespan and maintain their looks, positively influencing visitor perception and patient satisfaction.  

Direct Supply’s comprehensive floor care solutions aim to improve operational efficiency, marketability, and floor longevity, ultimately lowering indirect product spend for hospitals. 

Top 10 common hospital floor care mistakes 

1. Entryways that invite dirt

Your front doors might unintentionally welcome dirt, moisture, and germs along with visitors, creating hazards and extra work. Effective hospital floor care begins at entry points with hospital floor care matting. 

Fix: Matting can help keep your hospital floor looking great by stopping dirt and moisture in its tracks. Deploy a trio of specialized mats—scrape mats, brush mats, and dry mats—for at least 15 feet at entrances. This may help absorb 75% to 85% of dirt and moisture from incoming visitors.  

2. Relying on traditional wet mops instead of microfiber

Traditional wet mops spread contaminants if mop heads and water aren’t changed frequently, impacting hospital cleanliness. 

Fix: Switch to microfiber mopping systems for your hospital floors, proven to deliver 95% water and chemical savings, reduce cross-contamination, and achieve 99.95% cleaning effectiveness. 

3. Deferring preventive floor maintenance

Skipping over preventive maintenance leads to increased restorative cleaning costs and deteriorating floor conditions over time. 

Fix: Adopt a consistent preventive maintenance schedule using wide-area sweepers outside entryways (up to 75 feet) and interior matting systems. Regular sweeping can significantly reduce the volume of dirt reaching your floors. 

4. Ignoring ergonomics in floor cleaning equipment

Physical strain from poor equipment ergonomics leads to staff fatigue, inefficiency, and increased turnover. 

Fix: Invest in ergonomically designed hospital floor equipment, such as microfiber tools, backpack vacuums, and self-propelled autoscrubbers. This equipment reduces physical strain and boosts staff productivity and satisfaction. 

5. Overusing hospital cleaning and disinfection chemicals

Excessive hospital chemical use leaves residues, damages floors, increases costs, and poses environmental hazards.  

Fix: Implement chemical-free autoscrubbing technology, utilizing electrically charged water, for daily cleaning in areas that are not considered high risk of exposure. This can reduce chemical use, environmental impact, and provides cleaner floors without residue. If you must use hospital cleaning chemicals, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s dilution guidance to maintain chemical effectiveness, minimize residue, and control expenses. Consider a clean water rinse with the autoscrubber after the initial clean. For more information on patient floor cleaning frequency, reference the CDC patient area floor guidelines.  

6. Using improper floor care equipment on sensitive flooring

Improper usage of floor equipment, especially burnishers on luxury vinyl flooring (LVT), can damage surfaces and void warranties. 

Fix: Thoroughly train hospital cleaning staff on equipment specifics. Clearly label machinery and specify correct usage that warns against using improper floor care equipment on LVT.  

7. Lack of defined hospital cleaning and maintenance protocols

Inconsistent hospital floor cleaning and maintenance practices lead to compromised hygiene standards and inefficiency. Implementing schedules of hospital floor care around the following can help extend the life of your floors: 

• Preventive Maintenance: Prevent dirt and moisture from entering hospital areas by strategically placing high-quality entrance matting and using wide-area sweepers regularly around exterior entrances. 

• Daily Maintenance: Perform regular cleaning routines using efficient tools like microfiber mops, vacuums, and autoscrubbers to maintain a consistently high standard of cleanliness.  

• Restorative Maintenance: Periodically conduct deep cleaning procedures, such as seasonal stripping, refinishing, and burnishing for hard floors, or deep carpet extraction for carpeted areas.  

8. Neglecting floor care equipment maintenance

Poorly maintained equipment doesn’t just underperform—it costs you money. Under maintained hospital floor equipment can diminish cleaning effectiveness and shortens lifespan, creating unnecessary operational expenses. 

Fix: Routinely inspect, service, and maintain autoscrubbers, vacuums, sweepers, and burnishers, ensuring optimal equipment performance. 

9. Cleaning floors first

Ever notice floors getting dirty right after cleaning? Cleaning floors first allows dirt and contaminants from high-touch surfaces to settle afterward, resulting in redundant cleaning efforts. 

