“You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.” — George Lorimer Self-determination to refer to a characteristic of a person that leads them to make choices and decisions based on their own preferences and interests, to monitor and regulate their own actions and to be…
Advice from one of the greatest leaders and decision-makers of our time: General Norman Schwarzkopf. As a young man, Schwarzkopf worked as an assistant to a general. At one point, the general was involved in a research project that the Pentagon was working on. For five years, no decisions had been made on how to…
Survey after survey shows employees consider recognition as one of the top desires in any job. Yet those same surveys show little recognition is received. How much of a leaders success is hindered by their lack of recognition for the work their employees do. People who feel appreciated are more positive about themselves and…
Most of us understand that floor finish performance is greatly enhanced by allowing adequate dry time. But, few people understand why this is so important and what mechanism is at work. Floor finish contains many independent ingredients such as water, polymer, resin, wax, plasticizer, coalescing agent and defoamer that, when combined together, form a stable,…
Each year we celebrate environmental services week. How about we celebrate everyday for the next year. Our hardworking staff mean so much to staff, visitors and patients.
Happy Environmental Services and Housekeeping week to all the very hard service workers in our industry. In a department comparison test we: Serve more people on a daily basis Save more lives through infection control Clean up the health care environment than any other Talk with more patients each day Handle hundreds more pounds…
I’m sorry that I have been inconsistent, or non-existent in updating this website over the past few months. I’m working on so many things I’ve put my time in other areas. Soon I will be adding new content, longer posts that have greater emphasis in learning, team building, and inspiring your staff to greatness. Remember…
Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives. ~Willa A Foster All hospital environmental service departments have some form of quality assurance process. However often the cleaning inspections are done when it is slow,…
Here are five things that environmental service leaders should do to improve relationships with staff. Be Visible with Rounding Rounding should include one-on-one rounds with your staff. Ask what is working well and what they need from you to do a better job. Appoint a department champion Identify a department champion who is well respected…
Another great question and answer: Q. Which disinfectant should I use when disinfecting environmental surfaces? A. Your facility will specify the EPA approved hospital grade disinfectant to use. A good rule is to only use disinfectants registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). See https://www.epa.gov/oppad001/active-hospital-disinf.pdf. Remember to always follow the instructions on the product…
Another Question and Answer Q. When should the environment be cleaned and disinfected? A. Housekeeping surfaces (e.g., floors, table tops) and other environmental surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected regularly, when spills occur, and when these surfaces are visibly dirty. Follow your facility’s schedules for routine cleaning and disinfection and for terminal cleaning of rooms…
Another good question and answer: Q. What is the difference between cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization? A. There is a big difference among these terms. Cleaning refers to the removal of visible soil and organic material (i.e., dirt, body fluids) from objects by washing or scrubbing with water and detergents or soaps and rinsing with water….
Another question and answer: Q. Does environmental cleaning and disinfection really work in preventing the spread of harmful microorganisms? A. Yes. But how well is works depends on many things, including the nature of the object, the type, number, and location of microorganisms, how well the organisms resist the physical processes or disinfectants, the presence…
Another question and answer: Q. Why is it important to clean the environment? A. Microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses) are present throughout our environment and can cause infection. The environment can serve as a breeding ground for these organisms. Cleaning and disinfecting housekeeping surfaces and medical equipment, especially those that are frequently touched, is important to…
Another Question and Answer: Q. In the healthcare or residential setting, what does the “environment” or “environmental surface” mean? A. The environment refers to the patient or resident’s surroundings. When we talk about cleaning the environment, typically we are referring to cleaning and disinfecting objects, like housekeeping surfaces (e.g., floors, tabletops) and medical equipment. It…