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A New Era of Competency for Environmental Services Teams

Profile image of Hudson Garrett Jr.
Hudson Garrett Jr.
June 15, 2022

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The Covid-19 pandemic has raised awareness of the critical role of Environmental Services (EVS) in preventing the spread of germs that can cause illness within healthcare environments as well as the need for targeted training and education in the EVS field. EVS professionals play a pivotal role in both maintaining a clean and sanitary environment for the patient but also in reducing potential patient harm. Regardless of the type of pathogen, routine cleaning and disinfection with an EPA-registered, broad-spectrum disinfectant remain a mainstay in any infection prevention and control program in healthcare facilities. Those that use disinfectants, such as EVS Technicians, must be thoroughly knowledgeable about any disinfectants that are used in the facility including core items such as contact time, proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), first aid, and product disposal instructions. It can be quite difficult to find comprehensive training programs designed to enhance cleaning operations and improve operational efficiencies. In addition, EVS departments often face difficulties in staff retention, which creates a continuous need for on-demand training and education.

This is why I’d like to share information about CloroxPro’s new HealthyClean Certificate Program — Trained Specialist Course, which is designed to meet the unique needs of both frontline cleaning personnel as well as managers and supervisors. Because this certificate program is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), it has been subjected to the industry’s most stringent reviews, vetted by top experts, and is a globally recognized certificate standard for quality program development and training comprehension. This high bar for approval is the testimony of the program’s contents, design, and ability to assess program participants.

In addition to the specific cleaning for health content incorporated into the program, the required elements to meet many standards from the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for both frontline personnel and supervisory personnel are also included. OSHA-specific topics include bloodborne pathogens, waste disposal, and handling sharps appropriately. The use of the CloroxPro HealthyClean Certificate Program can not only assist EVS leaders with meeting compliance requirements but also help protect EVS technicians from the inherent risks of infection found in healthcare facilities.

To successfully and reliably mitigate risks associated with the healthcare environment, EVS leaders should prioritize the three P’s: People, Process and Product. First, leaders must have the right people with the correct, role-specific competency to perform the role. Next, the correct processes must be in place that are both highly reliable and closely monitored such as environmental cleaning and disinfection of a patient's room following discharge. Last, EVS frontline professionals must be equipped with the most comprehensive product solutions available to combat environmental pathogens. This comprehensive approach provides the best possible outcomes when it is rigorously followed. This three-tiered approach can assist EVS leaders with identifying risks associated with cleaning and disinfection and healthcare team safety issues such as exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

  1. People:
  • Do I have the right team members performing the role for which they are most qualified?
  • How do I ensure the competency of my frontline EVS personnel?
  • Are my personnel able to meet the demands of our Institution and patients?
  • Do I have a highly functional team culture within my OR and facility?
  1. Process:
  • How is my cleaning/disinfection process validated and how often?
  • How would I know if I have a cleaning/disinfection process failure?
  1. Product:
  • Do I use evidence-based products and technologies to maintain a clean and sanitary environment?
  • Are my personnel properly educated about each cleaning/disinfection product that they use?

By improving the overall competency of individual frontline cleaning personnel and those who supervise them, EVS leaders can immediately use the CloroxPro HealthyClean Certificate Program to train and deliver annual training to provide frontline EVS Technicians and supervisors with the essential knowledge and skills to help them improve overall competency. To learn more about CloroxPro Healthy Clean, visit: www.CloroxPro.com/healthyclean.

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About the Author

Profile image of Hudson Garrett Jr.
PhD, MSN, MPH, MBA, FNP-BC, CPHQ, PLNC, AS-BC, IP-BC, CDONA, FACDONA, VA-BC, CFER, CPPS, NREMT, FACDONA, FAAPM, FNAP, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Dr. Hudson Garrett has a faculty appointment as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He also co-founded the nonprofit the Infection Prevention Institute to help shepherd dissemination of best practices of infection prevention and control across the healthcare continuum of care globally. He holds a Graduate Certificate in Infection Prevention and Infection Control from the University of South Florida. He has completed the Johns Hopkins Fellows Program in Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control. He is also a Fellow in the Academy of National Associations of Directors of Nursing Administration, the American Academy of Project Management, and a Senior Fellow of the Management and Strategy Institute. In 2019, he was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow and Practitioner in the National Academies of Practices. He holds graduate certificates in healthcare leadership from both Cornell and the University of Notre Dame. He is an appointed member of the advisory committee for the Design Thinking in Healthcare Program at Rutgers University. He is a frequent international lecturer in the areas of infectious diseases, healthcare associated infections, outbreak response and prevention and infection prevention and control. He holds Board Certifications in Patient Safety, Healthcare Quality, Vascular Access, Antibiotic Stewardship, Prehospital Emergency Medical Services, Flexible Endoscope Reprocessing, Critical Care, and Infection Prevention and Control in Post-Acute Care. Dr. Garrett led the development of the first and only core infection prevention and control and antibiotic stewardship certifications and certificate of mastery programs in postacute care settings. He has served on international and national organizational boards in the areas of environmental services, dental infection control, infection control, acute care infection control, post-acute care infection control, and vascular access. He has served on expert panels related to disinfection and sterilization with the United States Food, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency, most notably serving on the FDA’s Panel and Working Group for Flexible Endoscope Reprocessing. Dr. Garrett has lectured and given testimony to government and regulatory agencies on a variety of topics related to infectious diseases.

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