Resource Library

In April 2016, new guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America and Society for Health Epidemiology of America were released. Recommendations for effective antibiotic stewardship programs include preauthorization and prospective review of antibiotics, physician and pharmacist leadership and program design that focuses on the specific problems and resources of the healthcare facility.

The Association for the Healthcare Environment’s diverse membership includes environmental services professionals from many different backgrounds, including international members. Here, we feature three perspectives on the global scope of environmental services and what AHE has to offer for members in any country.

In 2013, the FDA issued a Safety Communication warning that damaged mattress covers pose a risk of cross-contamination and patient infection, and recommended regular inspections of patient mattresses for any visible signs of damage such as tears, cuts, punctures, abrasions or staining. Despite this warning, there may be reasons why damaged mattresses continue to circulate in healthcare facilities.

The following document and infographic explain what we know and don't know about the Zika virus, and provide recommendations for men who reside in or have traveled to areas with active Zika virus transmission and their sex partners.

An overview of three main areas of development where manufacturers and distributors of health care linens are concentrating their efforts. These were all identified as important factors in addressing the needs of the aging population, and work is being done throughout the industry to strive to address these developing needs.

We asked Terri Nelson, RN, MA, value analysis manager with Mayo Clinic, a few questions about selecting the best health care textile products.

Gail Fraine, RN, MMHC, BSN, CIC shares tips on minimizing risk and increasing safety when it comes to preventing disease transmission.

Visiting a potential health care laundry is a must and should include relevant representatives from environmental services and infection prevention. During the visit, focus the evaluation on the Three Ps: the plant, the personnel, and the process.

During a session titled “Environmental Services, Infection Prevention, and Health Care Laundry: Partners in Textile Hygiene,” speakers detailed how St. Mary’s (a 391-licensed bed, not-for-profit hospital) partnered with its laundry provider to enhance management practices.

Jamie Cadenas and Dan Beaver answer questions about the Certified Health Care Environmental Services Professional (CHESP) certification process.

“Can a robot clean a hospital room just as well as a human?” Let’s look at a few facts by dissecting the question and answering some questions of our own.

Given the amount of time that environmental services technicians spend with the patients they serve on a daily basis, the utilization of a facility-wide TeamSTEPPS® program can actively engage staff members across all disciplines with the overarching goal of improving quality and safety, the patient experience, and also reducing associated health care costs.

As a follow-up to a health update entitled HAN 00382 and distributed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on September 11, 2015, the CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are providing this update to rescind the following recommendation.

Trial and error are hard-knock teachers, and no way to learn a profession. Even “old dog” managers who may be used to learning the hard way can work to stay ahead of the ever-changing intricacies and innovations of their complex profession.

Environmental services staff provide an essential patient service that should not be overlooked, but is most often not recognized or acknowledged, and usually discounted.

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

We live and work in a world that is moving faster, with demands that seem to pile quicker than our ability to meet them. So what do you do? How do you prioritize your task list? How do you decide on what to have your team focus? Floor-savvy environmental service leaders are finding ways to save one to two hours of downtown per room every year.

The best culture in a health care organization is a “connection culture.” “Connection” is defined as a bond based on shared identity, empathy, and understanding that moves individuals toward group-centered membership.

Workloading has a profound positive impact on everyone including the client, frontline staff, middle management, financial overseers, and organization as a whole. Of course, the opposite also is true. If environmental services workloading is not managed appropriately, the negative impact will affect everyone in your organization as well as your clients, and the outcome will be costly in terms of both dollars and reputation.

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