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Time and Motion Study
By Claudia Tang Shuning
As part of Saw Swee Hock’s School of Public Health Field Practice Programme
Submitted to:
Environmental Services Department
i	
  
	
  
Preface
This report presents the results of the Time and Motion Study carried out on the Housekeeping Department of
Environmental Services, specifically the service partner, ISS.
As stated in Section I Introduction, the purpose of this study is to ascertain the sufficiency of staff deployment
per ward, evaluate the efficiency of each staff and discuss the job scope of each staff type. The job scope data
were collected by performing time and motion studies on staff during their shifts at Ward 43 and Ward 64.
Staff deployment sufficiency data consisted of work-to-break ratio, task completions, subjective comments
made by staff during work and personal observation. Efficiency of each staff was based on comparisons
between staff with identical tasks and responsiveness to ad hoc tasks.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my supervisor, Hui Min, for her patience and care as I carry out the time and motion
studies. I would also like to thank the manager, senior supervisor and coordinators of ISS, for extending their
help in whichever ways I needed and arranging for me to go to the wards to carry out the time and motion
studies.
Last but not least, my appreciation goes to individual staff – cleaner, housekeeper and food service specialist
(FSS), for their cooperative efforts as I followed them through their jobs.
ii	
  
	
  
Table of Contents
Section Page
Preface i
Acknowledgements i
Table of Contents ii
List of Tables iii
Summary iv
I Introduction 1
II Data 3
III Staff Deployment Analysis 13
IV Job Scope Evaluation 15
V Ward comparisons: Ward 43 vs. Ward 64 17
VI Shortfalls/Drawbacks of Study 19
VII Recommendations 21
VIII Personal Views 24
IX Biblography 26
X Appendix 27
iii	
  
	
  
List of Tables
Table Page
1 Working Hours of Ward Housekeeping Staff 1
2 Cleaner’s Regular Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks 3
3 Cleaners’ Other Common Task(s) and Time Taken to Complete Task(s) 3
4 Cleaner’s Periodic Cleaning and Time Taken to Complete 3
5 Cleaner’s Ad-hoc Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks 4
6 Housekeeper’s Regular Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks 5
7 Housekeeper’s Other Common Task(s) and Time Taken to Complete Task(s) 5
8 Housekeeper’s Ad-hoc Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks 6
9 FSS’ Regular Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks 7
10 FSS’ Periodic Cleaning and Time Taken to Complete 8
11 FSS’ Periodic Cleaning and Time Taken to Complete 8
12 FSS’ Ad-hoc Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks 9
13 Total Time Taken to Complete Various Types of Tasks 9
14 Work-to-Break Ratio of Housekeeping Staff 13
15 Percentage of Time Taken to Perform Various Task Types 15
iv	
  
	
  
Summary
The Time and Motion Study Report of staff activity in ward 43 and ward 64 consists of five distinct aspects:
(1) an evaluation of staff sufficiency, (2) a study on job scope of each position, (3) a comparison of staff
performance and efficiency between the two wards, (4) a discussion on room for improvements as well as
recommendations to streamline certain processes, and (5) personal views on the overall role of Housekeeping
Department.
(1) Staff sufficiency was evaluated based on the analysis of work-to-break ratio. Majority of the observed
housekeeping staff did not reach the ideal ratio as they had too many tasks to complete in the ward. Not all
tasks were completed in each ward as well, implying that staff deployment is insufficient. The best solution is
to deploy more staff to each ward, so that the tasks can be better shared amongst the staff and be executed
with good quality.
(2) Under the consideration of ISS’ compulsory training programme and staff feedback, the tasks of
housekeeping staff were assessed as feasible. This supports the deduction of insufficient manpower in each
ward. The job scopes of housekeeping staff were concluded to be ever-changing and thus, staff has to be
flexible and quick-witted to handle all possible situations with good time management. It was also observed
that staff performed tasks that were out of their scope because other hospital staff failed to do so, resulting in
even more work to do.
(3) Overall, the housekeeping staff of ward 43 fared better than the staff of ward 64. They were more efficient
and more thorough in ensuring good hygiene. However, they were relatively poorer in time management for
certain tasks, such as food preparation and bed discharges. Comparisons highlighted the importance of good
team effort and a sense of responsibility.
(4) Every study has its own limitations and disadvantages. A Time and Motion Study is not always a true
reflection of what actually happens. There are also some shortfalls pertaining specifically to this study.
Problems may arise from the ‘study participants’, in this case, the housekeeping staff; and they may arise from
the ‘study observer’. To overcome these shortfalls, execution of time and motion study may be improved in
terms of time, duration and participants. To target the efficiency of housekeeping staff, recommendations such
as re-training of staff and provision of sufficient equipment were given. Other suggestions based on personal
interactions and/or observations were made as well.
(5) The role of the Housekeeping Department is very important as it forms part of the backbone of the
hospital. Indeed, there are rooms for improvements, such as increased staff efficiency and higher standards of
cleanliness. However, one must take into consideration that housekeeping staff are human-beings too and
should not be treated like robots to continuously perform tasks after tasks. It is important not to take
housekeeping staff for granted, but show them the appreciation and respect they deserve.
1	
  
	
  
I. Introduction
National University Hospital (NUH) outsources its housekeeping services to ISS Facilities Services (ISS). In
the NUH Housekeeping Department, there are staff employed under NUH Environmental Services (ES) and
staff employed under ISS, but both managed by ISS. The staff hierarchy begins with cleaner, who will
promote to housekeeper, then food service specialist (FSS), supervisor and so on. This Time and Motion study
focusses on cleaner, housekeeper and FSS.
In each ward, there is one cleaner, one housekeeper and one FSS. Their working hours are shown in the table
below:
Position
Working Hours
ES ISS
Cleaner 7am to 3pm, 1pm to 9pm 8am to 5pm
Housekeeper 7am to 3pm, 1pm to 9pm 8am to 9pm
FSS - 7am to 8pm
Table 1: Working Hours of Ward Housekeeping Staff
The composition of housekeeping staff for each ward is fixed, unless one of them receives a promotion or
resigns. Only at night, will the night shift staff be deployed to the wards according to needs. This Time and
Motion study focusses only on fixed housekeeping staff of ward 43 and ward 64.
On top of their daily routine, all three staff has to perform periodic duties such as wall cleaning and handle ad-
hoc tasks such as cleaning up after a patient has passed motion on the floor. Altogether, these add up to
numerous things to do each day. Cleaning and housekeeping are essential and important, especially in the
hospital setting, as hygiene plays a major part in healthcare. It is therefore relevant, to study the works of
housekeeping staff.
Objectives:
(1)   To ascertain if there is enough housekeeping staff per ward
(2)   To find out whether the cleaning schedule and tasks are feasible
(3)   To evaluate the efficiency of housekeeping staff
2	
  
	
  
For both wards 43 and 64, each housekeeping staff was followed and observed throughout his/her entire shift.
The observant noted down on a template (refer to Appendix A1), each activity carried out by the staff and
time taken to complete it. During the course of it, the observant also had interactions with the staff and
received “informal” information regarding staff deployment and problems faced. A few personal findings
were made as well, through silent observation and comparisons.
The terms used – regular task, ad-hoc task, periodic cleaning -- are defined as follows:
“Planned task to be performed every day, part of daily routine; examples include washing of basins and
replenishing PPE.”
“Unexpected and unplanned task, not in cleaning schedule but must be attended to quickly; examples include
patient urinating on the floor and blood spillage from syringe.”
“Planned task to be performed at fixed intervals such as weekly or monthly, to be incorporated into daily
regular routine; examples include wall cleaning and metal surface polishing.”
3	
  
	
  
II.   Data
Table 2: Cleaner’s Regular Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks
CLEANER Ward 43 Ward 64
RemarksOther Common
Task(s)
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Cubicle Cleaning
(sink, bin’s top,
napkin dispenser,
soap dispenser,
mirror)
3.53 minutes per
set
60 minutes 2.6 minutes per
set
26 minutes
(5) Ward 64 took
a significantly
shorter time.
Table 3: Cleaners’ Other Common Task(s) and Time Taken to Complete Task(s)
CLEANER Ward 43 Ward 64
Remarks
Periodic Cleaning
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Crash Programme - - - 43 minutes
(6) Ward 43 did
not fulfill task.
Table 4: Cleaner’s Periodic Cleaning and Time Taken to Complete
CLEANER Ward 43 Ward 64
RemarksRegular Tasks &
Time Given
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Wash Water Jugs
and Top-up Water
for Individual
Patients
(60 minutes)
2.33 minutes per
bed
105 minutes 1.81 minutes per
bed
80 minutes
(1) Ward 64 took
a significantly
shorter time.
Replenish Ward
Supplies, Check &
Touch Up Toilets
(105 minutes)
- - - -
(2) Both wards
did not fulfill this
task.
Collect Trash
(75 minutes)
2.6 minutes per
bin
78 minutes 1.95 minutes per
bin
84 minutes
Collect Soiled
Linen (40 minutes)
1.875 minutes
per basket
30 minutes
1.67 minutes per
basket
5 minutes
(3) Ward 64 took
a significantly
shorter time.
Isolation Room
Cleaning/
Thorough Wash
Common Toilets,
Touch Up Toilets
(125 minutes)
10.5 minutes per
toilet/shower
room
105 minutes
31.5 minutes per
common toilet
63 minutes
(4) Ward 64 took
a significantly
shorter time.
Tidy Up DU,
Housekeeping
Trolleys
(15 minutes)
- 20 minutes - -
4	
  
	
  
CLEANER Ward 43 Ward 64
Remarks
Ad-hoc Task(s)
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Collect Virex256
from Level
Housekeeping
Room
- 15 minutes - -
(7) Ward 43 took
a significant
amount of time to
fulfill task.
Refill Hand Soap
at a Cubicle
- - - 3 minutes
Wait for MRSA
Cubicle Cleaning
Trolley
- - - 3 minutes
Perform Bed
Discharge
- -
16.3 minutes per
bed
49 minutes
Change curtains
for MRSA Bed
- - - 3 minutes
Perform Terminal
Cleaning
- -
35 minutes per
bed
35 minutes
Sweep - -
1 minute per
area
12 minutes
Collect Soiled
Cups from Tea
Break
- - - 10 minutes
(8) Ward 64
performed task of
another staff.
Patient Requested
for Jug of Water
and Ice
- - - 2 minutes
Patient Requested
for Change of
Mattress
- - - 12 minutes
Table 5: Cleaner’s Ad-hoc Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks
5	
  
	
  
Table 6: Housekeeper’s Regular Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks
HOUSEKEEPER Ward 43 Ward 64
RemarksOther Common
Task(s)
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Sweep
2.2 minutes per
area
22 minutes
1 minute per
area
19 minutes
Mop
9.67 minutes per
area
29 minutes
11.5 minutes per
area
69 minutes
Clean Assisted
Patients Toilet/
Shower
- 8/3 minutes - 12/4 minutes
Isolation Rooms
Cleaning
21 minutes per
room
42 minutes
7.5 minutes per
room
15 minutes
(14) Ward 64
took a shorter
time.
Tidy Up Pantry - 22 minutes - 7 minutes
(15) Ward 64
took a shorter
time.
Table 7: Housekeeper’s Other Common Task(s) and Time Taken to Complete Task(s)
HOUSEKEEPER Ward 43 Ward 64
RemarksRegular Tasks &
Time Given
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Assist FSS with
Breakfast Food
Service
(45 minutes)
- 46 minutes - 43 minutes
Clean Ancillary
Areas (30 minutes)
- - - -
(9) Both wards
did not fulfill this
task.
Bed Making
(60 minutes)
3 minutes per
bed
9 minutes
7.67 minutes per
bed
23 minutes
(10) Ward 64
took a
significantly
longer time.
Cubicle Cleaning
(sink, bin’s top,
napkin dispenser,
soap dispenser,
mirror, toilet,
shower room)
(45 minutes)
19.5 minutes per
set
39 minutes - - (11) Ward 64 did
not fulfill task.
Tidy Up DU,
Touch Up Toilets
(30 minutes)
- 15 minutes - 11 minutes
Assist FSS with
Lunch Food
Service
(60 minutes)
- 58 minutes - 63 minutes
Replenish Ward
Supplies
(120 minutes)
3.63 minutes per
area
87 minutes - - (12) Ward 64 did
not fulfill task.
Assist FSS with
Dinner Food
Service (60
minutes)
- 18 minutes - -
(13) Ward 64 did
not fulfill task.
6	
  
	
  
HOUSEKEEPER Ward 43 Ward 64
Remarks
Ad-hoc Task(s)
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Wait for
radiographer to
complete X-Ray,
to clean cubicle
- 10 minutes - -
Collect Virex256
from DU
3.33 minutes per
time
10 minutes - -
Clean Cleaning
Trolley
- 4 minutes - -
Perform Terminal
Cleaning
30.5 minutes per
bed
61 minutes - -
Perform Bed
Discharge
22 minutes per
bed
22 minutes
19.5 minutes per
bed
39 minutes
Patient Requested
for Food – go to
Ward 44 to take
bread, warm and
serve with jam
- 10 minutes - -
Clean Individual
Room
- 8 minutes - -
(16) Ward 43
performed an
extra task.
Push Linen
Trolley to Correct
Position
- 4 minutes - -
Settle EMD Bed - 5 minutes - -
Patient Defecated
on the Floor
- 7 minutes - -
Patient Urinated
on the Floor
- 4 minutes - -
Autoscrub
Common Toilets
Because Floor is
Dirty and Wet
- -
3 minutes per
toilet
12 minutes
Change Waste
Plastic Bags for
Each Bed
- -
0.43 minute per
bed
6 minutes
(17) Ward 64
performed an
extra task.
Collect Virex256
and Glance from
Level
Housekeeping
Room
- - - 2 minutes
Manually Write
Down Discharge
Information
Because eHIMS
Was Down
- - - 4 minutes
Settle Issue of
Foreign Object
Found in Food
- - - 7 minutes
(18) Ward 64
performed an
extra task.
Table 8: Housekeeper’s Ad-hoc Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks
7	
  
	
  
Table 9: FSS’ Regular Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks
FSS Ward 43 Ward 64
RemarksRegular Tasks &
Time Given
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Check Fridge
Temp, Spot Clean
and Check Ward
(45 minutes)
- 30 minutes - 12 minutes
(19) Ward 64
took a
significantly
shorter time.
Pre-Breakfast
Preparation
(15 minutes)
- 9 minutes - 8 minutes
Breakfast Serving
& Collect Soiled
Trays (60 minutes)
- 39 minutes - 47 minutes
Bed Making
(60 minutes)
3.29 minutes per
bed
23 minutes 5.4 minutes per
bed
27 minutes
(20) Ward 64
took a longer
time.
Serve Biscuit to
DM Patients
(15 minutes)
- - - -
(21) Both wards
did not fulfill this
task.
Cubicle Cleaning
(sink, bin’s top,
floor, toilet &
shower room
cleaning)
- - - -
(22) Both wards
did not fulfill this
task.
Pre-Lunch Service
Preparation
(15 minutes)
- - - 9 minutes
Serve Lunch &
Collect Soiled
Trays (60 minutes)
- 44 minutes - 57 minutes
Hi-Touch
Cleaning
2.5 minutes per
cubicle
15 minutes - -
(23) Ward 64 did
not fulfill this
task.
Serve Milo &
Collect Soiled
Cups (45 minutes)
- 42 minutes - 49 minutes
Food Ordering via
eMOS
(30 minutes)
9.17 minutes per
cubicle
55 minutes
8.33 minutes per
cubicle
50 minutes
Touch Up Toilets
(15 minutes)
- - - -
Pre-Dinner
Preparation
(15 minutes)
- 12 minutes - 6 minutes
Serve Dinner &
Collect Soiled
Trays (60 minutes)
- 45 minutes - 40 minutes
Send Soiled Trays,
Last Round Check
Ward Cleanliness,
Return PDA &
Apron to Office
(15 minutes)
- 6 minutes - 10 minutes
8	
  
	
  
Table 10: FSS’ Other Common Task(s) and Time Taken to Complete Task(s)
FSS Ward 43 Ward 64
Remarks
Periodic Cleaning
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Crash Programme - 58 minutes - -
(25) Ward 64 did
not fulfill task.
Replenish all
chemicals &
stocks needed for
the week from
Main
Housekeeping
Room
- 30 minutes - - (26) Ward 64 did
not fulfill task.
Bring down/Clear
Confidential
Papers to Level 5
Housekeeping
Room
- - - 9 minutes (27) Ward 43 did
not fulfill task.
Table 11: FSS’ Periodic Cleaning and Time Taken to Complete
FSS Ward 43 Ward 64
RemarksOther Common
Task(s)
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Sweep
1.05 minutes per
area
21 minutes
0.94 minutes per
area
17 minutes
Tidy Up Pantry - 20 minutes - 29 minutes
Tidy Up DU - 21 minutes - 17 minutes
Mop
11.3 minutes per
area
68 minutes
5.78 minutes per
area
52 minutes
(24) Ward 64
took a
significantly
shorter time.
Collect Soiled
Linen
- 10 minutes - 14 minutes
9	
  
	
  
FSS Ward 43 Ward 64
Remarks
Ad-hoc Task(s)
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Time taken per
cubicle/bed/item
Total Time
Taken
Disinfect Spotted
Patch of Blood
Stain
- 7 minutes - -
Fix Air-con Leak - 12 minutes - -
Nurse Spilt Food
on the Floor
- 2 minutes - -
Wait for Missing
Bed to Perform
Bed Discharge
- 3 minutes - -
Bed Making
5 minutes per
bed
10 minutes - -
Patient Urinated
on the Floor
- 8 minutes - -
Perform Bed
Discharge
22 minutes per
bed
44 minutes
12.3 minutes per
bed
37 minutes
(28) Ward 64
took a
significantly
shorter time.
Collect Virex256
from Level
Housekeeping
Room
- - - 3 minutes
Fill Up Bed
Making Form
- - - 4 minutes
Patient Spilt Water
on the Floor
- - - 2 minutes
Replenish Paper
Cone Cup & Soap
- - - 5 minutes
Clean Standing
Fan for Isolation
Room
- - - 11 minutes
(29) Ward 64
performed an
extra task.
Patient Dirtied
Bed
- - - 10 minutes
Configure PDA
Settings with
Level Supervisor
- - - 12 minutes
Arrange HPV
Gassing Schedule
with Staff Nurse
- - - 10 minutes
Table 12: FSS’ Ad-hoc Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks
Tasks
Ward
Cleaner Housekeeper FSS
Regular Period Ad-hoc Regular Period Ad-hoc Regular Period Ad-hoc
Ward 43 398 min - 15 min 398 min - 145 min 460 min 88 min 86 min
Ward 64 258 min 43 min 129 min 266 min - 70 min 444 min 9 min 94 min
TOTAL 656 min 43 min 144 min 664 min - 215 min 904 min 97 min 180 min
Table 13: Total Time Taken to Complete Various Types of Tasks
10	
  
