Brookings Health System (BHS) recognizes the value and positive impact of the environmental service (EVS) employees for reducing the risk of infection. Health care facilities across the state joined BHS and the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care (SDFMC) in recognizing EVS teams during Cleaning Week, which was held March 24-30, 2024. Education and training are available through SDFMC’s Project Firstline initiative to emphasize the positive impact of proper cleaning and disinfection on public health, the environment, and the economy.
“Maintaining a clean environment by following proper cleaning procedures, especially in a health care facility, lowers the spread of germs and reduces infection. Environmental services team members play a key role in infection prevention by providing everyone with a clean healthcare environment,” shared Rebecca Sime, RN, program manager for South Dakota Project Firstline (SD PFL) at SDFMC.
The SD PFL team travels across the state providing infection prevention and control training. Bunny Christie, MS, infection preventionist from BHS is one of many health care professionals who took advantage of the learning opportunity. “EVS, nationwide, lacks accessible resources for education and certification. The EVS leadership at BHS is committed to reviewing and enhancing EVS policies and protocols and is using Project Firstline education to train new hires and current EVS technicians.”
“Being proactive in training and education for healthcare EVS teams throughout the year protects everyone entering the healthcare setting. By providing dedicated time for EVS staff training, BHS is promoting the value and impact their EVS team makes on infection prevention and control practices within their hospital,” said Jess Danko, MSHA, RRT, LTC-CIP, program director at SDFMC.
The SD PFL team worked closely with the healthcare associated infection team to identify top infection prevention and control concerns for BHS. The information was used to tailor discussion and provide hands-on learning. “While no one wants to be critiqued or find non-compliant issues in their facility, their report was an invaluable learning opportunity,” stated Christie. “It is difficult to break “old patterns” or ways we may have learned about healthcare in the past. Project Firstline helps break these patterns by providing current best practice information along with supporting research, regulations, or references.”
The SDFMC team routinely highlights the valuable contribution of the EVS teams for improving positive health outcomes and impacting the quality of life for all South Dakotans. SDFMC encourages health care facilities to submit environmental services (EVS) employees for recognition and distribute certificates to highlight the value of this workforce throughout the year. Those interested in learning more about infection prevention control resources from SDFMC are encouraged to submit an information request form.