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Allen E. Rudd answers questions about the Certified Health Care Environmental Services Professional (CHESP) certification process.

There are many elements that go into emergency response plans, and here we’ve outlined some of the main considerations of a plan as it relates to infection prevention and control and environmental services (EVS). It is EVS’ responsibility to ensure that it is able to provide a safe place for patients to be treated and heal—regardless of the conditions outside of the organization’s walls.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released updated Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Hospitalized Patients with Known or Suspected Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in U.S. Hospitals. Standard, contact, and droplet precautions are recommended for any patients with known or suspected Ebola hemorrhagic fever.

By becoming connected with the network that is AHE, you immediately gain access to a membership base of over 2,000 professionals, all with knowledge and expertise to share.

Laundry processing of health care linens has experienced a significant shift. From the management of self-operated onsite laundry operations to the use of outsourced external central laundries, hospitals are evaluating the cost efficiencies of both in-house and outsourced processes. To do this, they must weigh the value of each while keeping the balance of effective textile care processing as the key fulcrum point in making their decision.

Each year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over 722,000 hospitalized patients contract a healthcare associated infection (HAI), resulting in over 75,000 deaths. In September 2013, the CDC released new evidence of emergent antimicrobial resistance threats and categorized them into categories of urgency.

In EVS, the transformational management philosophy can be a great tool when changes are necessary in your department. Introducing new ideas is never easy in EVS, but clear communication and strong determination will take you to your end result. When planning and executing, keep these 10 traits in mind.

Success and happiness seem to be reserved for the few luck folks who have been fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time, right? Nothing could be further from the truth. Many of us are not getting what we want and feel we deserve in life because of two key words— THOUGHTS and ACTION. In other words, we are not getting what we want because of what we think and because of what we do.

Lizbeth White answers questions about the Certified Health Care Environmental Services Professional (CHESP) certification process.

In the new era of healthcare reform, and with the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and higher expectations on the hospital environment than ever before, it’s our role as EVS leaders to hold ourselves to a higher standard— of the work we do, the people we lead and the patients we serve. 

Leadership isn’t about position. Leadership is about influence. Many leaders do not realize they are leaders or that they can become a better one. They believe leaders are just born that way. The truth is, with the right drive and training, leaders can be created.

Health care professionals are experiencing unprecedented times, and we need to know how to survive in a climate we have never experienced before. What we all should realize is that it is not a phase we are going through; this is our new reality. We need to not only understand it and get used to it, but also prosper in it.

Bob Paine answers questions about the Certified Health Care Environmental Services Professional (CHESP) certification process.

In a time of great change for health care – particularly in EVS – we need to stay one step ahead by knowing the answers to the questions we’ll be asked, understanding how to track and maintain productivity and efficiencies all while providing the best atmosphere and experience for our patients, visitors and staff. Utilizing technology to leverage and maximize staff time and skills sets will help.

Part one of this two-part article provided an overview of Legionnaires’ disease, the source of the bacterium in hospital water systems and aerosol vectors of infection. Part two focuses on the important role that a multidiscipline team plays in managing the legionellosis risk.

Fabrics play an important role in the transmission of bacteria. They have been proven to act as “fomites” – or where organisms can grow and multiply. And, even though soft surfaces constitute a significant portion of the patient’s immediate environment, they are often overlooked in everyday environmental hygiene practices.

EXPLORE spoke with Brian Tallmadge, CHESP, assistant chief, Environmental Management Services, at Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, S.C., about the latest technologies available for EVS professionals.

Given that an HAI can cost a facility up to $45,000, a more comprehensive approach to surface disinfection may be necessary. The adoption of UV surface treatment technology may be a cost-effective intervention.

The future of health care is as clear and certain as the muddy windows you clean after a rainy day. We have certainly heard the doom and gloom, and yet we also hear the promise of improvement. In today’s health care environment, that means change. But, for you, the environmental services (EVS) professional, the future is marked by the necessity of change.

A look at a couple of the most pressing problems confronting our profession in the immediate and the near future.