	
  
Remarks
Important note: Housekeeping staff’s other common tasks fall under the term ‘Regular Tasks’, but were not
inside the official work schedule given by ISS.
All data summarized above were taken from the raw data collected by the observer – subjected to personal
interpretations and presentations (refer to Appendix A2, A3 and A4).
(1) Ward 64 Cleaner took a significantly shorter time to wash water jugs and top-up water for individual
patients – There were more than sufficient number of jugs in ward 64, so the cleaner could give out all the
jugs and collect back the soiled jugs. However, in ward 43, there are lesser jugs. The cleaner had to first
collect back some of the soiled jugs and wash them, before filling them up with water and distributing back to
the patients.
(2) Cleaners of both wards failed to perform the task of replenishing ward supplies, check and touch up toilets
– In ward 43, this task has been transferred to the housekeeper to perform and in ward 64, it has been
transferred to the nurses.
(3) Ward 64 Cleaner took a significantly shorter total time to collect soiled linen – There are fewer linen
baskets in ward 64 than in ward 43. The linen baskets are only placed in common toilets and assisted patient
shower room. In ward 43, the linen baskets are placed in each cubicle as well as assisted patient shower room.
However, their average time taken per basket is very close.
(4) Ward 64 Cleaner took a significantly shorter total time to wash all toilets and perform isolation room
cleaning – There are only two common toilets (one female one male) on top of the assisted patient toilet and
shower room for ward 64, while there are toilets and shower rooms in each cubicle on top of the assisted
patient toilet and shower room for ward 43. This also accounts for why ward 64 took three times the time
taken to clean each toilet as compared to ward 43.
(5) Ward 64 Cleaner took a significantly shorter total time to perform cubicle cleaning on sink, bin’s top,
napkin dispenser, soap dispenser and mirror – There are three of each items to clean in each cubicle of ward
43; while there is only one set in each cubicle of ward 64. In addition, there are no mirrors in ward 64’s
cubicles so less time is needed to clean one set. Moreover, ward 64 cleaner was not performing the task
correctly. He used a less thorough method that took shorter time to complete.
(6) Ward 43 Cleaner did not perform crash programme - The cleaner in ward 43 is an exception, an ES staff
who works only one shift 7am to 3pm. His job scope does not include performing of any crash programme.
(7) Ward 43 Cleaner took a significant amount of time to collect Virex256 from the level’s housekeeping
room – The room was unexpectedly locked and thus, cleaner needed some time to call his supervisor to get
the passcode and unlock the door to assess the chemical dispenser.
11	
  
	
  
(8) Ward 64 Cleaner performed the task of FSS to collect soiled cups from tea break – FSS had to settle
several issues after serving tea break and hence, cleaner took over the role and collected back the soiled cups.
(9) Housekeepers of both wards did not perform the task of cleaning ancillary areas – In ward 43, this task
was missed out only on that particular day when the study was carried out; because there was a lack of
manpower in the ward and the housekeeper was the only staff then, so he had to prioritize other matters. In
ward 64, this task has been transferred to the FSS to perform.
(10) Ward 64 Housekeeper took a significantly longer time to perform bed making – There were more beds
that needed bed making, as the nurses in ward 64 did not help with bed making in the morning. Also, the
housekeeper was relatively less efficient than the housekeeper in ward 43 when making the beds.
(11) Ward 64 Housekeeper did not perform cubicle cleaning of sink, bin’s top, napkin dispenser, soap
dispenser, mirror, toilet and shower room – This task has been transferred to the cleaner to perform.
(12) Ward 64 Housekeeper did not perform the task of replenishing ward supplies – In ward 43, this task has
been transferred to the housekeeper to perform and in ward 64, it has been transferred to the nurses.
(13) Ward 64 Housekeeper did not perform the task of assisting FSS with dinner food service – The
housekeeper in ward 64 worked morning shift 7am to 3pm, thus unable to perform task.
(14) Ward 64 Housekeeper took a significantly shorter time to perform isolation rooms cleaning – The
isolation rooms in ward 64 do not have their own toilet/shower rooms, thus require less time to clean. Also,
the housekeeper of ward 43 was more thorough in cleaning.
(15) Ward 64 Housekeeper took a significantly shorter time to tidy up pantry – The pantry in ward 64 was less
often dirtied or messed; as compared to ward 43, whose pantry had a lot of soiled cups or water spillage or
other forms of mess.
(16) Ward 43 Housekeeper performed an additional task of cleaning an individual room – Ward 43 converted
part of its visitor lounge into an individual patient room, thus requiring cleaning.
(17) Ward 64 Housekeeper performed an additional task of changing waste plastic bags for each bed – This is
originally part of bed-making, a responsibility largely shared with nurses. Since the nurses in ward 64 did not
change the waste plastic bags for each bed, the housekeeper did the task.
(18) Ward 64 Housekeeper performed an additional task of settling issue of foreign object found in food –
This was a one-off case, as a patient found a foreign object in his meal. The housekeeper was alerted and
informed the hospital kitchen, which later sent up representatives to resolve it. The housekeeper accompanied
them while they spoke to the affected patient.
12	
  
	
  
(19) Ward 64 FSS took a significantly shorter time to check fridge temperature; spot clean and check ward in
the morning – The housekeeping staff on night shift in ward 64 had already ensured that the cleaning trolleys
were well-stocked, relieving the FSS this part of the task. Ward 43 FSS had to stock up the cleaning trolleys,
resulting in much longer time taken.
(20) Ward 64 FSS took a longer time to perform bed-making – The FSS in ward 64 was relatively less
efficient than the FSS in ward 43 when making the beds, causing difference in time taken to perform bed-
making per bed, but the total time taken was similar.
(21) FSS of both wards failed to perform the task of serving biscuits to Diabetes Mellitus patients – The
dietetics department has asked for this task to be removed from the daily routine of FSS.
(22) FSS of both wards failed to perform cubicle cleaning of sinks, bin’s tops, floor, toilets and shower room
cleaning – In ward 43, this task has been transferred to the cleaner and housekeeper to perform; while in ward
64, this task has been transferred to the cleaner to perform.
(23) Ward 64 FSS failed to perform hi-touch cleaning – This task has been transferred to the housekeeper,
who is also trained, to perform.
(24) Ward 64 FSS took a significantly shorter time to mop the ward – The FSS in ward 43 was relatively less
efficient than the FSS in ward 64 when performing the task. At the same time, the FSS in ward 64 was
relatively less thorough when mopping the floor.
(25) Ward 64 FSS did not perform crash programme – There were many discharges on that day to attend to
and so the FSS did not have any time to perform crash programme.
(26) Ward 64 FSS did not perform the task of replenishing all chemicals and stocks needed for the week from
the main housekeeping room – The FSS had already performed the task on another day of the week.
(27) Ward 43 FSS did not perform the task of bringing down and clearing confidential papers to level 5
housekeeping room – The FSS had already performed the task on another day of the week.
(28) Ward 64 FSS took a significantly shorter time to perform bed discharge – The FSS in ward 43 was
relatively more thorough in cleaning, disinfecting twice at some areas instead of just once. Also, the FSS in
ward 64 had help from the housekeeper for two of the discharges performed.
(29) Ward 64 FSS performed an extra task of cleaning the standing fan for one isolation room – It was a
special request by the patient to have a standing fan in his room and so when he discharged, the FSS had to
clean the fan as well.
13	
  
	
  
III.   Staff Deployment Analysis
To ascertain if there is enough housekeeping staff per ward, balance between work and break was analyzed. If
there was a good balance between work and break, this means that there is enough staff in the ward to cope
with the workload. On the other hand, if there was a poor balance, there may be inadequate number of staff to
cope with the workload.
A research conducted by the Draugiem Group using DeskTime, found that the most productive people
followed a 52:17 pattern – 52 minutes of work followed by 17 minutes of break (Gifford J., 2014). This not
only ensures productivity of a staff, but also promotes healthy work life for him. Staff deployment analysis is
very important as it also translates to staff efficiency and task feasibility.
The total work time and break time taken by each housekeeping staff was compared against the 52:17 ratio.
Housekeeping Staff Work-to-Break Ratio
Ward 43 Cleaner 413 : 67 ≈ 52 : 9.25
Ward 64 Cleaner 404 : 75 ≈ 52 : 9.65
Ward 43 Housekeeper 543 : 157 ≈ 52 : 15.04
Ward 64 Housekeeper 336 : 72 ≈ 52 : 11.15
Ward 43 FSS 634 : 109 ≈ 52 : 8.94
Ward 64 FSS 547 : 131 ≈ 52 : 12.45
Table 14: Work-to-Break Ratio of Housekeeping Staff
As seen from Table 14, none of the housekeeping staff’s work-to-break ratio hit the ideal 52:17 ratio.
Although it is just a guide, most of the housekeeping staff’s resting time is much shorter than ideal. This
suggests that the work is aplenty and there is lack of manpower to finish the work.
With reference to Section II Data, housekeeping staff failed to perform several tasks due to various reasons.
For example, the housekeeper of ward 43 failed to clean the ancillary area in the morning because there was
shortage of manpower that day and he had to prioritize other tasks first. Based on personal observations,
housekeeping staff were constantly performing tasks after tasks. After completing a task, they are immediately
on their way to perform the next task at hand. Yet, they are unable to complete their work schedule every day.
Of course, it may be due to feasibility of task (Section IV Job Scope Evaluation) or efficiency of staff (Section
V Ward Comparisons). However, with insufficient staff, even if tasks are feasible and available staff is highly
efficient, tasks will still be unfulfilled. Also, all the tasks given are important, urgent and necessary.
Housekeeping staff should be able to and should complete them each day.
14	
  
	
  
When the observer conversed with the staff, they gave feedback on inadequate manpower. Quite often, they
will forgo their crash programme of the day, so as to perform bed discharges and daily routine tasks.
Otherwise, they have to use their break time to perform more tasks so that they can complete most of their
work for the day. However, this should not be the norm because crash programmes are equally important.
When a crash programme is postponed to the following day or even the next week, cleanliness and infection
control are compromised.
Based on all these analyses, it is fair to say that current staff deployment is insufficient. The best solution is to
assign more staff to each ward, so that the total number of tasks to do can be better shared amongst the staff.
They will be able to keep to the schedule and maintain high standards of hygiene every day.
15	
  
	
  
IV.   Job Scope Evaluation
As mentioned in Section III Staff Deployment Analysis, staff sufficiency and task feasibility are closely
linked.
Tasks given to individual housekeeping staff should be feasible and doable alone, any additional staff only
serves to reduce time taken. Otherwise, it would be unreasonable to allocate a task meant for two staff to only
one staff. ISS conducts a 3-day training programme for all incoming housekeeping staff and pairs each
newcomer with an experienced housekeeper in each ward. Individual staff from both wards also told the
observer that each task is doable by one person. Hence, it can be concluded that task feasibility does not
negatively affect the analysis of staff sufficiency and instead, supports the deduction that staff deployment is
currently inadequate.
With regards to the nature of job scope, time spent on different tasks types was evaluated.
Cleaner Housekeeper FSS
Regular Tasks 77.8% 75.5% 76.5%
Periodic Cleaning 5.1% - 8.2%
Ad-hoc Tasks 17.1% 24.5% 15.3%
Total 100% 100% 100%
Table 15: Percentage of Time Taken to Perform Various Task Types
Table 15 shows that all three housekeeping staff – cleaner, housekeeper and FSS spent a majority of their time
performing Regular Tasks, followed by Ad-hoc Tasks and finally Periodic Cleaning. As regular tasks are part
of a staff’s daily routine, it is expected that staff spend a large portion of time on them. Periodic cleaning are
also planned tasks to be incorporated into the daily regular routine, just at fixed intervals. However, that was
not observed during the time and motion study. Periodic cleaning is of lower priority than ad-hoc tasks and
thus, staff spent the least time on performing them. When something crops up suddenly, staff will attend to it
first and put aside any periodic cleaning they were performing.
In fact, housekeeping staff spend a significant amount of time attending to ad-hoc tasks. With reference to
Table 13, cleaners of both wards spent more than 2 hours performing ad-hoc tasks, housekeepers of both
wards spent close to 3.5 hours performing ad-hoc tasks and FSS of both wards spent 3 hours performing ad-
hoc tasks altogether. This highlights the reoccurring problem of uncompleted tasks. As staff continuously
dealt with unplanned and unexpected tasks, they sacrificed the time needed to complete periodic cleaning or
other tasks. Tasks that could not be completed on that day were pushed to the following day to continue. If
this continues on, there will be an accumulation of tasks left undone.
16	
  
	
  
The job of a housekeeping staff is never the same each day, as the ad-hoc tasks he is faced with change on a
daily basis. A housekeeping staff needs to be quick on his feet to analyze a situation, so that he can settle it in
the shortest time possible. For example, when a patient urinated on the floor while the FSS in ward 43 was
collecting soiled trays, she immediately put down her trays and disinfected the area quickly. Concurrently, she
informed the housekeeper to continue collecting the soiled trays so that the kitchen staff was not delayed in
bringing back the food trolleys.
A housekeeping staff also has to be flexible and smart to streamline certain processes on his own, so that he
can perform all the tasks faster and better. For example, while FSS in ward 64 was waiting for patients to
finish eating their meals so that he could collect back the soiled trays, he tidied up the pantry and collected
soiled linen. This way, he completed more tasks in the same amount of time than if he had just followed the
work schedule rigidly.
With reference to Section II Data, housekeeping staff are performing tasks that are out of their job scopes. For
example, nurses were supposed to bring the soiled linen to the DU after they have made the beds. However,
they left the linen in the cubicle toilet’s linen baskets. So, housekeeping staff had to do an extra task of
bringing more soiled linen to the DU and this translated to a few more trips to make. Another example would
be the checking of food and collecting of diet chits. Ideally, nurses are to check all patients’ food and take
away their diet chits before patients enjoy their meals. However, the nurses in both wards failed to execute it
and the FSS had to spend more time on meal service.
To conclude, the job scope of a housekeeping staff is highly dynamic. As such, proper training is required for
them to be able to handle a wide range of situations that may unexpectedly crop up. It is also important for
staff to manage their time well so that they can complete every task at hand, on top of the ad-hoc tasks, all in a
day’s work. Finally, all hospital staff should fulfill all tasks that fall under their responsibilities. Although staff
can and should help one another, it should not become another staff’s duty to discharge.
17	
  
	
  
V.   Ward Comparisons: 43 v.s. 64
Ward 43 and ward 64 differ in their layout and structure. This affects the time taken by each ward to complete
each task. As such, comparisons were made on a per-item basis. For example, comparison was made for time
taken to make one bed instead of one whole cubicle, which differs in number of beds between the two wards.
Personal observations and special exemptions were also taken into consideration.
Overall, housekeeping staff of ward 43 were more efficient and diligent than housekeeping staff of ward 64 in
the following ways:
Productivity
With reference to Table 2, ward 64 cleaner took a shorter time to collect trash per bin but took a longer time in
total. He was slower in his movements and took his time to perform the task as compared to ward 43 cleaner.
With reference to Table 6 and Table 9, ward 64 housekeeper and FSS took a significantly longer time to
perform bed-making per bed. Since the size of bed and number of bed equipment remain the same, the
difference is attributed to the efficiency of staff. The staff of ward 43 was faster in their actions, more efficient
in cleaning and changing the linen.
Hygiene
While performing cubicle cleaning on sinks, bins’ top, napkin dispensers, soap dispensers and mirrors, ward
43 cleaner was more thorough as compared to ward 64 cleaner. Ward 64 cleaner also used the wrong method
and chemicals to clean. He missed out the bottom and sides of the sinks.
The staff in ward 43 was also more thorough in sweeping and/or mopping the floor. They were detailed in
cleaning the corners and ensured that there was no dirt debris left before proceeding to the next cubicle.
With reference to Table 7, ward 64 housekeeper took a significantly shorter time to perform isolation rooms
cleaning. Despite taking into account the lack of private toilet inside the room, it was still a significant
difference from the performance of ward 43’s housekeeper. It can be inferred that ward 64’s housekeeper was
not as meticulous in cleaning the rooms.
When performing bed discharges, staff in ward 43 took the extra step to disinfect each area twice instead of
once. When asked by observer, they replied that patients deserve the cleanest environment recover and rest in.
Lastly, the staff in ward 43 were proactive in ensuring cleanliness of the ward. Whenever they saw litter on
the floor, they immediately picked it up or disinfected the area when necessary. On the other hand, the staff in
ward 64 were more calculative in only performing tasks that are within their responsibilities.
18	
  
	
  
Despite the weaknesses of the housekeeping staff in ward 64, they should also be commended for their
efficiency in other areas. The staff in ward 64 performed bed discharge faster than the staff in ward 43. They
were able to hit the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of 15 to 20 minutes. Also, the FSS performed food
ordering via eMOS more efficiently and took lesser time for pre-meal preparations, freeing up more time to
perform other tasks.
Though the two wards work differently, they have their merits and are still able to achieve the main aim of
ensuring a clean ward for patients to recuperate in.
19	
  
	
  
VI.   Shortfalls/Drawbacks of Study
Every study has its own limitations and disadvantages. A Time and Motion Study is not always a true
reflection of what actually happens.
1.   Observers are not always proficient in the field of work being studied.
2.   Actions of individuals are not always reflective of the group as a whole.
3.   Several sections may include observer’s individual expertise and judgment.
4.   Study participants may be pressurized during observation, increasing mistakes made.
5.   Study participants may use the model methods which they usually do not.
Pertaining to this particular study, here are some shortfalls identified.
1.   Observer was merely an intern working under NUH ES department, and so she was not well-versed in
housekeeping issues. This makes the study questionable, since a non-expert is defining an expert’s job
scope and efficiency.
For example, the observer will be inaccurate in determining whether time taken by a cleaner to wash a
bathroom is acceptable; or whether the FSS is pushing the food trolley correctly.
2.   Several wards differ in terms of their layout and structure. This affects the time taken by each ward to
complete each task, in turn affecting the comparison results.
For example, in ward 43, there is a bathroom and a toilet in each cubicle; while in ward 64, there is a
common toilet/shower area along the corridor, one for female and one for male. This leads to varied
time taken by cleaners to wash the toilets.
3.   Part of the time and motion study fell on the fasting month of Muslims, causing alterations in the
working schedule. This leads to incomplete data for the study.
The housekeeper in ward 64 is a Muslim and during the fasting month, she switched to morning shift
every week instead of alternate weeks of morning and afternoon shifts. As a result, there was missing
information on afternoon shift of housekeeper in ward 64.
4.   The dynamic nature of the jobs of housekeeping staff makes it challenging to capture the work they
do every day, as it differs on a day-to-day basis. This creates flaws in the evaluation of job scope, as
the activities carried out by the staff may be varied each day.
For example, on days when the number of discharges is exceptionally high, housekeepers and FSS
have to put aside their routine cleaning and go back to it after performing bed discharges. This may
translate to the workload being too high, when it is manageable on days with average discharges.
20	
  
