processes not part of the “ DNA ” of procurement decision-making when considering EVS tools ?” “ Why is scientific and value-based product evaluation bypassed when considering or purchasing EVS tools ( remember what EVS tools are ) for infection prevention processing of the environment ?” “ Why are EVS departments excused from scientific and value-based product evaluation for the most important infection prevention trap-capture-remove tools are purchased or services contracted ? “ Why is scientific and value-based training for EVS technicians ignored or limited ?”
In 2020 , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) released an informative and ground-breaking resource that highlighted core components of environmental cleaning disinfection in hospitals . The CDC recognizes the risk of infection from surfaces and provided descriptions and examples of each of the six core components to ensure a hygienic environment . Here are the six core components :
➊ Integrate environmental services into the hospital ’ s safety culture .
➋ Educate and train all HCP responsible for cleaning and disinfecting patient care areas .
➌ Select appropriate cleaning and disinfection technologies and products .
➍ Standardize setting-specific cleaning and disinfection protocols .
➎ Monitor effectiveness and adherence to cleaning and disinfection protocols .
➏ Provide feedback on adequacy and effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection to staff and stakeholders .
Those components are the bedrock upon which hospitals must build all EVS departments , and the Environmental Services Optimization Playbook ( EvSOP ©) is the blueprint of how to build upon the foundation .
The CDC resource is groundbreaking because it definitively states , “ Therefore , cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces is fundamental to reduce potential contribution to healthcare-associated infections . Inadvertent exposures to environmental opportunistic pathogens may result in infections with significant morbidity and / or mortality .” Until this resource was published , there was no definitive “ stake in the ground ” by a government agency making such a clear-voiced declaration .
Point No . 3 above , “ Select appropriate cleaning and disinfection technologies and products ” cannot be overlooked or minimized . For far too long , EVS has been the “ department in the basement ,” and following science and value-backed purchasing discussions or decisions rarely were initiated with infection prevention departments , materials management , quality control / management / measurement , chief operating officers , or other C-suite executives . EVS budgets and staffing are first on the chopping block without any “ If-Then ” consideration of conditional reasoning and logical equivalence . Rarely is regard shown to the critical aspect of EVS personnel maintaining hygienic conditions and reducing HAIs . Too often , maintaining a winsome appearance
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