• Why is science- and value-based training for EVS technicians ignored or limited ?
• The article in the April 2021 issue of HHM did not ask why doesn ’ t EVS and IP always have a seat at the table when construction , reconstruction , renovations , flooring , fixtures , furniture , and mobile equipment they will process purchase discussions are in their initial stages ?
Those questions must be explored and dissected at the local or system level . Until embracing EVS / IP into the cadre of healthcare professionals as peers , a coordinated movement to improve patient health and well-being following the CQO will be incomplete , not a holistic approach . For those reading this article , it is noteworthy that infection prevention and environmental services partnership is vital , as are the industry partners that support them .
• The Society of Human Resource Management defines environmental services as “ Services that maintain environmental and infection control standards within established policies and procedures of the healthcare center ”
• Both professions are connected and rely on each other ’ s expertise to administer evidence-based practice across the continuum of care
• The professional association for infection prevention – APIC — promotes consumer education that highlights the collaborative work between infection prevention and EVS .
• Certification for Infection Prevention has Environment of Care as a testing category , where collaboration is questioned as part of validating the competency of the infection preventionist
Speaking of a coordinated movement , the CDC is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services and operates as the nation ’ s health protection agency . The CDC saves lives by providing science-based information to protect people from health threats . This agency conducts critical science research and provides health information that protects our nation
The CDC against expensive and dangerous health threats and Organization responds when these arise .
The CDC recognizes the risk of infection from surfaces and , in 2020 , provided descriptions and examples of each of 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 healthcare personnel 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 the adequacy and effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection to staff and stakeholders .
These six core components are the bedrock upon which hospitals , long-term care facilities , dental offices and clinics , and every venue people visit to receive treatment to mitigate their ailments must build . The Environmental Services Optimization Playbook ( EvSOP ©) is the blueprint of how to build upon the foundation .
The processes that EVS incorporates in cleaning and disinfecting are science-based . Mixing cost , quality , and outcome movements from concept to completion is imperative . Also critical is the incorporation of the principles of cleaning and disinfection which are timeless , regardless of the microbes , multidrug-resistant organisms ( MDROs ), healthcare-acquired infections ( HAIs ), or
To View CDC
Cleaning & pandemics presenting the challenge to
Disinfecting the healthcare environment .
Environmental The CDC has this to say about Surfaces
cleaning : “ Cleaning is the necessary first step of any disinfection process . Cleaning removes organic matter , salts , and visible soils , all of which interfere with microbial inactivation . The physical action of scrubbing with detergents and surfactants and rinsing with water removes substantial numbers of microorganisms . When a surface is not free of dirt ( cleaned ) first , the disinfection processes are compromised . The success of the entire process ( cleaning and disinfecting ) is seriously in doubt and is most likely a failure . Removal of all visible blood and inorganic and organic matter can be as critical as the germicidal activity of the disinfecting agent .
www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com • may 2021
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