	
  
Similarly, the ad-hoc tasks each day take up different durations. When there is spillage of blood or
when a patient defecates on the floor, the housekeeper takes a longer time to disinfect the area as
compared to collecting Virex256 from the main housekeeping room of that level.
5.   The observer was made known to the housekeeping staff of each ward and interacted with them on a
personal level as well. This causes inaccuracy in collection of data as staff being observed may put on
their best behavior instead of doing what they usually do.
For example, in ward 43, the FSS’ performance was good and she executed everything correctly.
However, after the study, there were feedbacks from other sources that her work often does not meet
expectations and she shrinks from certain responsibilities. Staff Deployment Analysis showed that
there was insufficient staff in her ward due to her lack of break time and continuous work. However,
it was only the few days of time and motion study that she worked so hard and did not take the
afternoon break due to work. Hence, the results drawn from this study data are not fully reliable.
6.   Performance is very subjective and can differ from one housekeeping staff to another. There are other
factors that contribute to the performance of a staff, such as own efficiency and motivation to work.
This implies that analysis done in this report cannot be applied directly onto housekeeping staff. The
results of one staff does not equate to the rest of the staff.
For example, in ward 43, the housekeeper appears to have taken the longest break time and some may
say that she is not working hard enough. However, the truth is that she works very efficiently and
thus, manages to take enough breaks. So, in other wards there might be an increase in staff
deployment to solve the problem when the room problem is the individual staff’s lack of efficiency.
7.   The “ES or ISS” composition of housekeeping staff differs between each ward, resulting in differing
work shifts and number of hours clocked by each staff. Since the conditions of study were not similar,
comparisons and conclusions drawn are imperfect.
For example, the housekeeper in ward 43 is an ISS staff working from 8am to 9pm while the
housekeeper in ward 64 is an ES staff working from 7am to 3pm or 1pm to 9pm. This translates to 13
hours compared to 8 hours, a 5-hour difference.
21	
  
	
  
VI.   Recommendations
To counter the shortfalls of this study, here are some suggestions on how to improve on it.
1.   Have a ground staff to carry out the next time and motion study. People who are doing the work can
better improve on their own work. When housekeeping staff observe their own work, they can
identify time-wasters and ideas for increasing quality service with efficiency.
By involving housekeeping staff in the study, they will feel more empowered and enthusiastic about
working together to create a better working environment.
2.   When selecting wards to carry out the study on, take note of the ward’s layout and choose two (or
more) wards with an identical layout and same number of rooms/basins/toilets to clean.
3.   Ensure that the study period falls within a suitable time frame. There should be no or minimal
alternation in working schedule, be it due to religious purposes or personal leave.
With regards to the efficiency of housekeeping staff, there are a few recommendations to consider.
1.   Continuously train and re-train staff such that they are very clear on their daily routine and periodic
cleaning. This means that they should be well-versed in what task they should perform, how they
should perform the task and how often they should perform it. It is important to perform a task the
correct way, as it affects the quality of performance. Cleaning an item quickly does not translate to
true efficiency, there should be an element of effectiveness – disinfecting thoroughly. Currently, ISS
only offers a 3-day training programme for newcomers and following that, each staff is on his own to
learn and adapt to the ward.
When a staff is unsure of his tasks at hand, he will lack efficiency. He takes time to find out how to
perform a task correctly and does it slower as compared to one that is habitually performing the same
task correctly.
2.   Reduce the working hours of housekeeping staff so that they have enough energy to work the
subsequent day. Currently, the working hours of ISS staff are about 13 hours and 6 days in a row.
Although this includes lunch break, tea break and lunch break, many of the housekeeping staff do not
get to rest this much in reality. This is because there are too many bed discharges to perform and they
still have to complete their routine cleaning. By the 4th
or 5th
consecutive day, housekeeping staff are
already too exhausted to perform at their best.
By having shorter working hours, it will keep the housekeeping staff’s morale up as well. They are
motivated to work hard and actually have the energy to work hard as they want to and should do.
22	
  
	
  
3.   Provide sufficient equipment in each ward for housekeeping staff to execute their tasks capably and
cut down on unnecessary time taken to cope with inadequate items. For example, the cleaner in ward
43 takes a significantly longer time to wash water jugs and top-up water for individual patients. There
were not enough jugs, so the cleaner had to collect back some of the soiled jugs, wash, fill up with
water again and distribute to the patients.
Similarly, the housekeeper and FSS in ward 64 take longer time to collect soiled linen as they can
only tie one linen bag to a trolley as compared to two bags, so they have to take additional round to
finish collecting all the soiled linen. When there are enough of these equipment, housekeeping staff
are able to perform their tasks better and more efficiently.
4.   Encourage mutual sharing of cleaning methods among housekeeping staff so that most effective
methods may be used. Although there are standard protocols to follow for most of the tasks, some
tasks can be performed better. In ward 43, the cleaner cleans the mirrors with dry hand towel and the
results are indeed shinier and cleaner. The housekeeper is able to perform bed makings and bed
discharges very quickly and excellently, because she has already worked many years and has
developed a certain routine that she sticks to each time.
When housekeeping staff share their most effective and correct cleaning methods, every ward can be
kept cleaner and at a more efficient speed.
Other suggestions include:
v   Design a more suitable and comfortable uniform, especially for FSS.
Despite the light-weighted aspect of the uniform, it does not absorb sweat or dissipate heat easily,
causing huge discomfort for the housekeeping staff while they go about their daily chores such as
mopping the entire ward or washing the toilets. Also, it is not hygienic nor does it looks professional
for these staff to sweat profusely while performing bed discharge or carrying out hi-touch cleaning.
On top of that, during food service, FSS are expected to don an apron, which is of a relatively thick
material. Professionalism is a must, but it will be preferred if they can have both a professional look
and physical comfort to carry out their services with better quality.
v   Foster good relationships among housekeeping staff in the same ward.
If each housekeeping staff is calculative in terms of only doing what he is tasked to do and not help
out in other areas, problems such as uncompleted tasks arise. Time is very limited in the wards as
there are so many tasks to be performed by each housekeeping staff. As the saying goes, ‘more hands
make light work’. When housekeeping staff work together hand-in-hand, they can help one another
complete tasks in shorter time frames.
23	
  
	
  
For example, when a FSS is on his way to the DU to collect virex256 and sees the linen baskets in
cubicle bathrooms filled with soiled linen, and he knows that the cleaner is still refilling jugs for
patients; he easily lends a helping hand to bring them to the DU and saves the cleaner time.
In addition, having a friendly happy working environment is very important. The housekeeping staff
will enjoy his work more and thus perform better.
v   Cultivate respect among staff and to recognize the importance of housekeeping staff.
It is vital that everyone treats each other equally, despite their ranks and positions. Many people seem
to put housekeeping staff at the bottom of the hospital hierarchy and do not give them the respect they
deserve.
However, when other hospital staff show appreciation to them, they will not feel inferior but feel
proud of what they do and be motivated to carry on with their tasks to the best of their abilities.
v   Develop better storage and infrastructure for waste and linen.
Currently, housekeeping staff need to collect all the trash in the ward and use a L-shaped trolley to
transport them to the waste holding area of that level. They are required to manually lift all the heavy
trash bags into the 600L waste bins, which is a very time-consuming and ergonomically unfriendly
process. Housekeeping staff already have lower back problems from long periods of bending down to
clean, and this worsens their conditions.
If the 600L bins or other waste holding bins have ledges at the side of the bins instead of lids on the
top of the bins, it will be better for anyone to transfer the trash bags, be it in or out of the bins. In the
ergonomic aspect, housekeeping staff do not have to lift up trash bags so high but slowly slide the
bags into the bin through the ‘side door’. In the economic aspect, staff at the main trash holding areas
and the housekeeping staff have lower risks of getting back injuries and reduced chances of taking
medical leave due to being physically unfit.
Similarly, for linen, staff also have to lift the heavy linen bags onto the trolleys, which are then
transferred to another trolley, brought to the basement, transferred to a holding site and finally
transferred to a trolley to be sent to the laundry. This is a very inefficient system that takes up time
and manpower, both valuable assets.
If there are trolleys that can be used to bring the soiled linen from the wards all the way to the laundry
truck, it will save up a lot of time and manpower. It will also reduce back injuries of the linen staff.
24	
  
	
  
VIII. Personal Views
“ During a visit to the NASA space center in 1962, President John F Kennedy
noticed a janitor carrying a broom. He interrupted his tour, walked over to the man and said,
"Hi, I'm Jack Kennedy. What are you doing?"
"Well, Mr. President," the janitor responded, "I'm helping put a man on the moon." ”
(Nomo J., 2014)
To many of people, housekeeping staff are just cleaners of the hospital, performing jobs that most shun away
from, such as clearing rubbish or cleaning toilets. In reality, housekeeping staff are doing very important jobs
– they ensure good hygiene and cleanliness in the hospital, so that health professionals can better treat
patients. Unfortunately, people tend to take housekeeping staff for granted. Only when things go wrong or are
different from the usual, such as uncollected trash accumulated in the wards or dirty doctor on-call rooms,
people put the blame on housekeeping staff and reprimand them.
Through this time and motion study, I learnt to appreciate housekeeping staff much more. Even though
sometimes they have to do unpleasant things, they do not ever complain. When a patient urinates on the floor,
one can trust a housekeeping staff to clean up the mess, but cannot and will not expect them to do so with a
smile. However, it may take you by surprise that they actually do! The housekeeping staff whom I followed
all put on smiles whenever they interacted with the patients. They reassured patients that they would clean up
the mess, not to worry but rest well. They ensured patients had their meals piping hot and never hungry. They
encouraged patients not to give up and genuinely cared for them.
A significant number of housekeeping staff comes from foreign countries. Many of them have spouses and
children back in their hometowns, awaiting for their return once every two or three years. As a family-oriented
person, I can sympathize with them how much they miss their families. These staff work so hard just for their
families to lead better lives while they learn to cope with loneliness.
The working hours of housekeeping staff are long; many of them said that they leave their house before the
break of dawn and only reach home after dusk. They devote all their time and energy into the ward’s work, to
provide an alternate but important healthcare service from nurses or doctors. However, most people simply do
not give them the respect they deserve. When a housekeeper mopping the floor accidentally slid his mop near
a doctor’s shoes, the doctor shot him a look angrily. When a housekeeper sweeping the floor was near a
patient’s bed, the visitor conveniently threw his tissue on the floor for the housekeeper to sweep it up. While it
is the housekeeping staff’s job to mop and sweep the floor, one should not cross the line in treating him like a
servant or someone of lower rank.
25	
  
	
  
Similarly, while we evaluate the performance of housekeeping staff through this study and discover rooms for
improvement, we must not forget that they are human-beings too. Indeed, staff efficiency can be increased and
quality of execution can be better. However, we must keep in mind not to treat them like robots, to
continuously perform tasks after tasks and churn out results one after another. Everyone needs rest and
welfare.
The NUH Environmental Services is like the backbone of the hospital, giving it support and structure. The
NUH housekeeping department is one of the vertebra that makes up the vertebrae. Other service partners are
also pieces of vertebra, glued together by gel-like discs - the staff of ES department. Just as the vertabrae
allows the body to move and bend, the entire ES department allows the hospital to stretch its resources and
maximize its operations.
Just like how the janitor in NASA played a part in putting a man on the moon, a housekeeping staff in NUH
plays a part in saving a patient’s life.
26	
  
	
  
IX. Biblography
Gifford, J. (2014). The Rule of 52 and 17: It’s Random, But it Ups Your Productivity. Retrieved 2015, from
http://www.themuse.com/advice/the-rule-of-52-and-17-its-random-but-it-ups-your-productivity
Nomo, J. (2014). What a NASA Janitor Can Teach Us About Living a Bigger Life. Retrieved 2015, from
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/how-to/growth-strategies/2014/12/what-a-nasa-janitor-can-teach-us.html
27	
  
	
  
X. Appendix
A1: Template Used to Record Time and Motion
Building: Main	
  Building	
  	
  /	
  	
  Kent	
  Ridge	
  Wing Position: Cleaner	
  /	
  	
  Housekeeper	
  	
  /	
  	
  FSS	
  
Ward: Name	
  (if	
  applicable):
Date: Time:	
  	
  	
  ___________	
  	
  -­‐	
  	
  ____________
Time	
   Activity Remarks/	
  Comments
Time	
  Motion	
  Study	
  on	
  NUH	
  Housekeeping
28	
  
	
  
A2. Time and Motion Study Raw Data of Ward Cleaners
Picture 1: Cleaner of Ward 43 (ES)
Picture 2: Cleaner of Ward 64 (ISS)
Building: Ward: 64 Time: 8am	
  -­‐	
  5pm Position: Cleaner
8.05am 8.10am
8.10am 9.24am
9.24am 9.30am
9.30am 9.45am
9.45am 10.09am
10.09am 10.27am
10.27am 10.53am
10.53am 10.55am
10.55am 10.58am
10.58am 12.01pm
12.01pm 12.06pm
12.06pm 12.43pm
12.43pm 1.43pm
1.43pm 2.01pm
2.01pm 2.18pm
2.18pm 2.21pm
2.21pm 2.53pm
2.53pm 2.59pm
2.59pm 3.11pm
3.11pm 3.30pm
3.30pm 3.38pm
3.38pm 3.40pm
3.40pm 3.42pm
3.42pm 3.54pm
3.54pm 4.18pm
4.18pm 4.42pm
4.42pm 4.54pm
4.54pm -­‐
Patient	
  requested	
  for	
  change	
  of	
  mattress	
  -­‐	
  must	
  attend	
  to	
  it	
  immediately	
  -­‐	
  exchanged	
  with	
  another	
  bed
Perform	
  Bed	
  Discharge	
  (1	
  Discharge)
End	
  Work
Crash	
  Programme	
  -­‐	
  Spot	
  Cleaning	
  (walls,	
  signs,	
  rails)
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Cups
Pour	
  Away	
  Leftover	
  Milo
Patient	
  requested	
  for	
  jug	
  of	
  water	
  and	
  ice	
  -­‐	
  must	
  attend	
  to	
  it	
  immediately
Collect	
  Trash,	
  Empty	
  at	
  Collection	
  Point	
  (10	
  Bins)
Crash	
  Programme
Wait	
  for	
  Cleaning	
  Trolley	
  (MRSA	
  side)
Thorough	
  Wash	
  Common	
  Toilets	
  (2	
  -­‐	
  Male	
  and	
  Female)
Sweep	
  Nurse	
  Station,	
  DU,	
  Equipment	
  Room	
  Staffroom,	
  Clean	
  Utility,	
  Bed17-­‐24/25-­‐32/35-­‐42/9-­‐16/43-­‐50/1-­‐8,	
  Isolation	
  Rooms	
  (12	
  Areas)
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Linen	
  (3	
  baskets)
Perform	
  Bed	
  Discharge	
  (2	
  Discharges)
LUNCH	
  BREAK
Collect	
  Trash,	
  Empty	
  at	
  Collection	
  Point	
  (10	
  Bins)
Terminal	
  Cleaning	
  -­‐	
  Change	
  Curtains
Prepare	
  for	
  Terminal	
  Cleaning
Perform	
  Terminal	
  Cleaning	
  (MRSA	
  Bed)	
  -­‐	
  Wipe	
  All	
  Surfaces,	
  Change	
  Curtains
Rest;	
  see	
  if	
  there	
  are	
  anymore	
  discharges
Go	
  Restroom
Collect	
  Trash,	
  Empty	
  at	
  Collection	
  Point	
  (13	
  Bins)
Collect	
  Trash,	
  Empty	
  at	
  Collection	
  Point	
  (10	
  Bins)
Cubicle	
  Cleaning	
  (sink,	
  bin's	
  top,	
  napkin	
  dispenser,	
  soap	
  dispenser,	
  mirrors)	
  (10	
  of	
  each)
Refill	
  Hand	
  Soap	
  at	
  Bed	
  43-­‐50
Time Activity
Check	
  &	
  Touch	
  Up	
  Toilets
Wash	
  Water	
  Jugs	
  and	
  Top-­‐up	
  Water	
  for	
  Individual	
  Patients	
  (44	
  Beds)
Put	
  Away	
  Clean	
  Jugs
Main	
  Building
Building: Ward: 43 Time: 7am	
  -­‐	
  3pm Position: Cleaner
7.00am 7.15am
7.15am 7.30am
7.30am 7.35am
7.35am 8.35am
8.35am 10.10am
10.10am 10.25am
10.25am 10.35am
10.35am 10.50am
10.50am 11.15am
11.15am 11.45am
11.45am 12.08pm
12.08pm 1.00pm
1.00pm 1.15pm
1.15pm 3.00pm
3.00pm -­‐ End	
  work
Collect	
  Trash,	
  Empty	
  at	
  Collection	
  Point	
  (15	
  Bins)
Staff	
  Lunch	
  Break
Time	
  Motion	
  Study	
  on	
  NUH	
  Housekeeping
Activity
Cubicle	
  Cleaning	
  (sink,	
  bin's	
  top,	
  napkin	
  dispenser,	
  soap	
  dispenser,	
  mirrors)	
  (17	
  of	
  each)
Wash	
  Water	
  Jugs	
  and	
  Top-­‐up	
  Water	
  for	
  Individual	
  Patients	
  (45	
  Beds)
Staff	
  Tea	
  Break
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Linen	
  (8	
  Baskets)
Put	
  Away	
  Clean	
  Jugs
Collect	
  Trash,	
  Empty	
  at	
  Collection	
  Point	
  (12	
  Bins)
Collect	
  Virex256	
  from	
  Housekeeping	
  Room
Main	
  Building
Collect	
  Trash	
  -­‐	
  Biohazard	
  Waste,	
  Empty	
  at	
  Collection	
  Point
Time
Cubicle	
  Cleaning	
  (toilet	
  &	
  shower	
  room	
  cleaning)	
  (5	
  of	
  each)
Tidy	
  Up	
  DU	
  -­‐	
  Sweep	
  DU
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Linen	
  (8	
  Baskets)
Tidy	
  Up	
  DU	
  -­‐	
  Sweep	
  DU
29	
  
	
  