Fix: Flip your cleaning strategy—clean high-touch surfaces first and floors last for maximum efficiency and cleanliness. 

10. Stretching floor care parts & accessories too thin

Neglected floor care parts and accessories can quietly sabotage your cleanliness. Worn microfiber pads, vacuum bags, and scrubber brushes significantly lower cleaning effectiveness, impacting hygiene and efficiency. 

Fix: Establish a structured replacement schedule for consumables like microfiber pads, vacuum filters, and autoscrubber components. Direct Supply provides easy and reliable access to essential replacement items to keep equipment operating optimally. 

Is microfiber better than cotton?

Microfiber helps with labor savings over cotton. If you’re considering microfiber for your facility, here are a few key things to know:

• How microfiber works
• How to take care of it properly
• What surfaces to clean with it
• Impact of microfiber in healthcare

How does microfiber work?

Microfiber contains tiny fibers made up of synthetic materials. Knit together, these fibers can access small grooves and crevices as you clean that larger fibers can’t, trapping bacteria, viruses, and particles with its static-charged fibers. Due to how microfiber is created, it also have a high absorbency level, which means you can clean more frequently and faster using a microfiber mop or cloth than if you were using a regular cotton or polyester mop or cloth.

There are four main types of useful microfiber tools in healthcare cleaning, including:

• Dry mops: Use to remove loose particles on any hard floor – wood, tile, ceramic, vinyl, and linoleum – before the damp mop.
• Dust mops: Use to remove dust and small particles from hard surfaces.
• Damp mops: Use after dust mopping for disinfection on any hard flooring.
• Cloths: Use to dust, disinfect, and clean anywhere you would typically use a regular cloth or paper towel – including non-carpeted areas such as baseboard, bathroom surfaces, countertops, flooring, door handles, etc.

Microfiber benefits: cleaning labor efficiencies for medical facility cleaning

Does microfiber cost less than cotton?

Labor savings is an overwhelming need in the healthcare industry – now more than ever before. That’s why researching and purchasing the correct tools is essential. Switching to microfiber mops and cloths not only helps you save time, but also helps reduce strain on your staff and saves you money in the long run. We are here to answer three essential questions in terms of microfiber savings:

• How much time will microfiber save me vs cotton?
• Addressing common issues with microfiber
• What microfiber brands should I choose?

Microfiber vs cotton comparison

Microfiber pollution problems to consider

We wish there was a one-cloth-fixes-all solution to your cleaning needs, but it is important to consider all the facets of utilizing microfiber, and that means addressing microfiber problems. We’ve told you what’s great about them, now it’s time to determine if they are the right fit for you and your facility. This type of cloth, while taking the industry by storm, is not without its disadvantages.

The table below outlines what microfiber problems you may want to consider before making the switch from cotton to microfiber.

Microfiber brand comparisons: what are the best brands to use?

If you are interested in learning more about the pros and cons of microfiber vs cotton and which brands to use, we encourage you to reach out to your Direct Supply representative.

Microfiber Brand Usage and Style Comparison

Top microfiber products for healthcare cleaning

There are tons of different microfiber options floating around in the industry, so it can be difficult to figure out where to start. If you’re looking to get your building set up with microfiber products, we suggest checking out these top microfiber products for healthcare cleaning.

Floor care microfiber products

Microfiber hard surface cleaning products

Microfiber accessories & cleaning buckets

Sources

1. https://ecomm-cdn.directsupply.cloud/marketing/promotions/resources-page/category/pdf/microfiber-solution-program.pdf

2. https://www.cdc.gov/hai/prevent/resource-limited/supplies-equipment.html

3. https://rcp.structpim.com//media/18028/hygen-microfiber-selection-guide.pdf

Related notes:

*Assuming diluted chemical cost of $.055/gallon, filling 4 gallons/bucket and changing bucket every three resident rooms
**Assuming water cost of $.02/gallon, filling 4 gallons/bucket and changing bucket every three resident rooms
***Assuming 10 minutes/mop bucket change and the bucket is changed every three resident rooms