Is Bigger Better When It Comes To Medical Office Cleaning?
Medical office cleaning is far more complex than general commercial cleaning.
Because of that, finding the right medical janitorial services to care for your healthcare facility is critical.
You may have multiple facilities or a very large medical complex, and that might lead you to consider national janitorial services.
Maybe you believe you need more than a local commercial cleaning company can offer.
And in certain scenarios, a national janitorial service might be the better option.
For example, if you operate in several states and need one central provider, that structure can make sense.
But it’s important to understand this: bigger does not automatically mean better.
Janitorial companies of every size come with their own advantages and disadvantages.
The real question is how well those strengths align with the needs of your facility or facilities.
Healthcare Cleaning Is Different
Healthcare cleaning services are very different from general office cleaning for several reasons.
You need a healthcare cleaning company that understands the requirements of medical cleaning.
You also deserve a janitorial services company that understands the regulations and compliance issues connected to healthcare cleaning.
The right local Michigan janitorial company or national cleaning company must understand how their work impacts HCAHPS scores.
They also need to be well-versed in the science behind cleaning.
Any professional building maintenance company that wants to serve medical facilities should have a detailed and observable training system.
That training should cover general office cleaning, medical office cleaning, hospital cleaning, and key programs like OSHA, HIPAA, and blood-borne pathogens.
Anything less from your janitorial company can spell disaster.
Do Hospital Cleaning Services Require A National Cleaning Company?
Given the complexity of healthcare cleaning, you might assume a national cleaning company is the safest choice.
But compliance and training are not exclusive to national janitorial companies.
In fact, some national contractors are so large and spread out that they rely heavily on subcontracting.
That approach can create potential issues you may not have even considered.
So maybe a national janitorial provider isn’t for you.
At the same time, you may feel your facility is too large or complex for a small business.
Fortunately, there is a middle ground between a giant national janitorial company and a “Mom & Pop” operation.
That middle ground is a large local Michigan janitorial company.
What’s Better When It Comes To Healthcare Cleaning Services?
First, let’s define what “better” means when it comes to janitorial services.
Most Facilities Managers would define “better” as a janitorial company that:
- Has very good people, strong training, and lower-than-average turnover.
- Provides clear pricing that’s easy to understand and compare.
- Listens to your needs and customizes service around them.
- Works with you to support compliance across the board.
- Uses quality assurance measures to create reliability through accountability.
- Makes it easy to know who your point person is when there’s a problem.
- Responds quickly when an issue comes up.
- Cares about your facility and works to keep your business long-term.
Contracting for medical office cleaning or hospital cleaning is not a one-time transaction.
It’s an ongoing relationship that directly impacts the condition of your facility.
That relationship can affect everything from your reputation to the healthcare providers you attract.
Everything else being equal, who would you rather partner with?
A monolithic national janitorial provider based out of state, or a large local Michigan business nearby?
The relationship between your team and your cleaning provider matters.
A local Michigan janitorial company also has a stronger pulse on the community and is often better positioned to hire and manage quality people.
Medical Cleaning Companies: How Local And National Compare With Buying Power
When comparing service providers, buying power is one factor that can influence value.
For example, a national janitorial service likely has significant buying power for paper products and supplies.
They may or may not pass those savings on to you.
A large Michigan commercial cleaning company can also have strong buying power with supplies.
In many cases, they are more willing to pass those savings along to stay competitive.
Smaller local cleaning companies typically have less buying power because their orders are smaller.
Can Local Medical Office Cleaning Companies Offer You Flexibility & Perks?
Flexibility and a wide menu of services can help you get more responsive service and reduce costs over time.
It’s much easier to use an existing contractor you already trust for minor repairs or special projects.
A large national janitorial company may offer extra services beyond basic cleaning.
However, it can sometimes be challenging to get what you need quickly because of internal layers and processes.
A large local Michigan janitorial service often offers both basic cleaning and specialized services.
And because they are not buried in national red tape, they may be more creative and faster at problem-solving.
The right large local company can tailor services to your facility’s needs.
Smaller “Mom & Pop” cleaning companies usually focus only on basic cleaning.
That often means you’ll need extra vendors for specialty maintenance services.
Can A Local Janitorial Services Company Offer You Flexible Staffing?
Staffing flexibility is a major advantage for facilities with seasonal patterns.
School cleaning is a great example of service needs that change throughout the year.
When evaluating janitorial companies, balance what you need with what they can realistically support.
Do they have enough people to meet changing needs?
Can they add staff temporarily when workload increases?
And can they keep those team members productive when things slow down?
Large local janitorial companies often shine here.
With a strong staff base, they can scale up or down more easily depending on your needs.
Smaller operations often can’t meet variable staffing requirements.
If you need to reduce service, a small company may end up overstaffed.
And when you need more help, they may not have extra people available.
Local Versus National Janitorial Companies & Their Impact On The Local Economy
National janitorial companies hire cleaners in Michigan.
But beyond front-line staff, many of the jobs and dollars go somewhere else.
Made-in-Michigan companies hire locally and keep their dollars in Michigan.
There’s no question local companies support the local economy.
Everything else being equal, working with other Michigan businesses is good for the state.
Does A National Cleaning Company Attract & Retain The Right People?
A national janitorial service may have an adequate setup for hiring and employee screening.
But like many massive organizations, building loyalty and engagement can be difficult.
A mid-to-large local company often has systems to find, screen, and manage a strong team.
Like many national janitorial companies, they may offer benefits.
But they also have better access to local labor networks.
And because they operate locally, they can build loyalty through reputation, relationships, and a strong community presence.
You The Customer: How National Janitorial Services & Local Janitorial Services Stack Up
National janitorial companies can often replace business as fast as they lose it.
With so many regions and markets, it can be hard to guarantee the level of service you really deserve.
A large local Michigan company has a finite service area.
If they burn through customers, their reputation suffers quickly.
That pressure pushes the best local companies to work hard to earn your trust and keep your business.
Smaller cleaning companies also value customer relationships.
But they may not have the operational capacity larger facilities require.
And when a small company handles a large client, they can become dangerously dependent on that one account.
Medical Janitorial Services Are A Critical Part Of Care
With many large corporations, getting in contact with the right person when an issue comes up can be difficult.
That lack of direct access can make responsiveness feel slow or frustrating.
A large local janitorial company often provides the best balance of personal attention and operational strength.
You’ll typically know your point of contact by name.
And when necessary, you may even have access to upper management to address issues quickly.
This kind of responsiveness can translate into consistently better service.
Quality healthcare cleaning is a critical part of care.
Finding the right partner is a key part of protecting the future and overall health of your medical facility.