A3. Time and Motion Study Raw Data of Ward Housekeepers
Picture 3: Housekeeper of Ward 43 (ISS)
Building: Ward: 43 Time: 8am	
  -­‐	
  9pm Position: Housekeeper
7.55am 8.15am
8.15am 8.24am
8.24am 8.34am
8.34am 8.51am
8.51am 9.00am
9.00am 9.19am
9.19am 9.30am
9.30am 9.50am
9.50am 10.00am
10.00am 10.22am
10.22am 10.25am
10.25am 10.44am
10.44am 10.52am
10.52am 10.55am
10.55am 10.59am
10.59am 11.55am
11.55am 12.04pm
12.04pm 12.25pm
12.25pm 12.50pm
12.50pm 12.55pm
12.55pm 1.18pm
1.18pm 1.23pm
1.23pm 1.31pm
1.31pm 1.51pm
1.51pm 2.01pm
2.01pm 2.43pm
2.43pm 2.47pm
2.47pm 2.55pm
2.55pm 2.59pm
2.59pm 3.20pm
3.20pm 3.33pm
3.33pm 3.40pm
3.40pm 4.06pm
4.06pm 4.20pm
4.20pm 4.53pm
4.53pm 4.55pm
4.55pm 5.55pm
5.55pm 6.10pm
6.10pm	
   6.13pm
6.13pm 6.18pm
6.18pm 6.23pm
6.23pm 6.45pm
6.45pm 6.53pm
6.53pm 7.04pm
7.04pm 7.09pm
7.09pm 7.19pm
7.19pm	
   7.49pm
7.49pm 7.55pm
7.55pm 7.59pm
7.59pm 8.06pm
8.06pm 8.10pm
8.10pm 8.42pm
8.42pm 8.45pm
8.45pm 8.50pm
8.50pm 9.01pm
9.01pm 9.03pm
9.03pm 9.05pm
9.05pm -­‐
Send	
  Food	
  to	
  Dialysis	
  Patient
Time	
  Motion	
  Study	
  on	
  NUH	
  Housekeeping
Main	
  Building
Time Activity
Assist	
  FSS	
  with	
  Breakfast	
  Food	
  Service
Cubicle	
  Cleaning	
  (toilet	
  &	
  shower	
  room	
  cleaning)	
  (2	
  of	
  each)
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Linen	
  (8	
  Baskets)
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Trays
Bed-­‐making	
  (3	
  Beds)
Replenish	
  Ward	
  Supplies	
  (7	
  Cubicles,	
  Nurse	
  Station)
Sweep	
  2	
  Cubicles
Staff	
  Tea	
  Break
Wait	
  to	
  clean	
  cubicle,	
  as	
  there	
  was	
  a	
  radiographer	
  carrying	
  out	
  X-­‐ray	
  on	
  patient	
  
Mop	
  2	
  Cubicles
Collect	
  Virex256	
  to	
  clean	
  toilets
Isolation	
  Room	
  Cleaning	
  (2	
  Rooms	
  with	
  Toilets)
Refill	
  Virex256	
  into	
  mop
Clean	
  Bed	
  45	
  room
Clean	
  Assisted	
  Patients	
  Toilet
Clean	
  Assisted	
  Patients	
  Shower
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Cups
Clean	
  Cleaning	
  Trolley
Staff	
  Lunch	
  Break
Prepare	
  for	
  Food	
  Service
Assist	
  FSS	
  with	
  Lunch	
  Food	
  Service
Perform	
  Terminal	
  Cleaning	
  (MRSA	
  Bed)	
  -­‐	
  wipe	
  all	
  surfaces,	
  change	
  curtains
Patient	
  request	
  for	
  food,	
  serve	
  food	
  (FSS	
  finish	
  terminal	
  cleaning)
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Trays
Wash	
  jugs	
  left	
  in	
  the	
  pantry	
  basin,	
  tidy	
  up	
  pantry,	
  wipe	
  ward's	
  food	
  trolley
Tidy	
  up	
  DU	
  -­‐	
  Mop	
  Floor
Cubicle	
  Cleaning	
  (sink,	
  bin's	
  top,	
  napkin	
  dispenser,	
  soap	
  dispenser,	
  mirrors)	
  (2	
  of	
  each)
Patient	
  request	
  for	
  food,	
  go	
  ward	
  44	
  to	
  take	
  bread,	
  warm	
  up	
  and	
  serve	
  with	
  margarine/jam
Tidy	
  up	
  DU
Staff	
  Dinner	
  Break
Assist	
  FSS	
  with	
  Dinner	
  Food	
  Service
Keep	
  Food	
  for	
  NBM	
  Patients
Refill	
  chemical	
  for	
  cleaning
Push	
  linen	
  trolley	
  into	
  correct	
  position
Staff	
  Tea	
  Break
Collect	
  Trash,	
  Empty	
  at	
  Collection	
  Point	
  (7	
  Bins)
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Linen
Perform	
  Bed	
  Discharge	
  (2	
  Discharges)
Replenish	
  Ward	
  Supplies	
  (7	
  Cubicles,	
  Nurse	
  Station)
Replenish	
  Ward	
  Supplies	
  (7	
  Cubicles,	
  Nurse	
  Station)
Return	
  extra	
  stocks	
  back	
  at	
  DU
Prepare	
  for	
  Terminal	
  Cleaning
Someone	
  shitted	
  on	
  the	
  floor	
  -­‐	
  must	
  clean	
  immediately
Someone	
  urinated	
  on	
  the	
  floor	
  -­‐	
  must	
  clean	
  immediately
Collect	
  Trash,	
  Empty	
  at	
  Collection	
  Point	
  (5	
  Bins)
Replenish	
  PE	
  aprons
Perform	
  Bed	
  Discharge	
  (1	
  Discharge)
Clear	
  away	
  used	
  cups,	
  refill	
  cream	
  crackers
Mop	
  staff	
  room,	
  tidy	
  up	
  pantry
Settle	
  EMD	
  Bed
Last	
  Round	
  ofCheck,	
  Replenish	
  Ward	
  Supplies
End	
  Work
Perform	
  Terminal	
  Cleaning	
  (MRSA	
  Bed)	
  -­‐	
  wipe	
  all	
  surfaces,	
  change	
  curtains
Tidy	
  Up	
  DU
Tidy	
  Up	
  Pantry	
  -­‐	
  Wash	
  jugs	
  left	
  in	
  the	
  pantry	
  basin
Sweep	
  Ward
Tidy	
  up	
  DU
30	
  
	
  
Picture 4: Housekeeper of Ward 64 (ES – Morning Shift)
Building: Ward: 64 Time: 7am	
  -­‐	
  3pm Position: Housekeeper
6.59am 7.03am
7.03am 7.10am
7.10am 7.33am
7.33am 7.39am
7.39am 7.46am	
  
7.46am 7.48am
7.48am 7.50am
7.50am 8.11am
8.11am 8.20am
8.20am 8.25am
8.25am 8.28am
8.28am 8.33am
8.33am 8.44am
8.44am 8.53am
8.53am 8.56am
8.56am 9.00am
9.00am 9.10am
9.10am 9.16am
9.16am 9.18am
9.18am 9.33am
9.32am 9.41am
9.41am 9.57am
9.57am 10.00am
10.00am 10.44am
10.44am 10.56am
10.56am 11.00am
11.00am 11.45am
11.45am 11.50am
11.50am 12.15pm
12.15pm 12.43pm
12.43pm 12.50pm
12.50pm 12.55pm
12.55pm 12.59pm
12.59pm 1.02pm
1.02pm 1.04pm
1.04pm 1.11pm
1.11pm 1.17pm
1.17pm 1.50pm
1.50pm 1.54pm
1.54pm 2.02pm
2.02pm 2.05pm
2.05pm 2.09pm
2.09pm 2.44pm
2.44pm 2.48pm
2.48pm -­‐
Tidy	
  Up	
  DU	
  -­‐	
  Sweep	
  DU
Autoscrub	
  Female	
  and	
  Male	
  Toilet	
  (Cause	
  floor	
  wet	
  and	
  dirty)
Prepare	
  for	
  Bed	
  Discharge
Mop	
  2	
  Cubicles
Activity
Tidy	
  Up	
  Staff	
  Pantry
Mop	
  resident's	
  room
Time	
  Motion	
  Study	
  on	
  NUH	
  Housekeeping
Main	
  Building
Time
Bed-­‐making	
  (2	
  Beds)
Change	
  Waste	
  Plastic	
  Bags	
  for	
  Each	
  Bed	
  (14	
  Beds)
Collect	
  Virex256	
  and	
  Glance	
  for	
  Housekeeping	
  Room
Isolation	
  Room	
  Cleaning	
  (2	
  Rooms)
Collect	
  Trash	
  (2	
  Bins)	
  (Cause	
  bins	
  full)
Prepare	
  for	
  Bed-­‐making
Mop	
  Assisted	
  Patients	
  Toilet	
  &	
  Shower
Prepare	
  for	
  Food	
  Service
Assist	
  FSS	
  with	
  Breakfast	
  Food	
  Service
Send	
  Food	
  to	
  Dialysis	
  Patients
Chat	
  with	
  team	
  about	
  FSS	
  Briefing
Tidy	
  up	
  DU
Autoscrub	
  Female	
  and	
  Male	
  Toilet	
  (Cause	
  floor	
  wet	
  and	
  dirty)
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Trays
Sweep	
  Ward
Clean	
  Assisted	
  Patients	
  Toilet
Clean	
  Assisted	
  Patients	
  Shower
Staff	
  Lunch	
  Break
Prepare	
  for	
  Food	
  Service
Assist	
  FSS	
  with	
  Lunch	
  Food	
  Service
Bed-­‐making	
  for	
  Resident's	
  Room
Staff	
  Tea	
  Break
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Linen	
  (1	
  Basket)
Mop	
  2	
  Cubicles
Sweep	
  Bed17-­‐24/25-­‐32,	
  clean	
  utility	
  room	
  (3	
  Areas)
Tidy	
  up	
  DU
Settle	
  food	
  issues	
  at	
  Bed	
  13	
  (Sodexo	
  representatives	
  sent	
  up	
  fruits	
  basket	
  as	
  compensation)
Perform	
  Bed	
  Discharge	
  (2	
  Beds)
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Trays
Sweep	
  nurse	
  station,	
  common	
  area,	
  Bed1-­‐8/Bed9-­‐16/Bed35-­‐42/Bed43-­‐50	
  (6	
  Areas)
Warm	
  up	
  food	
  for	
  patients	
  that	
  just	
  returned	
  from	
  procedures
Prepare	
  for	
  Bed	
  Discharge	
  (eHIMS	
  down,	
  need	
  to	
  write	
  down	
  manually	
  from	
  nurse	
  station's	
  TV)
Tidy	
  Up	
  Pantry	
  -­‐	
  Clear	
  away	
  'kept'	
  food	
  in	
  pantry
End	
  Work
Check	
  if	
  can	
  perform	
  bed	
  discharge	
  on	
  Bed	
  2	
  and	
  Bed	
  4	
  as	
  well
Go	
  Restroom
Tidy	
  Up	
  Pantry	
  -­‐	
  Clear	
  away	
  'kept'	
  food	
  in	
  pantry
Prepare	
  for	
  Hi-­‐touch	
  Cleaning
Hi-­‐Touch	
  Cleaning	
  (6	
  Cubicles)
31	
  
	
  
A4. Time and Motion Study Raw Data of Ward FSS
Picture 6: FSS of Ward 43 (ISS)
Building: Ward: 43 Time: 7am	
  -­‐	
  8pm Position: FSS
7.07am 7.25am
7.25am 7.30am
7.30am 7.38am
7.38am 7.45am
7.45am 7.50am
7.50am 7.57am
7.57am 8.06am
8.06am 8.34am
8.34am 8.45am
8.45am 8.55am
8.55am 9.18am
9.18am 9.20am
9.20am 9.28am
9.28am 9.58am
9.58am 10.10am
10.10am 10.25am
10.25am 11.33am
11.33am 11.35am
11.35am 11.42am
11.42am 11.45am
11.45am 12.00pm
12.00pm 12.24pm
12.24pm 12.30pm
12.30pm 12.36pm
12.36pm 12.45pm
12.45pm 12.50pm
12.50pm 1.07pm
1.07pm 2.05pm
2.05pm 2.20pm
2.52pm 3.00pm
3.00pm 3.34pm
3.34pm 3.42pm
3.42om 3.55pm
4.00pm 4.10pm
4.10pm 4.12pm
4.12pm 4.15pm
4.15pm 4.43pm
4.43pm 4.45pm
4.45pm 5.05pm
5.05pm 5.18pm
5.18pm 5.51pm
5.51pm 6.03pm
6.03pm 6.33pm
6.33pm 6.55pm
6.55pm 7.02pm
7.02pm 7.10pm
7.10pm 7.14pm
7.14pm 7.50pm
7.50pm 7.54pm
7.54pm 7.57pm
7.57pm 8.00pm
8.00pm -­‐
Staff	
  Dinner	
  Break
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Trays
Last	
  Round	
  Check	
  Ward	
  Cleanliness
Return	
  PDA	
  and	
  Apron	
  to	
  Office
End	
  Work
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Trays
Patient	
  urinated	
  on	
  the	
  floor	
  -­‐	
  must	
  disinfect	
  immediately
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Trays
Sweep	
  Ward	
  (1st	
  Half)
Spot	
  a	
  patch	
  of	
  blood	
  stain	
  -­‐	
  must	
  clean	
  immediately	
  
Sweep	
  Ward	
  (2nd	
  Half)
Serve	
  Dinner
Food	
  Ordering	
  via	
  EMOS	
  (2	
  Cubicles)
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Trays
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Linen
Bed-­‐making	
  (7	
  Beds)
Tidy	
  up	
  DU
Sweep	
  Ward
Replenish	
  all	
  chemicals	
  needed	
  for	
  the	
  week	
  -­‐	
  collect	
  from	
  housekeeping	
  storeroom;	
  replenish	
  all	
  stocks	
  needed	
  for	
  the	
  week	
  -­‐	
  collect	
  from	
  level	
  6
Aircon	
  leak	
  -­‐	
  must	
  fix	
  immediately
Staff	
  Tea	
  Break
Mop	
  5	
  Cubicles,	
  Staffroom	
  (6	
  Areas)
Nurse	
  accidentally	
  split	
  food	
  on	
  the	
  floor	
  -­‐	
  must	
  clean	
  immediately
Perform	
  Bed	
  Discharge	
  (1	
  Bed)
Prepare	
  for	
  Bed	
  Discharge
Receive	
  signal	
  to	
  perform	
  bed	
  discharge	
  -­‐	
  but	
  problem	
  of	
  missing	
  bed
Time	
  Motion	
  Study	
  on	
  NUH	
  Housekeeping
Main	
  Building
Time Activity
Tidy	
  Up	
  DU,	
  Check	
  Cleaning	
  Trolleys	
  Well-­‐stocked
Tidy	
  Up	
  Pantry	
  -­‐	
  Check	
  Fridge	
  Temperature
Replenish	
  Pantry	
  Supplies
Pre-­‐Breakfast	
  Preparation	
  -­‐	
  Check	
  EMOS	
  for	
  new	
  patients/NBM	
  cases,	
  Dilute	
  Coffee	
  and	
  Tea
Serve	
  Breakfast
Food	
  Ordering	
  via	
  EMOS	
  (4	
  Cubicles)
Serve	
  Lunch
Send	
  Food	
  to	
  Dialysis	
  Patient
Tidy	
  Up	
  Pantry	
  -­‐	
  Wash	
  jugs	
  left	
  in	
  the	
  pantry	
  basin
Autoscrub	
  and	
  Mop	
  1	
  Cubicle	
  and	
  Common	
  Area
Tidy	
  up	
  DU	
  and	
  Pantry
Prepare	
  for	
  food	
  service	
  -­‐	
  check	
  if	
  all	
  patients	
  are	
  present	
  and	
  who	
  is	
  NBM
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Trays
Warm	
  up	
  food	
  for	
  patients	
  that	
  just	
  returned	
  from	
  procedures
Autoscrub	
  and	
  Mop	
  1	
  Cubicle
Prepare	
  to	
  serve	
  tea	
  break	
  (trolley,	
  bread,	
  biscuits,	
  milo)
LUNCH	
  BREAK
Hi-­‐Touch	
  Cleaning	
  (6	
  Cubicles)
Serve	
  Tea	
  Break	
  
Tidy	
  Up	
  DU	
  -­‐	
  Wash	
  cleaning	
  containers	
  and	
  equipments,	
  Clear	
  Biohazard	
  Waste,	
  Soiled	
  Linen
Tidy	
  Up	
  Pantry	
  -­‐	
  Wash	
  jugs	
  left	
  in	
  the	
  pantry	
  basin
Crash	
  Programme	
  -­‐	
  Wall	
  Cleaning
Received	
  signal	
  to	
  carry	
  out	
  bed	
  discharge	
  for	
  Bed	
  13,	
  prepare
Perform	
  Bed	
  Discharge	
  (1	
  Bed)
Bed-­‐making	
  (2	
  Beds)
Tidy	
  Up	
  DU	
  -­‐	
  Wash	
  cleaning	
  containers	
  and	
  equipments
32	
  
	
  
Picture 7: FSS of Ward 64 (ISS)
Building: Ward: 64 Time: 7am	
  -­‐	
  8pm Position: FSS
7.00am 7.07am
7.07am 7.12am
7.12am 7.20am
7.20am 7.30am
7.30am 7.36am
7.36am 7.40am
7.40am 7.48am
7.48am 7.51am
7.51am 8.14am
8.14am 8.21am
8.21am 8.24am
8.24am 8.30am
8.30am 8.47am
8.47am 8.55am
8.55am 9.14am
9.14am 9.16am
9.16am 9.19am
9.19am 9.23am
9.23am 9.28am
9.28am 9.36am
9.36am 9.50am
9.50am 9.52am
9.52am 9.55am
9..55am 10.15am
10.15am 10.21am
10.21am 10.49am
10.49am 10.59am
10.59am 11.37am
11.37am 11.41am
11.41am 11.50am
11.50am 12.00pm
12.00pm 12.05pm
12.05pm 12.08pm
12.08pm 12.10pm
12.10pm 12.15pm
12.15pm 12.21pm
12.21pm 12.30pm
12.30pm 12.33pm
12.33pm 12.58pm
12.58pm 1.59pm
1.59pm 2.10pm
2.10pm 2.25pm
2.25pm 2.30pm
2.30pm 3.00pm
3.00pm 3.08pm
3.08pm 3.40pm
3.40pm 3.51pm
3.51pm 4.00pm
4.00pm 4.10pm
4.10pm 4.12pm
4.12pm 4.15pm
4.15pm 5.05pm
5.05pm 5.08pm
5.08pm 5.17pm
5.17pm 5.20pm
5.20pm 5.35pm
5.35pm 5.47pm
5.47pm 5.50pm
5.50pm 5.56pm
5.56pm 6.19pm
6.19pm 6.25pm
6.25pm 6.35pm
6.35pm 6.38pm
6.38pm 6.46pm
6.46pm 6.49pm
6.49pm 6.52pm
6.52pm 6.55pm
6.55pm 7.50pm
7.50pm 7.55pm
7.55pm 8.00pm
8.00pm -­‐
Arrange	
  with	
  nurse	
  regarding	
  HPV	
  gassing	
  schedule
Tidy	
  Up	
  DU,	
  clean	
  discharge	
  trolley
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Trays
Tidy	
  Up	
  Pantry	
  -­‐	
  Wash	
  jugs	
  left	
  in	
  the	
  pantry	
  basin
Tidy	
  Up	
  Pantry	
  -­‐	
  Wash	
  jugs	
  left	
  in	
  the	
  pantry	
  basin
Bring	
  down	
  confidential	
  papers	
  to	
  level	
  5	
  housekeeping	
  room
Tidy	
  Up	
  Pantry
Staff	
  Tea	
  Break
Configure	
  PDA	
  Settings	
  with	
  Level	
  Supervisor
Refill	
  cream	
  crackers	
  in	
  pantry
Prepare	
  for	
  food	
  service	
  -­‐	
  check	
  if	
  all	
  patients	
  are	
  present	
  and	
  who	
  is	
  NBM
Serve	
  Dinner
Send	
  food	
  to	
  dialysis	
  patient
Prepare	
  to	
  serve	
  tea	
  break	
  (trolley,	
  bread,	
  biscuits,	
  milo)
Serve	
  Tea	
  Break	
  
