diff --git a/cloud-functions/python/functions/clearusers.py b/cloud-functions/python/functions/clearusers.py
index 5ad88f1..cc91f80 100644
--- a/cloud-functions/python/functions/clearusers.py
+++ b/cloud-functions/python/functions/clearusers.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 import functions_framework
 from google.cloud.firestore_v1.base_query import FieldFilter
-import firebase_admin
-from firebase_admin import credentials, firestore
+from firebase_admin import initialize_app, credentials, firestore
 import os
 
+initialize_app()
+
 @functions_framework.http
 def clear_users(request):
     """HTTP Cloud Function.
@@ -29,9 +30,6 @@ def clear_users(request):
         'Access-Control-Allow-Origin': '*'
     }
     
-    key_path = os.getcwd() + '/hpos-preprod-firebase-adminsdk-d6jjt-ae42ad0f67.json'
-    cred = credentials.Certificate(key_path)
-    firebase_admin.initialize_app(cred)
     db = firestore.client()
     source_collection = "patientData"
 
@@ -47,13 +45,10 @@ def clear_users(request):
         doc_data = doc.to_dict()
 
         try:
-            # Delete the document from the source collection
             db.collection(source_collection).document(doc_id).update({"testStatus": True})
             print(f"Document with ID '{doc_id}' updated")
             count = count + 1
         except Exception as e:
             print(f"Error deleting document with ID '{doc_id}' from the source collection: {e}")
     
-    firebase_admin.delete_app(firebase_admin.get_app())
-
-    return 'cleared users: {}!'.format(count)
+    return ('cleared users: {}!'.format(count), 200, headers)