Tidy	
  up	
  pantry
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Cups
Patient	
  dirtied	
  bed	
  -­‐	
  must	
  change	
  bed	
  sheets/	
  perform	
  bed-­‐making	
  immediately
Tidy	
  up	
  DU
Collect	
  soiled	
  linen
Food	
  Ordering	
  via	
  EMOS	
  (6	
  Cubicles)
Serve	
  food	
  to	
  patients	
  that	
  went	
  for	
  procedure	
  beforehand
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Trays
Staff	
  Lunch	
  Break
Clean	
  standing	
  fan
Perform	
  Bed	
  Discharge	
  (1	
  Bed)
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Linen
ISS	
  Briefing
Activity
Tidy	
  Up	
  Pantry	
  -­‐	
  wash	
  used	
  cups/jugs/utensils	
  left	
  overnight
Time	
  Motion	
  Study	
  on	
  NUH	
  Housekeeping
Main	
  Building
Time
Tidy	
  Up	
  DU,	
  Check	
  Cleaning	
  Trolleys	
  Well-­‐stocked
Tidy	
  Up	
  Pantry	
  -­‐	
  top	
  up	
  milo	
  bottle,	
  utensils	
  in	
  pantry
Serve	
  Breakfast
Keep	
  food	
  for	
  NBM	
  patients
Tidy	
  Up	
  Pantry	
  -­‐	
  Wash	
  jugs	
  left	
  in	
  the	
  pantry	
  basin
Collect	
  soiled	
  linen
Sweep	
  common	
  area,	
  bed	
  1-­‐8/9-­‐16/35-­‐42/43-­‐50,	
  corridor	
  and	
  nurse	
  station	
  (6	
  Areas)
Mop	
  pantry,	
  nurse	
  staffroom,	
  nurse	
  station	
  and	
  common	
  area	
  (4	
  Areas)
Clean	
  Ancillary	
  Areas
Tidy	
  up	
  DU	
  -­‐	
  soiled	
  linen
Pre-­‐Breakfast	
  Preparation	
  -­‐	
  Check	
  EMOS	
  for	
  new	
  patients/NBM	
  cases,	
  Dilute	
  Coffee	
  and	
  Tea
Fill	
  up	
  bed-­‐making	
  form
Sweep	
  Ward
Go	
  Restroom
Mop	
  DU,	
  duty	
  room	
  (2	
  Areas)
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Trays
Prepare	
  for	
  bed-­‐making
Bed-­‐making	
  (5	
  Beds)
Tidy	
  up	
  DU	
  -­‐	
  soiled	
  linen
Collect	
  Virex256	
  from	
  Housekeeping	
  Room
End	
  Work
Mop	
  3	
  Cubicles
Sweep	
  common	
  area	
  and	
  nurse	
  station	
  (2	
  Areas)
Prepare	
  for	
  food	
  service	
  -­‐	
  check	
  if	
  all	
  patients	
  are	
  present	
  and	
  who	
  is	
  NBM
Patient	
  spilt	
  water	
  on	
  floor	
  -­‐	
  must	
  clean	
  immediately
Prepare	
  for	
  bed	
  discharge
Settle	
  some	
  issues
Perform	
  Bed	
  Discharge	
  (1	
  Bed)
Settle	
  some	
  issues
Perform	
  Bed	
  Discharge	
  (1	
  Bed)
Serve	
  Lunch
Send	
  Food	
  to	
  Dialysis	
  Patient
Patient	
  requested	
  for	
  rice	
  -­‐	
  must	
  attend	
  to	
  it	
  immediately
Keep	
  food	
  for	
  NBM	
  patients
Replenish	
  paper	
  cone	
  cup	
  and	
  hand	
  soap
Tidy	
  up	
  DU
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Trays
Return	
  PDA	
  and	
  Apron	
  to	
  Office
Last	
  Round	
  Check	
  Ward	
  Cleanliness
Staff	
  Dinner	
  Break
Prepare	
  for	
  Bed	
  Discharge
Collect	
  Soiled	
  Trays

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Time and Motion Study Report

  • 1. Time and Motion Study By Claudia Tang Shuning As part of Saw Swee Hock’s School of Public Health Field Practice Programme Submitted to: Environmental Services Department
  • 2. i     Preface This report presents the results of the Time and Motion Study carried out on the Housekeeping Department of Environmental Services, specifically the service partner, ISS. As stated in Section I Introduction, the purpose of this study is to ascertain the sufficiency of staff deployment per ward, evaluate the efficiency of each staff and discuss the job scope of each staff type. The job scope data were collected by performing time and motion studies on staff during their shifts at Ward 43 and Ward 64. Staff deployment sufficiency data consisted of work-to-break ratio, task completions, subjective comments made by staff during work and personal observation. Efficiency of each staff was based on comparisons between staff with identical tasks and responsiveness to ad hoc tasks. Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor, Hui Min, for her patience and care as I carry out the time and motion studies. I would also like to thank the manager, senior supervisor and coordinators of ISS, for extending their help in whichever ways I needed and arranging for me to go to the wards to carry out the time and motion studies. Last but not least, my appreciation goes to individual staff – cleaner, housekeeper and food service specialist (FSS), for their cooperative efforts as I followed them through their jobs.
  • 3. ii     Table of Contents Section Page Preface i Acknowledgements i Table of Contents ii List of Tables iii Summary iv I Introduction 1 II Data 3 III Staff Deployment Analysis 13 IV Job Scope Evaluation 15 V Ward comparisons: Ward 43 vs. Ward 64 17 VI Shortfalls/Drawbacks of Study 19 VII Recommendations 21 VIII Personal Views 24 IX Biblography 26 X Appendix 27
  • 4. iii     List of Tables Table Page 1 Working Hours of Ward Housekeeping Staff 1 2 Cleaner’s Regular Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks 3 3 Cleaners’ Other Common Task(s) and Time Taken to Complete Task(s) 3 4 Cleaner’s Periodic Cleaning and Time Taken to Complete 3 5 Cleaner’s Ad-hoc Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks 4 6 Housekeeper’s Regular Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks 5 7 Housekeeper’s Other Common Task(s) and Time Taken to Complete Task(s) 5 8 Housekeeper’s Ad-hoc Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks 6 9 FSS’ Regular Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks 7 10 FSS’ Periodic Cleaning and Time Taken to Complete 8 11 FSS’ Periodic Cleaning and Time Taken to Complete 8 12 FSS’ Ad-hoc Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks 9 13 Total Time Taken to Complete Various Types of Tasks 9 14 Work-to-Break Ratio of Housekeeping Staff 13 15 Percentage of Time Taken to Perform Various Task Types 15
  • 5. iv     Summary The Time and Motion Study Report of staff activity in ward 43 and ward 64 consists of five distinct aspects: (1) an evaluation of staff sufficiency, (2) a study on job scope of each position, (3) a comparison of staff performance and efficiency between the two wards, (4) a discussion on room for improvements as well as recommendations to streamline certain processes, and (5) personal views on the overall role of Housekeeping Department. (1) Staff sufficiency was evaluated based on the analysis of work-to-break ratio. Majority of the observed housekeeping staff did not reach the ideal ratio as they had too many tasks to complete in the ward. Not all tasks were completed in each ward as well, implying that staff deployment is insufficient. The best solution is to deploy more staff to each ward, so that the tasks can be better shared amongst the staff and be executed with good quality. (2) Under the consideration of ISS’ compulsory training programme and staff feedback, the tasks of housekeeping staff were assessed as feasible. This supports the deduction of insufficient manpower in each ward. The job scopes of housekeeping staff were concluded to be ever-changing and thus, staff has to be flexible and quick-witted to handle all possible situations with good time management. It was also observed that staff performed tasks that were out of their scope because other hospital staff failed to do so, resulting in even more work to do. (3) Overall, the housekeeping staff of ward 43 fared better than the staff of ward 64. They were more efficient and more thorough in ensuring good hygiene. However, they were relatively poorer in time management for certain tasks, such as food preparation and bed discharges. Comparisons highlighted the importance of good team effort and a sense of responsibility. (4) Every study has its own limitations and disadvantages. A Time and Motion Study is not always a true reflection of what actually happens. There are also some shortfalls pertaining specifically to this study. Problems may arise from the ‘study participants’, in this case, the housekeeping staff; and they may arise from the ‘study observer’. To overcome these shortfalls, execution of time and motion study may be improved in terms of time, duration and participants. To target the efficiency of housekeeping staff, recommendations such as re-training of staff and provision of sufficient equipment were given. Other suggestions based on personal interactions and/or observations were made as well. (5) The role of the Housekeeping Department is very important as it forms part of the backbone of the hospital. Indeed, there are rooms for improvements, such as increased staff efficiency and higher standards of cleanliness. However, one must take into consideration that housekeeping staff are human-beings too and should not be treated like robots to continuously perform tasks after tasks. It is important not to take housekeeping staff for granted, but show them the appreciation and respect they deserve.
  • 6. 1     I. Introduction National University Hospital (NUH) outsources its housekeeping services to ISS Facilities Services (ISS). In the NUH Housekeeping Department, there are staff employed under NUH Environmental Services (ES) and staff employed under ISS, but both managed by ISS. The staff hierarchy begins with cleaner, who will promote to housekeeper, then food service specialist (FSS), supervisor and so on. This Time and Motion study focusses on cleaner, housekeeper and FSS. In each ward, there is one cleaner, one housekeeper and one FSS. Their working hours are shown in the table below: Position Working Hours ES ISS Cleaner 7am to 3pm, 1pm to 9pm 8am to 5pm Housekeeper 7am to 3pm, 1pm to 9pm 8am to 9pm FSS - 7am to 8pm Table 1: Working Hours of Ward Housekeeping Staff The composition of housekeeping staff for each ward is fixed, unless one of them receives a promotion or resigns. Only at night, will the night shift staff be deployed to the wards according to needs. This Time and Motion study focusses only on fixed housekeeping staff of ward 43 and ward 64. On top of their daily routine, all three staff has to perform periodic duties such as wall cleaning and handle ad- hoc tasks such as cleaning up after a patient has passed motion on the floor. Altogether, these add up to numerous things to do each day. Cleaning and housekeeping are essential and important, especially in the hospital setting, as hygiene plays a major part in healthcare. It is therefore relevant, to study the works of housekeeping staff. Objectives: (1)   To ascertain if there is enough housekeeping staff per ward (2)   To find out whether the cleaning schedule and tasks are feasible (3)   To evaluate the efficiency of housekeeping staff
  • 7. 2     For both wards 43 and 64, each housekeeping staff was followed and observed throughout his/her entire shift. The observant noted down on a template (refer to Appendix A1), each activity carried out by the staff and time taken to complete it. During the course of it, the observant also had interactions with the staff and received “informal” information regarding staff deployment and problems faced. A few personal findings were made as well, through silent observation and comparisons. The terms used – regular task, ad-hoc task, periodic cleaning -- are defined as follows: “Planned task to be performed every day, part of daily routine; examples include washing of basins and replenishing PPE.” “Unexpected and unplanned task, not in cleaning schedule but must be attended to quickly; examples include patient urinating on the floor and blood spillage from syringe.” “Planned task to be performed at fixed intervals such as weekly or monthly, to be incorporated into daily regular routine; examples include wall cleaning and metal surface polishing.”
  • 8. 3     II.   Data Table 2: Cleaner’s Regular Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks CLEANER Ward 43 Ward 64 RemarksOther Common Task(s) Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Cubicle Cleaning (sink, bin’s top, napkin dispenser, soap dispenser, mirror) 3.53 minutes per set 60 minutes 2.6 minutes per set 26 minutes (5) Ward 64 took a significantly shorter time. Table 3: Cleaners’ Other Common Task(s) and Time Taken to Complete Task(s) CLEANER Ward 43 Ward 64 Remarks Periodic Cleaning Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Crash Programme - - - 43 minutes (6) Ward 43 did not fulfill task. Table 4: Cleaner’s Periodic Cleaning and Time Taken to Complete CLEANER Ward 43 Ward 64 RemarksRegular Tasks & Time Given Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Wash Water Jugs and Top-up Water for Individual Patients (60 minutes) 2.33 minutes per bed 105 minutes 1.81 minutes per bed 80 minutes (1) Ward 64 took a significantly shorter time. Replenish Ward Supplies, Check & Touch Up Toilets (105 minutes) - - - - (2) Both wards did not fulfill this task. Collect Trash (75 minutes) 2.6 minutes per bin 78 minutes 1.95 minutes per bin 84 minutes Collect Soiled Linen (40 minutes) 1.875 minutes per basket 30 minutes 1.67 minutes per basket 5 minutes (3) Ward 64 took a significantly shorter time. Isolation Room Cleaning/ Thorough Wash Common Toilets, Touch Up Toilets (125 minutes) 10.5 minutes per toilet/shower room 105 minutes 31.5 minutes per common toilet 63 minutes (4) Ward 64 took a significantly shorter time. Tidy Up DU, Housekeeping Trolleys (15 minutes) - 20 minutes - -
  • 9. 4     CLEANER Ward 43 Ward 64 Remarks Ad-hoc Task(s) Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Collect Virex256 from Level Housekeeping Room - 15 minutes - - (7) Ward 43 took a significant amount of time to fulfill task. Refill Hand Soap at a Cubicle - - - 3 minutes Wait for MRSA Cubicle Cleaning Trolley - - - 3 minutes Perform Bed Discharge - - 16.3 minutes per bed 49 minutes Change curtains for MRSA Bed - - - 3 minutes Perform Terminal Cleaning - - 35 minutes per bed 35 minutes Sweep - - 1 minute per area 12 minutes Collect Soiled Cups from Tea Break - - - 10 minutes (8) Ward 64 performed task of another staff. Patient Requested for Jug of Water and Ice - - - 2 minutes Patient Requested for Change of Mattress - - - 12 minutes Table 5: Cleaner’s Ad-hoc Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks
  • 10. 5     Table 6: Housekeeper’s Regular Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks HOUSEKEEPER Ward 43 Ward 64 RemarksOther Common Task(s) Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Sweep 2.2 minutes per area 22 minutes 1 minute per area 19 minutes Mop 9.67 minutes per area 29 minutes 11.5 minutes per area 69 minutes Clean Assisted Patients Toilet/ Shower - 8/3 minutes - 12/4 minutes Isolation Rooms Cleaning 21 minutes per room 42 minutes 7.5 minutes per room 15 minutes (14) Ward 64 took a shorter time. Tidy Up Pantry - 22 minutes - 7 minutes (15) Ward 64 took a shorter time. Table 7: Housekeeper’s Other Common Task(s) and Time Taken to Complete Task(s) HOUSEKEEPER Ward 43 Ward 64 RemarksRegular Tasks & Time Given Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Assist FSS with Breakfast Food Service (45 minutes) - 46 minutes - 43 minutes Clean Ancillary Areas (30 minutes) - - - - (9) Both wards did not fulfill this task. Bed Making (60 minutes) 3 minutes per bed 9 minutes 7.67 minutes per bed 23 minutes (10) Ward 64 took a significantly longer time. Cubicle Cleaning (sink, bin’s top, napkin dispenser, soap dispenser, mirror, toilet, shower room) (45 minutes) 19.5 minutes per set 39 minutes - - (11) Ward 64 did not fulfill task. Tidy Up DU, Touch Up Toilets (30 minutes) - 15 minutes - 11 minutes Assist FSS with Lunch Food Service (60 minutes) - 58 minutes - 63 minutes Replenish Ward Supplies (120 minutes) 3.63 minutes per area 87 minutes - - (12) Ward 64 did not fulfill task. Assist FSS with Dinner Food Service (60 minutes) - 18 minutes - - (13) Ward 64 did not fulfill task.
  • 11. 6     HOUSEKEEPER Ward 43 Ward 64 Remarks Ad-hoc Task(s) Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Wait for radiographer to complete X-Ray, to clean cubicle - 10 minutes - - Collect Virex256 from DU 3.33 minutes per time 10 minutes - - Clean Cleaning Trolley - 4 minutes - - Perform Terminal Cleaning 30.5 minutes per bed 61 minutes - - Perform Bed Discharge 22 minutes per bed 22 minutes 19.5 minutes per bed 39 minutes Patient Requested for Food – go to Ward 44 to take bread, warm and serve with jam - 10 minutes - - Clean Individual Room - 8 minutes - - (16) Ward 43 performed an extra task. Push Linen Trolley to Correct Position - 4 minutes - - Settle EMD Bed - 5 minutes - - Patient Defecated on the Floor - 7 minutes - - Patient Urinated on the Floor - 4 minutes - - Autoscrub Common Toilets Because Floor is Dirty and Wet - - 3 minutes per toilet 12 minutes Change Waste Plastic Bags for Each Bed - - 0.43 minute per bed 6 minutes (17) Ward 64 performed an extra task. Collect Virex256 and Glance from Level Housekeeping Room - - - 2 minutes Manually Write Down Discharge Information Because eHIMS Was Down - - - 4 minutes Settle Issue of Foreign Object Found in Food - - - 7 minutes (18) Ward 64 performed an extra task. Table 8: Housekeeper’s Ad-hoc Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks
  • 12. 7     Table 9: FSS’ Regular Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks FSS Ward 43 Ward 64 RemarksRegular Tasks & Time Given Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Check Fridge Temp, Spot Clean and Check Ward (45 minutes) - 30 minutes - 12 minutes (19) Ward 64 took a significantly shorter time. Pre-Breakfast Preparation (15 minutes) - 9 minutes - 8 minutes Breakfast Serving & Collect Soiled Trays (60 minutes) - 39 minutes - 47 minutes Bed Making (60 minutes) 3.29 minutes per bed 23 minutes 5.4 minutes per bed 27 minutes (20) Ward 64 took a longer time. Serve Biscuit to DM Patients (15 minutes) - - - - (21) Both wards did not fulfill this task. Cubicle Cleaning (sink, bin’s top, floor, toilet & shower room cleaning) - - - - (22) Both wards did not fulfill this task. Pre-Lunch Service Preparation (15 minutes) - - - 9 minutes Serve Lunch & Collect Soiled Trays (60 minutes) - 44 minutes - 57 minutes Hi-Touch Cleaning 2.5 minutes per cubicle 15 minutes - - (23) Ward 64 did not fulfill this task. Serve Milo & Collect Soiled Cups (45 minutes) - 42 minutes - 49 minutes Food Ordering via eMOS (30 minutes) 9.17 minutes per cubicle 55 minutes 8.33 minutes per cubicle 50 minutes Touch Up Toilets (15 minutes) - - - - Pre-Dinner Preparation (15 minutes) - 12 minutes - 6 minutes Serve Dinner & Collect Soiled Trays (60 minutes) - 45 minutes - 40 minutes Send Soiled Trays, Last Round Check Ward Cleanliness, Return PDA & Apron to Office (15 minutes) - 6 minutes - 10 minutes
  • 13. 8     Table 10: FSS’ Other Common Task(s) and Time Taken to Complete Task(s) FSS Ward 43 Ward 64 Remarks Periodic Cleaning Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Crash Programme - 58 minutes - - (25) Ward 64 did not fulfill task. Replenish all chemicals & stocks needed for the week from Main Housekeeping Room - 30 minutes - - (26) Ward 64 did not fulfill task. Bring down/Clear Confidential Papers to Level 5 Housekeeping Room - - - 9 minutes (27) Ward 43 did not fulfill task. Table 11: FSS’ Periodic Cleaning and Time Taken to Complete FSS Ward 43 Ward 64 RemarksOther Common Task(s) Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Sweep 1.05 minutes per area 21 minutes 0.94 minutes per area 17 minutes Tidy Up Pantry - 20 minutes - 29 minutes Tidy Up DU - 21 minutes - 17 minutes Mop 11.3 minutes per area 68 minutes 5.78 minutes per area 52 minutes (24) Ward 64 took a significantly shorter time. Collect Soiled Linen - 10 minutes - 14 minutes
  • 14. 9     FSS Ward 43 Ward 64 Remarks Ad-hoc Task(s) Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Time taken per cubicle/bed/item Total Time Taken Disinfect Spotted Patch of Blood Stain - 7 minutes - - Fix Air-con Leak - 12 minutes - - Nurse Spilt Food on the Floor - 2 minutes - - Wait for Missing Bed to Perform Bed Discharge - 3 minutes - - Bed Making 5 minutes per bed 10 minutes - - Patient Urinated on the Floor - 8 minutes - - Perform Bed Discharge 22 minutes per bed 44 minutes 12.3 minutes per bed 37 minutes (28) Ward 64 took a significantly shorter time. Collect Virex256 from Level Housekeeping Room - - - 3 minutes Fill Up Bed Making Form - - - 4 minutes Patient Spilt Water on the Floor - - - 2 minutes Replenish Paper Cone Cup & Soap - - - 5 minutes Clean Standing Fan for Isolation Room - - - 11 minutes (29) Ward 64 performed an extra task. Patient Dirtied Bed - - - 10 minutes Configure PDA Settings with Level Supervisor - - - 12 minutes Arrange HPV Gassing Schedule with Staff Nurse - - - 10 minutes Table 12: FSS’ Ad-hoc Tasks and Time Taken to Complete Tasks Tasks Ward Cleaner Housekeeper FSS Regular Period Ad-hoc Regular Period Ad-hoc Regular Period Ad-hoc Ward 43 398 min - 15 min 398 min - 145 min 460 min 88 min 86 min Ward 64 258 min 43 min 129 min 266 min - 70 min 444 min 9 min 94 min TOTAL 656 min 43 min 144 min 664 min - 215 min 904 min 97 min 180 min Table 13: Total Time Taken to Complete Various Types of Tasks
  • 15. 10     Remarks Important note: Housekeeping staff’s other common tasks fall under the term ‘Regular Tasks’, but were not inside the official work schedule given by ISS. All data summarized above were taken from the raw data collected by the observer – subjected to personal interpretations and presentations (refer to Appendix A2, A3 and A4). (1) Ward 64 Cleaner took a significantly shorter time to wash water jugs and top-up water for individual patients – There were more than sufficient number of jugs in ward 64, so the cleaner could give out all the jugs and collect back the soiled jugs. However, in ward 43, there are lesser jugs. The cleaner had to first collect back some of the soiled jugs and wash them, before filling them up with water and distributing back to the patients. (2) Cleaners of both wards failed to perform the task of replenishing ward supplies, check and touch up toilets – In ward 43, this task has been transferred to the housekeeper to perform and in ward 64, it has been transferred to the nurses. (3) Ward 64 Cleaner took a significantly shorter total time to collect soiled linen – There are fewer linen baskets in ward 64 than in ward 43. The linen baskets are only placed in common toilets and assisted patient shower room. In ward 43, the linen baskets are placed in each cubicle as well as assisted patient shower room. However, their average time taken per basket is very close. (4) Ward 64 Cleaner took a significantly shorter total time to wash all toilets and perform isolation room cleaning – There are only two common toilets (one female one male) on top of the assisted patient toilet and shower room for ward 64, while there are toilets and shower rooms in each cubicle on top of the assisted patient toilet and shower room for ward 43. This also accounts for why ward 64 took three times the time taken to clean each toilet as compared to ward 43. (5) Ward 64 Cleaner took a significantly shorter total time to perform cubicle cleaning on sink, bin’s top, napkin dispenser, soap dispenser and mirror – There are three of each items to clean in each cubicle of ward 43; while there is only one set in each cubicle of ward 64. In addition, there are no mirrors in ward 64’s cubicles so less time is needed to clean one set. Moreover, ward 64 cleaner was not performing the task correctly. He used a less thorough method that took shorter time to complete. (6) Ward 43 Cleaner did not perform crash programme - The cleaner in ward 43 is an exception, an ES staff who works only one shift 7am to 3pm. His job scope does not include performing of any crash programme. (7) Ward 43 Cleaner took a significant amount of time to collect Virex256 from the level’s housekeeping room – The room was unexpectedly locked and thus, cleaner needed some time to call his supervisor to get the passcode and unlock the door to assess the chemical dispenser.
  • 16. 11     (8) Ward 64 Cleaner performed the task of FSS to collect soiled cups from tea break – FSS had to settle several issues after serving tea break and hence, cleaner took over the role and collected back the soiled cups. (9) Housekeepers of both wards did not perform the task of cleaning ancillary areas – In ward 43, this task was missed out only on that particular day when the study was carried out; because there was a lack of manpower in the ward and the housekeeper was the only staff then, so he had to prioritize other matters. In ward 64, this task has been transferred to the FSS to perform. (10) Ward 64 Housekeeper took a significantly longer time to perform bed making – There were more beds that needed bed making, as the nurses in ward 64 did not help with bed making in the morning. Also, the housekeeper was relatively less efficient than the housekeeper in ward 43 when making the beds. (11) Ward 64 Housekeeper did not perform cubicle cleaning of sink, bin’s top, napkin dispenser, soap dispenser, mirror, toilet and shower room – This task has been transferred to the cleaner to perform. (12) Ward 64 Housekeeper did not perform the task of replenishing ward supplies – In ward 43, this task has been transferred to the housekeeper to perform and in ward 64, it has been transferred to the nurses. (13) Ward 64 Housekeeper did not perform the task of assisting FSS with dinner food service – The housekeeper in ward 64 worked morning shift 7am to 3pm, thus unable to perform task. (14) Ward 64 Housekeeper took a significantly shorter time to perform isolation rooms cleaning – The isolation rooms in ward 64 do not have their own toilet/shower rooms, thus require less time to clean. Also, the housekeeper of ward 43 was more thorough in cleaning. (15) Ward 64 Housekeeper took a significantly shorter time to tidy up pantry – The pantry in ward 64 was less often dirtied or messed; as compared to ward 43, whose pantry had a lot of soiled cups or water spillage or other forms of mess. (16) Ward 43 Housekeeper performed an additional task of cleaning an individual room – Ward 43 converted part of its visitor lounge into an individual patient room, thus requiring cleaning. (17) Ward 64 Housekeeper performed an additional task of changing waste plastic bags for each bed – This is originally part of bed-making, a responsibility largely shared with nurses. Since the nurses in ward 64 did not change the waste plastic bags for each bed, the housekeeper did the task. (18) Ward 64 Housekeeper performed an additional task of settling issue of foreign object found in food – This was a one-off case, as a patient found a foreign object in his meal. The housekeeper was alerted and informed the hospital kitchen, which later sent up representatives to resolve it. The housekeeper accompanied them while they spoke to the affected patient.
  • 17. 12     (19) Ward 64 FSS took a significantly shorter time to check fridge temperature; spot clean and check ward in the morning – The housekeeping staff on night shift in ward 64 had already ensured that the cleaning trolleys were well-stocked, relieving the FSS this part of the task. Ward 43 FSS had to stock up the cleaning trolleys, resulting in much longer time taken. (20) Ward 64 FSS took a longer time to perform bed-making – The FSS in ward 64 was relatively less efficient than the FSS in ward 43 when making the beds, causing difference in time taken to perform bed- making per bed, but the total time taken was similar. (21) FSS of both wards failed to perform the task of serving biscuits to Diabetes Mellitus patients – The dietetics department has asked for this task to be removed from the daily routine of FSS. (22) FSS of both wards failed to perform cubicle cleaning of sinks, bin’s tops, floor, toilets and shower room cleaning – In ward 43, this task has been transferred to the cleaner and housekeeper to perform; while in ward 64, this task has been transferred to the cleaner to perform. (23) Ward 64 FSS failed to perform hi-touch cleaning – This task has been transferred to the housekeeper, who is also trained, to perform. (24) Ward 64 FSS took a significantly shorter time to mop the ward – The FSS in ward 43 was relatively less efficient than the FSS in ward 64 when performing the task. At the same time, the FSS in ward 64 was relatively less thorough when mopping the floor. (25) Ward 64 FSS did not perform crash programme – There were many discharges on that day to attend to and so the FSS did not have any time to perform crash programme. (26) Ward 64 FSS did not perform the task of replenishing all chemicals and stocks needed for the week from the main housekeeping room – The FSS had already performed the task on another day of the week. (27) Ward 43 FSS did not perform the task of bringing down and clearing confidential papers to level 5 housekeeping room – The FSS had already performed the task on another day of the week. (28) Ward 64 FSS took a significantly shorter time to perform bed discharge – The FSS in ward 43 was relatively more thorough in cleaning, disinfecting twice at some areas instead of just once. Also, the FSS in ward 64 had help from the housekeeper for two of the discharges performed. (29) Ward 64 FSS performed an extra task of cleaning the standing fan for one isolation room – It was a special request by the patient to have a standing fan in his room and so when he discharged, the FSS had to clean the fan as well.
  • 18. 13     III.   Staff Deployment Analysis To ascertain if there is enough housekeeping staff per ward, balance between work and break was analyzed. If there was a good balance between work and break, this means that there is enough staff in the ward to cope with the workload. On the other hand, if there was a poor balance, there may be inadequate number of staff to cope with the workload. A research conducted by the Draugiem Group using DeskTime, found that the most productive people followed a 52:17 pattern – 52 minutes of work followed by 17 minutes of break (Gifford J., 2014). This not only ensures productivity of a staff, but also promotes healthy work life for him. Staff deployment analysis is very important as it also translates to staff efficiency and task feasibility. The total work time and break time taken by each housekeeping staff was compared against the 52:17 ratio. Housekeeping Staff Work-to-Break Ratio Ward 43 Cleaner 413 : 67 ≈ 52 : 9.25 Ward 64 Cleaner 404 : 75 ≈ 52 : 9.65 Ward 43 Housekeeper 543 : 157 ≈ 52 : 15.04 Ward 64 Housekeeper 336 : 72 ≈ 52 : 11.15 Ward 43 FSS 634 : 109 ≈ 52 : 8.94 Ward 64 FSS 547 : 131 ≈ 52 : 12.45 Table 14: Work-to-Break Ratio of Housekeeping Staff As seen from Table 14, none of the housekeeping staff’s work-to-break ratio hit the ideal 52:17 ratio. Although it is just a guide, most of the housekeeping staff’s resting time is much shorter than ideal. This suggests that the work is aplenty and there is lack of manpower to finish the work. With reference to Section II Data, housekeeping staff failed to perform several tasks due to various reasons. For example, the housekeeper of ward 43 failed to clean the ancillary area in the morning because there was shortage of manpower that day and he had to prioritize other tasks first. Based on personal observations, housekeeping staff were constantly performing tasks after tasks. After completing a task, they are immediately on their way to perform the next task at hand. Yet, they are unable to complete their work schedule every day. Of course, it may be due to feasibility of task (Section IV Job Scope Evaluation) or efficiency of staff (Section V Ward Comparisons). However, with insufficient staff, even if tasks are feasible and available staff is highly efficient, tasks will still be unfulfilled. Also, all the tasks given are important, urgent and necessary. Housekeeping staff should be able to and should complete them each day.
  • 19. 14     When the observer conversed with the staff, they gave feedback on inadequate manpower. Quite often, they will forgo their crash programme of the day, so as to perform bed discharges and daily routine tasks. Otherwise, they have to use their break time to perform more tasks so that they can complete most of their work for the day. However, this should not be the norm because crash programmes are equally important. When a crash programme is postponed to the following day or even the next week, cleanliness and infection control are compromised. Based on all these analyses, it is fair to say that current staff deployment is insufficient. The best solution is to assign more staff to each ward, so that the total number of tasks to do can be better shared amongst the staff. They will be able to keep to the schedule and maintain high standards of hygiene every day.
  • 20. 15     IV.   Job Scope Evaluation As mentioned in Section III Staff Deployment Analysis, staff sufficiency and task feasibility are closely linked. Tasks given to individual housekeeping staff should be feasible and doable alone, any additional staff only serves to reduce time taken. Otherwise, it would be unreasonable to allocate a task meant for two staff to only one staff. ISS conducts a 3-day training programme for all incoming housekeeping staff and pairs each newcomer with an experienced housekeeper in each ward. Individual staff from both wards also told the observer that each task is doable by one person. Hence, it can be concluded that task feasibility does not negatively affect the analysis of staff sufficiency and instead, supports the deduction that staff deployment is currently inadequate. With regards to the nature of job scope, time spent on different tasks types was evaluated. Cleaner Housekeeper FSS Regular Tasks 77.8% 75.5% 76.5% Periodic Cleaning 5.1% - 8.2% Ad-hoc Tasks 17.1% 24.5% 15.3% Total 100% 100% 100% Table 15: Percentage of Time Taken to Perform Various Task Types Table 15 shows that all three housekeeping staff – cleaner, housekeeper and FSS spent a majority of their time performing Regular Tasks, followed by Ad-hoc Tasks and finally Periodic Cleaning. As regular tasks are part of a staff’s daily routine, it is expected that staff spend a large portion of time on them. Periodic cleaning are also planned tasks to be incorporated into the daily regular routine, just at fixed intervals. However, that was not observed during the time and motion study. Periodic cleaning is of lower priority than ad-hoc tasks and thus, staff spent the least time on performing them. When something crops up suddenly, staff will attend to it first and put aside any periodic cleaning they were performing. In fact, housekeeping staff spend a significant amount of time attending to ad-hoc tasks. With reference to Table 13, cleaners of both wards spent more than 2 hours performing ad-hoc tasks, housekeepers of both wards spent close to 3.5 hours performing ad-hoc tasks and FSS of both wards spent 3 hours performing ad- hoc tasks altogether. This highlights the reoccurring problem of uncompleted tasks. As staff continuously dealt with unplanned and unexpected tasks, they sacrificed the time needed to complete periodic cleaning or other tasks. Tasks that could not be completed on that day were pushed to the following day to continue. If this continues on, there will be an accumulation of tasks left undone.
  • 21. 16     The job of a housekeeping staff is never the same each day, as the ad-hoc tasks he is faced with change on a daily basis. A housekeeping staff needs to be quick on his feet to analyze a situation, so that he can settle it in the shortest time possible. For example, when a patient urinated on the floor while the FSS in ward 43 was collecting soiled trays, she immediately put down her trays and disinfected the area quickly. Concurrently, she informed the housekeeper to continue collecting the soiled trays so that the kitchen staff was not delayed in bringing back the food trolleys. A housekeeping staff also has to be flexible and smart to streamline certain processes on his own, so that he can perform all the tasks faster and better. For example, while FSS in ward 64 was waiting for patients to finish eating their meals so that he could collect back the soiled trays, he tidied up the pantry and collected soiled linen. This way, he completed more tasks in the same amount of time than if he had just followed the work schedule rigidly. With reference to Section II Data, housekeeping staff are performing tasks that are out of their job scopes. For example, nurses were supposed to bring the soiled linen to the DU after they have made the beds. However, they left the linen in the cubicle toilet’s linen baskets. So, housekeeping staff had to do an extra task of bringing more soiled linen to the DU and this translated to a few more trips to make. Another example would be the checking of food and collecting of diet chits. Ideally, nurses are to check all patients’ food and take away their diet chits before patients enjoy their meals. However, the nurses in both wards failed to execute it and the FSS had to spend more time on meal service. To conclude, the job scope of a housekeeping staff is highly dynamic. As such, proper training is required for them to be able to handle a wide range of situations that may unexpectedly crop up. It is also important for staff to manage their time well so that they can complete every task at hand, on top of the ad-hoc tasks, all in a day’s work. Finally, all hospital staff should fulfill all tasks that fall under their responsibilities. Although staff can and should help one another, it should not become another staff’s duty to discharge.
  • 22. 17     V.   Ward Comparisons: 43 v.s. 64 Ward 43 and ward 64 differ in their layout and structure. This affects the time taken by each ward to complete each task. As such, comparisons were made on a per-item basis. For example, comparison was made for time taken to make one bed instead of one whole cubicle, which differs in number of beds between the two wards. Personal observations and special exemptions were also taken into consideration. Overall, housekeeping staff of ward 43 were more efficient and diligent than housekeeping staff of ward 64 in the following ways: Productivity With reference to Table 2, ward 64 cleaner took a shorter time to collect trash per bin but took a longer time in total. He was slower in his movements and took his time to perform the task as compared to ward 43 cleaner. With reference to Table 6 and Table 9, ward 64 housekeeper and FSS took a significantly longer time to perform bed-making per bed. Since the size of bed and number of bed equipment remain the same, the difference is attributed to the efficiency of staff. The staff of ward 43 was faster in their actions, more efficient in cleaning and changing the linen. Hygiene While performing cubicle cleaning on sinks, bins’ top, napkin dispensers, soap dispensers and mirrors, ward 43 cleaner was more thorough as compared to ward 64 cleaner. Ward 64 cleaner also used the wrong method and chemicals to clean. He missed out the bottom and sides of the sinks. The staff in ward 43 was also more thorough in sweeping and/or mopping the floor. They were detailed in cleaning the corners and ensured that there was no dirt debris left before proceeding to the next cubicle. With reference to Table 7, ward 64 housekeeper took a significantly shorter time to perform isolation rooms cleaning. Despite taking into account the lack of private toilet inside the room, it was still a significant difference from the performance of ward 43’s housekeeper. It can be inferred that ward 64’s housekeeper was not as meticulous in cleaning the rooms. When performing bed discharges, staff in ward 43 took the extra step to disinfect each area twice instead of once. When asked by observer, they replied that patients deserve the cleanest environment recover and rest in. Lastly, the staff in ward 43 were proactive in ensuring cleanliness of the ward. Whenever they saw litter on the floor, they immediately picked it up or disinfected the area when necessary. On the other hand, the staff in ward 64 were more calculative in only performing tasks that are within their responsibilities.
  • 23. 18     Despite the weaknesses of the housekeeping staff in ward 64, they should also be commended for their efficiency in other areas. The staff in ward 64 performed bed discharge faster than the staff in ward 43. They were able to hit the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of 15 to 20 minutes. Also, the FSS performed food ordering via eMOS more efficiently and took lesser time for pre-meal preparations, freeing up more time to perform other tasks. Though the two wards work differently, they have their merits and are still able to achieve the main aim of ensuring a clean ward for patients to recuperate in.
  • 24. 19     VI.   Shortfalls/Drawbacks of Study Every study has its own limitations and disadvantages. A Time and Motion Study is not always a true reflection of what actually happens. 1.   Observers are not always proficient in the field of work being studied. 2.   Actions of individuals are not always reflective of the group as a whole. 3.   Several sections may include observer’s individual expertise and judgment. 4.   Study participants may be pressurized during observation, increasing mistakes made. 5.   Study participants may use the model methods which they usually do not. Pertaining to this particular study, here are some shortfalls identified. 1.   Observer was merely an intern working under NUH ES department, and so she was not well-versed in housekeeping issues. This makes the study questionable, since a non-expert is defining an expert’s job scope and efficiency. For example, the observer will be inaccurate in determining whether time taken by a cleaner to wash a bathroom is acceptable; or whether the FSS is pushing the food trolley correctly. 2.   Several wards differ in terms of their layout and structure. This affects the time taken by each ward to complete each task, in turn affecting the comparison results. For example, in ward 43, there is a bathroom and a toilet in each cubicle; while in ward 64, there is a common toilet/shower area along the corridor, one for female and one for male. This leads to varied time taken by cleaners to wash the toilets. 3.   Part of the time and motion study fell on the fasting month of Muslims, causing alterations in the working schedule. This leads to incomplete data for the study. The housekeeper in ward 64 is a Muslim and during the fasting month, she switched to morning shift every week instead of alternate weeks of morning and afternoon shifts. As a result, there was missing information on afternoon shift of housekeeper in ward 64. 4.   The dynamic nature of the jobs of housekeeping staff makes it challenging to capture the work they do every day, as it differs on a day-to-day basis. This creates flaws in the evaluation of job scope, as the activities carried out by the staff may be varied each day. For example, on days when the number of discharges is exceptionally high, housekeepers and FSS have to put aside their routine cleaning and go back to it after performing bed discharges. This may translate to the workload being too high, when it is manageable on days with average discharges.
  • 25. 20     Similarly, the ad-hoc tasks each day take up different durations. When there is spillage of blood or when a patient defecates on the floor, the housekeeper takes a longer time to disinfect the area as compared to collecting Virex256 from the main housekeeping room of that level. 5.   The observer was made known to the housekeeping staff of each ward and interacted with them on a personal level as well. This causes inaccuracy in collection of data as staff being observed may put on their best behavior instead of doing what they usually do. For example, in ward 43, the FSS’ performance was good and she executed everything correctly. However, after the study, there were feedbacks from other sources that her work often does not meet expectations and she shrinks from certain responsibilities. Staff Deployment Analysis showed that there was insufficient staff in her ward due to her lack of break time and continuous work. However, it was only the few days of time and motion study that she worked so hard and did not take the afternoon break due to work. Hence, the results drawn from this study data are not fully reliable. 6.   Performance is very subjective and can differ from one housekeeping staff to another. There are other factors that contribute to the performance of a staff, such as own efficiency and motivation to work. This implies that analysis done in this report cannot be applied directly onto housekeeping staff. The results of one staff does not equate to the rest of the staff. For example, in ward 43, the housekeeper appears to have taken the longest break time and some may say that she is not working hard enough. However, the truth is that she works very efficiently and thus, manages to take enough breaks. So, in other wards there might be an increase in staff deployment to solve the problem when the room problem is the individual staff’s lack of efficiency. 7.   The “ES or ISS” composition of housekeeping staff differs between each ward, resulting in differing work shifts and number of hours clocked by each staff. Since the conditions of study were not similar, comparisons and conclusions drawn are imperfect. For example, the housekeeper in ward 43 is an ISS staff working from 8am to 9pm while the housekeeper in ward 64 is an ES staff working from 7am to 3pm or 1pm to 9pm. This translates to 13 hours compared to 8 hours, a 5-hour difference.
  • 26. 21     VI.   Recommendations To counter the shortfalls of this study, here are some suggestions on how to improve on it. 1.   Have a ground staff to carry out the next time and motion study. People who are doing the work can better improve on their own work. When housekeeping staff observe their own work, they can identify time-wasters and ideas for increasing quality service with efficiency. By involving housekeeping staff in the study, they will feel more empowered and enthusiastic about working together to create a better working environment. 2.   When selecting wards to carry out the study on, take note of the ward’s layout and choose two (or more) wards with an identical layout and same number of rooms/basins/toilets to clean. 3.   Ensure that the study period falls within a suitable time frame. There should be no or minimal alternation in working schedule, be it due to religious purposes or personal leave. With regards to the efficiency of housekeeping staff, there are a few recommendations to consider. 1.   Continuously train and re-train staff such that they are very clear on their daily routine and periodic cleaning. This means that they should be well-versed in what task they should perform, how they should perform the task and how often they should perform it. It is important to perform a task the correct way, as it affects the quality of performance. Cleaning an item quickly does not translate to true efficiency, there should be an element of effectiveness – disinfecting thoroughly. Currently, ISS only offers a 3-day training programme for newcomers and following that, each staff is on his own to learn and adapt to the ward. When a staff is unsure of his tasks at hand, he will lack efficiency. He takes time to find out how to perform a task correctly and does it slower as compared to one that is habitually performing the same task correctly. 2.   Reduce the working hours of housekeeping staff so that they have enough energy to work the subsequent day. Currently, the working hours of ISS staff are about 13 hours and 6 days in a row. Although this includes lunch break, tea break and lunch break, many of the housekeeping staff do not get to rest this much in reality. This is because there are too many bed discharges to perform and they still have to complete their routine cleaning. By the 4th or 5th consecutive day, housekeeping staff are already too exhausted to perform at their best. By having shorter working hours, it will keep the housekeeping staff’s morale up as well. They are motivated to work hard and actually have the energy to work hard as they want to and should do.
  • 27. 22     3.   Provide sufficient equipment in each ward for housekeeping staff to execute their tasks capably and cut down on unnecessary time taken to cope with inadequate items. For example, the cleaner in ward 43 takes a significantly longer time to wash water jugs and top-up water for individual patients. There were not enough jugs, so the cleaner had to collect back some of the soiled jugs, wash, fill up with water again and distribute to the patients. Similarly, the housekeeper and FSS in ward 64 take longer time to collect soiled linen as they can only tie one linen bag to a trolley as compared to two bags, so they have to take additional round to finish collecting all the soiled linen. When there are enough of these equipment, housekeeping staff are able to perform their tasks better and more efficiently. 4.   Encourage mutual sharing of cleaning methods among housekeeping staff so that most effective methods may be used. Although there are standard protocols to follow for most of the tasks, some tasks can be performed better. In ward 43, the cleaner cleans the mirrors with dry hand towel and the results are indeed shinier and cleaner. The housekeeper is able to perform bed makings and bed discharges very quickly and excellently, because she has already worked many years and has developed a certain routine that she sticks to each time. When housekeeping staff share their most effective and correct cleaning methods, every ward can be kept cleaner and at a more efficient speed. Other suggestions include: v   Design a more suitable and comfortable uniform, especially for FSS. Despite the light-weighted aspect of the uniform, it does not absorb sweat or dissipate heat easily, causing huge discomfort for the housekeeping staff while they go about their daily chores such as mopping the entire ward or washing the toilets. Also, it is not hygienic nor does it looks professional for these staff to sweat profusely while performing bed discharge or carrying out hi-touch cleaning. On top of that, during food service, FSS are expected to don an apron, which is of a relatively thick material. Professionalism is a must, but it will be preferred if they can have both a professional look and physical comfort to carry out their services with better quality. v   Foster good relationships among housekeeping staff in the same ward. If each housekeeping staff is calculative in terms of only doing what he is tasked to do and not help out in other areas, problems such as uncompleted tasks arise. Time is very limited in the wards as there are so many tasks to be performed by each housekeeping staff. As the saying goes, ‘more hands make light work’. When housekeeping staff work together hand-in-hand, they can help one another complete tasks in shorter time frames.
  • 28. 23     For example, when a FSS is on his way to the DU to collect virex256 and sees the linen baskets in cubicle bathrooms filled with soiled linen, and he knows that the cleaner is still refilling jugs for patients; he easily lends a helping hand to bring them to the DU and saves the cleaner time. In addition, having a friendly happy working environment is very important. The housekeeping staff will enjoy his work more and thus perform better. v   Cultivate respect among staff and to recognize the importance of housekeeping staff. It is vital that everyone treats each other equally, despite their ranks and positions. Many people seem to put housekeeping staff at the bottom of the hospital hierarchy and do not give them the respect they deserve. However, when other hospital staff show appreciation to them, they will not feel inferior but feel proud of what they do and be motivated to carry on with their tasks to the best of their abilities. v   Develop better storage and infrastructure for waste and linen. Currently, housekeeping staff need to collect all the trash in the ward and use a L-shaped trolley to transport them to the waste holding area of that level. They are required to manually lift all the heavy trash bags into the 600L waste bins, which is a very time-consuming and ergonomically unfriendly process. Housekeeping staff already have lower back problems from long periods of bending down to clean, and this worsens their conditions. If the 600L bins or other waste holding bins have ledges at the side of the bins instead of lids on the top of the bins, it will be better for anyone to transfer the trash bags, be it in or out of the bins. In the ergonomic aspect, housekeeping staff do not have to lift up trash bags so high but slowly slide the bags into the bin through the ‘side door’. In the economic aspect, staff at the main trash holding areas and the housekeeping staff have lower risks of getting back injuries and reduced chances of taking medical leave due to being physically unfit. Similarly, for linen, staff also have to lift the heavy linen bags onto the trolleys, which are then transferred to another trolley, brought to the basement, transferred to a holding site and finally transferred to a trolley to be sent to the laundry. This is a very inefficient system that takes up time and manpower, both valuable assets. If there are trolleys that can be used to bring the soiled linen from the wards all the way to the laundry truck, it will save up a lot of time and manpower. It will also reduce back injuries of the linen staff.
  • 29. 24     VIII. Personal Views “ During a visit to the NASA space center in 1962, President John F Kennedy noticed a janitor carrying a broom. He interrupted his tour, walked over to the man and said, "Hi, I'm Jack Kennedy. What are you doing?" "Well, Mr. President," the janitor responded, "I'm helping put a man on the moon." ” (Nomo J., 2014) To many of people, housekeeping staff are just cleaners of the hospital, performing jobs that most shun away from, such as clearing rubbish or cleaning toilets. In reality, housekeeping staff are doing very important jobs – they ensure good hygiene and cleanliness in the hospital, so that health professionals can better treat patients. Unfortunately, people tend to take housekeeping staff for granted. Only when things go wrong or are different from the usual, such as uncollected trash accumulated in the wards or dirty doctor on-call rooms, people put the blame on housekeeping staff and reprimand them. Through this time and motion study, I learnt to appreciate housekeeping staff much more. Even though sometimes they have to do unpleasant things, they do not ever complain. When a patient urinates on the floor, one can trust a housekeeping staff to clean up the mess, but cannot and will not expect them to do so with a smile. However, it may take you by surprise that they actually do! The housekeeping staff whom I followed all put on smiles whenever they interacted with the patients. They reassured patients that they would clean up the mess, not to worry but rest well. They ensured patients had their meals piping hot and never hungry. They encouraged patients not to give up and genuinely cared for them. A significant number of housekeeping staff comes from foreign countries. Many of them have spouses and children back in their hometowns, awaiting for their return once every two or three years. As a family-oriented person, I can sympathize with them how much they miss their families. These staff work so hard just for their families to lead better lives while they learn to cope with loneliness. The working hours of housekeeping staff are long; many of them said that they leave their house before the break of dawn and only reach home after dusk. They devote all their time and energy into the ward’s work, to provide an alternate but important healthcare service from nurses or doctors. However, most people simply do not give them the respect they deserve. When a housekeeper mopping the floor accidentally slid his mop near a doctor’s shoes, the doctor shot him a look angrily. When a housekeeper sweeping the floor was near a patient’s bed, the visitor conveniently threw his tissue on the floor for the housekeeper to sweep it up. While it is the housekeeping staff’s job to mop and sweep the floor, one should not cross the line in treating him like a servant or someone of lower rank.
  • 30. 25     Similarly, while we evaluate the performance of housekeeping staff through this study and discover rooms for improvement, we must not forget that they are human-beings too. Indeed, staff efficiency can be increased and quality of execution can be better. However, we must keep in mind not to treat them like robots, to continuously perform tasks after tasks and churn out results one after another. Everyone needs rest and welfare. The NUH Environmental Services is like the backbone of the hospital, giving it support and structure. The NUH housekeeping department is one of the vertebra that makes up the vertebrae. Other service partners are also pieces of vertebra, glued together by gel-like discs - the staff of ES department. Just as the vertabrae allows the body to move and bend, the entire ES department allows the hospital to stretch its resources and maximize its operations. Just like how the janitor in NASA played a part in putting a man on the moon, a housekeeping staff in NUH plays a part in saving a patient’s life.
  • 31. 26     IX. Biblography Gifford, J. (2014). The Rule of 52 and 17: It’s Random, But it Ups Your Productivity. Retrieved 2015, from http://www.themuse.com/advice/the-rule-of-52-and-17-its-random-but-it-ups-your-productivity Nomo, J. (2014). What a NASA Janitor Can Teach Us About Living a Bigger Life. Retrieved 2015, from http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/how-to/growth-strategies/2014/12/what-a-nasa-janitor-can-teach-us.html
  • 32. 27     X. Appendix A1: Template Used to Record Time and Motion Building: Main  Building    /    Kent  Ridge  Wing Position: Cleaner  /    Housekeeper    /    FSS   Ward: Name  (if  applicable): Date: Time:      ___________    -­‐    ____________ Time   Activity Remarks/  Comments Time  Motion  Study  on  NUH  Housekeeping
  • 33. 28     A2. Time and Motion Study Raw Data of Ward Cleaners Picture 1: Cleaner of Ward 43 (ES) Picture 2: Cleaner of Ward 64 (ISS) Building: Ward: 64 Time: 8am  -­‐  5pm Position: Cleaner 8.05am 8.10am 8.10am 9.24am 9.24am 9.30am 9.30am 9.45am 9.45am 10.09am 10.09am 10.27am 10.27am 10.53am 10.53am 10.55am 10.55am 10.58am 10.58am 12.01pm 12.01pm 12.06pm 12.06pm 12.43pm 12.43pm 1.43pm 1.43pm 2.01pm 2.01pm 2.18pm 2.18pm 2.21pm 2.21pm 2.53pm 2.53pm 2.59pm 2.59pm 3.11pm 3.11pm 3.30pm 3.30pm 3.38pm 3.38pm 3.40pm 3.40pm 3.42pm 3.42pm 3.54pm 3.54pm 4.18pm 4.18pm 4.42pm 4.42pm 4.54pm 4.54pm -­‐ Patient  requested  for  change  of  mattress  -­‐  must  attend  to  it  immediately  -­‐  exchanged  with  another  bed Perform  Bed  Discharge  (1  Discharge) End  Work Crash  Programme  -­‐  Spot  Cleaning  (walls,  signs,  rails) Collect  Soiled  Cups Pour  Away  Leftover  Milo Patient  requested  for  jug  of  water  and  ice  -­‐  must  attend  to  it  immediately Collect  Trash,  Empty  at  Collection  Point  (10  Bins) Crash  Programme Wait  for  Cleaning  Trolley  (MRSA  side) Thorough  Wash  Common  Toilets  (2  -­‐  Male  and  Female) Sweep  Nurse  Station,  DU,  Equipment  Room  Staffroom,  Clean  Utility,  Bed17-­‐24/25-­‐32/35-­‐42/9-­‐16/43-­‐50/1-­‐8,  Isolation  Rooms  (12  Areas) Collect  Soiled  Linen  (3  baskets) Perform  Bed  Discharge  (2  Discharges) LUNCH  BREAK Collect  Trash,  Empty  at  Collection  Point  (10  Bins) Terminal  Cleaning  -­‐  Change  Curtains Prepare  for  Terminal  Cleaning Perform  Terminal  Cleaning  (MRSA  Bed)  -­‐  Wipe  All  Surfaces,  Change  Curtains Rest;  see  if  there  are  anymore  discharges Go  Restroom Collect  Trash,  Empty  at  Collection  Point  (13  Bins) Collect  Trash,  Empty  at  Collection  Point  (10  Bins) Cubicle  Cleaning  (sink,  bin's  top,  napkin  dispenser,  soap  dispenser,  mirrors)  (10  of  each) Refill  Hand  Soap  at  Bed  43-­‐50 Time Activity Check  &  Touch  Up  Toilets Wash  Water  Jugs  and  Top-­‐up  Water  for  Individual  Patients  (44  Beds) Put  Away  Clean  Jugs Main  Building Building: Ward: 43 Time: 7am  -­‐  3pm Position: Cleaner 7.00am 7.15am 7.15am 7.30am 7.30am 7.35am 7.35am 8.35am 8.35am 10.10am 10.10am 10.25am 10.25am 10.35am 10.35am 10.50am 10.50am 11.15am 11.15am 11.45am 11.45am 12.08pm 12.08pm 1.00pm 1.00pm 1.15pm 1.15pm 3.00pm 3.00pm -­‐ End  work Collect  Trash,  Empty  at  Collection  Point  (15  Bins) Staff  Lunch  Break Time  Motion  Study  on  NUH  Housekeeping Activity Cubicle  Cleaning  (sink,  bin's  top,  napkin  dispenser,  soap  dispenser,  mirrors)  (17  of  each) Wash  Water  Jugs  and  Top-­‐up  Water  for  Individual  Patients  (45  Beds) Staff  Tea  Break Collect  Soiled  Linen  (8  Baskets) Put  Away  Clean  Jugs Collect  Trash,  Empty  at  Collection  Point  (12  Bins) Collect  Virex256  from  Housekeeping  Room Main  Building Collect  Trash  -­‐  Biohazard  Waste,  Empty  at  Collection  Point Time Cubicle  Cleaning  (toilet  &  shower  room  cleaning)  (5  of  each) Tidy  Up  DU  -­‐  Sweep  DU Collect  Soiled  Linen  (8  Baskets) Tidy  Up  DU  -­‐  Sweep  DU
  • 34. 29     A3. Time and Motion Study Raw Data of Ward Housekeepers Picture 3: Housekeeper of Ward 43 (ISS) Building: Ward: 43 Time: 8am  -­‐  9pm Position: Housekeeper 7.55am 8.15am 8.15am 8.24am 8.24am 8.34am 8.34am 8.51am 8.51am 9.00am 9.00am 9.19am 9.19am 9.30am 9.30am 9.50am 9.50am 10.00am 10.00am 10.22am 10.22am 10.25am 10.25am 10.44am 10.44am 10.52am 10.52am 10.55am 10.55am 10.59am 10.59am 11.55am 11.55am 12.04pm 12.04pm 12.25pm 12.25pm 12.50pm 12.50pm 12.55pm 12.55pm 1.18pm 1.18pm 1.23pm 1.23pm 1.31pm 1.31pm 1.51pm 1.51pm 2.01pm 2.01pm 2.43pm 2.43pm 2.47pm 2.47pm 2.55pm 2.55pm 2.59pm 2.59pm 3.20pm 3.20pm 3.33pm 3.33pm 3.40pm 3.40pm 4.06pm 4.06pm 4.20pm 4.20pm 4.53pm 4.53pm 4.55pm 4.55pm 5.55pm 5.55pm 6.10pm 6.10pm   6.13pm 6.13pm 6.18pm 6.18pm 6.23pm 6.23pm 6.45pm 6.45pm 6.53pm 6.53pm 7.04pm 7.04pm 7.09pm 7.09pm 7.19pm 7.19pm   7.49pm 7.49pm 7.55pm 7.55pm 7.59pm 7.59pm 8.06pm 8.06pm 8.10pm 8.10pm 8.42pm 8.42pm 8.45pm 8.45pm 8.50pm 8.50pm 9.01pm 9.01pm 9.03pm 9.03pm 9.05pm 9.05pm -­‐ Send  Food  to  Dialysis  Patient Time  Motion  Study  on  NUH  Housekeeping Main  Building Time Activity Assist  FSS  with  Breakfast  Food  Service Cubicle  Cleaning  (toilet  &  shower  room  cleaning)  (2  of  each) Collect  Soiled  Linen  (8  Baskets) Collect  Soiled  Trays Bed-­‐making  (3  Beds) Replenish  Ward  Supplies  (7  Cubicles,  Nurse  Station) Sweep  2  Cubicles Staff  Tea  Break Wait  to  clean  cubicle,  as  there  was  a  radiographer  carrying  out  X-­‐ray  on  patient   Mop  2  Cubicles Collect  Virex256  to  clean  toilets Isolation  Room  Cleaning  (2  Rooms  with  Toilets) Refill  Virex256  into  mop Clean  Bed  45  room Clean  Assisted  Patients  Toilet Clean  Assisted  Patients  Shower Collect  Soiled  Cups Clean  Cleaning  Trolley Staff  Lunch  Break Prepare  for  Food  Service Assist  FSS  with  Lunch  Food  Service Perform  Terminal  Cleaning  (MRSA  Bed)  -­‐  wipe  all  surfaces,  change  curtains Patient  request  for  food,  serve  food  (FSS  finish  terminal  cleaning) Collect  Soiled  Trays Wash  jugs  left  in  the  pantry  basin,  tidy  up  pantry,  wipe  ward's  food  trolley Tidy  up  DU  -­‐  Mop  Floor Cubicle  Cleaning  (sink,  bin's  top,  napkin  dispenser,  soap  dispenser,  mirrors)  (2  of  each) Patient  request  for  food,  go  ward  44  to  take  bread,  warm  up  and  serve  with  margarine/jam Tidy  up  DU Staff  Dinner  Break Assist  FSS  with  Dinner  Food  Service Keep  Food  for  NBM  Patients Refill  chemical  for  cleaning Push  linen  trolley  into  correct  position Staff  Tea  Break Collect  Trash,  Empty  at  Collection  Point  (7  Bins) Collect  Soiled  Linen Perform  Bed  Discharge  (2  Discharges) Replenish  Ward  Supplies  (7  Cubicles,  Nurse  Station) Replenish  Ward  Supplies  (7  Cubicles,  Nurse  Station) Return  extra  stocks  back  at  DU Prepare  for  Terminal  Cleaning Someone  shitted  on  the  floor  -­‐  must  clean  immediately Someone  urinated  on  the  floor  -­‐  must  clean  immediately Collect  Trash,  Empty  at  Collection  Point  (5  Bins) Replenish  PE  aprons Perform  Bed  Discharge  (1  Discharge) Clear  away  used  cups,  refill  cream  crackers Mop  staff  room,  tidy  up  pantry Settle  EMD  Bed Last  Round  ofCheck,  Replenish  Ward  Supplies End  Work Perform  Terminal  Cleaning  (MRSA  Bed)  -­‐  wipe  all  surfaces,  change  curtains Tidy  Up  DU Tidy  Up  Pantry  -­‐  Wash  jugs  left  in  the  pantry  basin Sweep  Ward Tidy  up  DU
  • 35. 30     Picture 4: Housekeeper of Ward 64 (ES – Morning Shift) Building: Ward: 64 Time: 7am  -­‐  3pm Position: Housekeeper 6.59am 7.03am 7.03am 7.10am 7.10am 7.33am 7.33am 7.39am 7.39am 7.46am   7.46am 7.48am 7.48am 7.50am 7.50am 8.11am 8.11am 8.20am 8.20am 8.25am 8.25am 8.28am 8.28am 8.33am 8.33am 8.44am 8.44am 8.53am 8.53am 8.56am 8.56am 9.00am 9.00am 9.10am 9.10am 9.16am 9.16am 9.18am 9.18am 9.33am 9.32am 9.41am 9.41am 9.57am 9.57am 10.00am 10.00am 10.44am 10.44am 10.56am 10.56am 11.00am 11.00am 11.45am 11.45am 11.50am 11.50am 12.15pm 12.15pm 12.43pm 12.43pm 12.50pm 12.50pm 12.55pm 12.55pm 12.59pm 12.59pm 1.02pm 1.02pm 1.04pm 1.04pm 1.11pm 1.11pm 1.17pm 1.17pm 1.50pm 1.50pm 1.54pm 1.54pm 2.02pm 2.02pm 2.05pm 2.05pm 2.09pm 2.09pm 2.44pm 2.44pm 2.48pm 2.48pm -­‐ Tidy  Up  DU  -­‐  Sweep  DU Autoscrub  Female  and  Male  Toilet  (Cause  floor  wet  and  dirty) Prepare  for  Bed  Discharge Mop  2  Cubicles Activity Tidy  Up  Staff  Pantry Mop  resident's  room Time  Motion  Study  on  NUH  Housekeeping Main  Building Time Bed-­‐making  (2  Beds) Change  Waste  Plastic  Bags  for  Each  Bed  (14  Beds) Collect  Virex256  and  Glance  for  Housekeeping  Room Isolation  Room  Cleaning  (2  Rooms) Collect  Trash  (2  Bins)  (Cause  bins  full) Prepare  for  Bed-­‐making Mop  Assisted  Patients  Toilet  &  Shower Prepare  for  Food  Service Assist  FSS  with  Breakfast  Food  Service Send  Food  to  Dialysis  Patients Chat  with  team  about  FSS  Briefing Tidy  up  DU Autoscrub  Female  and  Male  Toilet  (Cause  floor  wet  and  dirty) Collect  Soiled  Trays Sweep  Ward Clean  Assisted  Patients  Toilet Clean  Assisted  Patients  Shower Staff  Lunch  Break Prepare  for  Food  Service Assist  FSS  with  Lunch  Food  Service Bed-­‐making  for  Resident's  Room Staff  Tea  Break Collect  Soiled  Linen  (1  Basket) Mop  2  Cubicles Sweep  Bed17-­‐24/25-­‐32,  clean  utility  room  (3  Areas) Tidy  up  DU Settle  food  issues  at  Bed  13  (Sodexo  representatives  sent  up  fruits  basket  as  compensation) Perform  Bed  Discharge  (2  Beds) Collect  Soiled  Trays Sweep  nurse  station,  common  area,  Bed1-­‐8/Bed9-­‐16/Bed35-­‐42/Bed43-­‐50  (6  Areas) Warm  up  food  for  patients  that  just  returned  from  procedures Prepare  for  Bed  Discharge  (eHIMS  down,  need  to  write  down  manually  from  nurse  station's  TV) Tidy  Up  Pantry  -­‐  Clear  away  'kept'  food  in  pantry End  Work Check  if  can  perform  bed  discharge  on  Bed  2  and  Bed  4  as  well Go  Restroom Tidy  Up  Pantry  -­‐  Clear  away  'kept'  food  in  pantry Prepare  for  Hi-­‐touch  Cleaning Hi-­‐Touch  Cleaning  (6  Cubicles)
  • 36. 31     A4. Time and Motion Study Raw Data of Ward FSS Picture 6: FSS of Ward 43 (ISS) Building: Ward: 43 Time: 7am  -­‐  8pm Position: FSS 7.07am 7.25am 7.25am 7.30am 7.30am 7.38am 7.38am 7.45am 7.45am 7.50am 7.50am 7.57am 7.57am 8.06am 8.06am 8.34am 8.34am 8.45am 8.45am 8.55am 8.55am 9.18am 9.18am 9.20am 9.20am 9.28am 9.28am 9.58am 9.58am 10.10am 10.10am 10.25am 10.25am 11.33am 11.33am 11.35am 11.35am 11.42am 11.42am 11.45am 11.45am 12.00pm 12.00pm 12.24pm 12.24pm 12.30pm 12.30pm 12.36pm 12.36pm 12.45pm 12.45pm 12.50pm 12.50pm 1.07pm 1.07pm 2.05pm 2.05pm 2.20pm 2.52pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 3.34pm 3.34pm 3.42pm 3.42om 3.55pm 4.00pm 4.10pm 4.10pm 4.12pm 4.12pm 4.15pm 4.15pm 4.43pm 4.43pm 4.45pm 4.45pm 5.05pm 5.05pm 5.18pm 5.18pm 5.51pm 5.51pm 6.03pm 6.03pm 6.33pm 6.33pm 6.55pm 6.55pm 7.02pm 7.02pm 7.10pm 7.10pm 7.14pm 7.14pm 7.50pm 7.50pm 7.54pm 7.54pm 7.57pm 7.57pm 8.00pm 8.00pm -­‐ Staff  Dinner  Break Collect  Soiled  Trays Last  Round  Check  Ward  Cleanliness Return  PDA  and  Apron  to  Office End  Work Collect  Soiled  Trays Patient  urinated  on  the  floor  -­‐  must  disinfect  immediately Collect  Soiled  Trays Sweep  Ward  (1st  Half) Spot  a  patch  of  blood  stain  -­‐  must  clean  immediately   Sweep  Ward  (2nd  Half) Serve  Dinner Food  Ordering  via  EMOS  (2  Cubicles) Collect  Soiled  Trays Collect  Soiled  Linen Bed-­‐making  (7  Beds) Tidy  up  DU Sweep  Ward Replenish  all  chemicals  needed  for  the  week  -­‐  collect  from  housekeeping  storeroom;  replenish  all  stocks  needed  for  the  week  -­‐  collect  from  level  6 Aircon  leak  -­‐  must  fix  immediately Staff  Tea  Break Mop  5  Cubicles,  Staffroom  (6  Areas) Nurse  accidentally  split  food  on  the  floor  -­‐  must  clean  immediately Perform  Bed  Discharge  (1  Bed) Prepare  for  Bed  Discharge Receive  signal  to  perform  bed  discharge  -­‐  but  problem  of  missing  bed Time  Motion  Study  on  NUH  Housekeeping Main  Building Time Activity Tidy  Up  DU,  Check  Cleaning  Trolleys  Well-­‐stocked Tidy  Up  Pantry  -­‐  Check  Fridge  Temperature Replenish  Pantry  Supplies Pre-­‐Breakfast  Preparation  -­‐  Check  EMOS  for  new  patients/NBM  cases,  Dilute  Coffee  and  Tea Serve  Breakfast Food  Ordering  via  EMOS  (4  Cubicles) Serve  Lunch Send  Food  to  Dialysis  Patient Tidy  Up  Pantry  -­‐  Wash  jugs  left  in  the  pantry  basin Autoscrub  and  Mop  1  Cubicle  and  Common  Area Tidy  up  DU  and  Pantry Prepare  for  food  service  -­‐  check  if  all  patients  are  present  and  who  is  NBM Collect  Soiled  Trays Warm  up  food  for  patients  that  just  returned  from  procedures Autoscrub  and  Mop  1  Cubicle Prepare  to  serve  tea  break  (trolley,  bread,  biscuits,  milo) LUNCH  BREAK Hi-­‐Touch  Cleaning  (6  Cubicles) Serve  Tea  Break   Tidy  Up  DU  -­‐  Wash  cleaning  containers  and  equipments,  Clear  Biohazard  Waste,  Soiled  Linen Tidy  Up  Pantry  -­‐  Wash  jugs  left  in  the  pantry  basin Crash  Programme  -­‐  Wall  Cleaning Received  signal  to  carry  out  bed  discharge  for  Bed  13,  prepare Perform  Bed  Discharge  (1  Bed) Bed-­‐making  (2  Beds) Tidy  Up  DU  -­‐  Wash  cleaning  containers  and  equipments
  • 37. 32     Picture 7: FSS of Ward 64 (ISS) Building: Ward: 64 Time: 7am  -­‐  8pm Position: FSS 7.00am 7.07am 7.07am 7.12am 7.12am 7.20am 7.20am 7.30am 7.30am 7.36am 7.36am 7.40am 7.40am 7.48am 7.48am 7.51am 7.51am 8.14am 8.14am 8.21am 8.21am 8.24am 8.24am 8.30am 8.30am 8.47am 8.47am 8.55am 8.55am 9.14am 9.14am 9.16am 9.16am 9.19am 9.19am 9.23am 9.23am 9.28am 9.28am 9.36am 9.36am 9.50am 9.50am 9.52am 9.52am 9.55am 9..55am 10.15am 10.15am 10.21am 10.21am 10.49am 10.49am 10.59am 10.59am 11.37am 11.37am 11.41am 11.41am 11.50am 11.50am 12.00pm 12.00pm 12.05pm 12.05pm 12.08pm 12.08pm 12.10pm 12.10pm 12.15pm 12.15pm 12.21pm 12.21pm 12.30pm 12.30pm 12.33pm 12.33pm 12.58pm 12.58pm 1.59pm 1.59pm 2.10pm 2.10pm 2.25pm 2.25pm 2.30pm 2.30pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 3.08pm 3.08pm 3.40pm 3.40pm 3.51pm 3.51pm 4.00pm 4.00pm 4.10pm 4.10pm 4.12pm 4.12pm 4.15pm 4.15pm 5.05pm 5.05pm 5.08pm 5.08pm 5.17pm 5.17pm 5.20pm 5.20pm 5.35pm 5.35pm 5.47pm 5.47pm 5.50pm 5.50pm 5.56pm 5.56pm 6.19pm 6.19pm 6.25pm 6.25pm 6.35pm 6.35pm 6.38pm 6.38pm 6.46pm 6.46pm 6.49pm 6.49pm 6.52pm 6.52pm 6.55pm 6.55pm 7.50pm 7.50pm 7.55pm 7.55pm 8.00pm 8.00pm -­‐ Arrange  with  nurse  regarding  HPV  gassing  schedule Tidy  Up  DU,  clean  discharge  trolley Collect  Soiled  Trays Tidy  Up  Pantry  -­‐  Wash  jugs  left  in  the  pantry  basin Tidy  Up  Pantry  -­‐  Wash  jugs  left  in  the  pantry  basin Bring  down  confidential  papers  to  level  5  housekeeping  room Tidy  Up  Pantry Staff  Tea  Break Configure  PDA  Settings  with  Level  Supervisor Refill  cream  crackers  in  pantry Prepare  for  food  service  -­‐  check  if  all  patients  are  present  and  who  is  NBM Serve  Dinner Send  food  to  dialysis  patient Prepare  to  serve  tea  break  (trolley,  bread,  biscuits,  milo) Serve  Tea  Break   Tidy  up  pantry Collect  Soiled  Cups Patient  dirtied  bed  -­‐  must  change  bed  sheets/  perform  bed-­‐making  immediately Tidy  up  DU Collect  soiled  linen Food  Ordering  via  EMOS  (6  Cubicles) Serve  food  to  patients  that  went  for  procedure  beforehand Collect  Soiled  Trays Staff  Lunch  Break Clean  standing  fan Perform  Bed  Discharge  (1  Bed) Collect  Soiled  Linen ISS  Briefing Activity Tidy  Up  Pantry  -­‐  wash  used  cups/jugs/utensils  left  overnight Time  Motion  Study  on  NUH  Housekeeping Main  Building Time Tidy  Up  DU,  Check  Cleaning  Trolleys  Well-­‐stocked Tidy  Up  Pantry  -­‐  top  up  milo  bottle,  utensils  in  pantry Serve  Breakfast Keep  food  for  NBM  patients Tidy  Up  Pantry  -­‐  Wash  jugs  left  in  the  pantry  basin Collect  soiled  linen Sweep  common  area,  bed  1-­‐8/9-­‐16/35-­‐42/43-­‐50,  corridor  and  nurse  station  (6  Areas) Mop  pantry,  nurse  staffroom,  nurse  station  and  common  area  (4  Areas) Clean  Ancillary  Areas Tidy  up  DU  -­‐  soiled  linen Pre-­‐Breakfast  Preparation  -­‐  Check  EMOS  for  new  patients/NBM  cases,  Dilute  Coffee  and  Tea Fill  up  bed-­‐making  form Sweep  Ward Go  Restroom Mop  DU,  duty  room  (2  Areas) Collect  Soiled  Trays Prepare  for  bed-­‐making Bed-­‐making  (5  Beds) Tidy  up  DU  -­‐  soiled  linen Collect  Virex256  from  Housekeeping  Room End  Work Mop  3  Cubicles Sweep  common  area  and  nurse  station  (2  Areas) Prepare  for  food  service  -­‐  check  if  all  patients  are  present  and  who  is  NBM Patient  spilt  water  on  floor  -­‐  must  clean  immediately Prepare  for  bed  discharge Settle  some  issues Perform  Bed  Discharge  (1  Bed) Settle  some  issues Perform  Bed  Discharge  (1  Bed) Serve  Lunch Send  Food  to  Dialysis  Patient Patient  requested  for  rice  -­‐  must  attend  to  it  immediately Keep  food  for  NBM  patients Replenish  paper  cone  cup  and  hand  soap Tidy  up  DU Collect  Soiled  Trays Return  PDA  and  Apron  to  Office Last  Round  Check  Ward  Cleanliness Staff  Dinner  Break Prepare  for  Bed  Discharge Collect  Soiled  Trays