This week, September 8-14, is Environmental Services (EVS) Week – the time to honor EVS professionals for the important contributions they make every day to keep the healthcare environment clean and safe for patients and staff. EVS is integral to every healthcare system’s infection prevention effort and Healthcare Purchasing News invites all to join us in giving EVS staff across the nation a big thank you.
The Association of the Healthcare Environment (AHE), a division of the American Hospital Association, is also calling on EVS teams to share their experiences and pictures with the organization’s social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter) for a chance to win a $250 gift card that will go towards a department celebration on September 13, 2019. There’s still time – deadline is Friday, September 13, 8:00 am CST!
AHE also encourages EVS staff to take part in its education and certification programs:
· Certified Health Care Environmental Services Technician (CHEST)
· Certified Health Care Environmental Services Professional (CHESP)
· Certification Training for Surgical Cleaning Technicians (CSCT)
AHE/AHA also partnered with Ohio State University recently to develop the first undergraduate certificate program in healthcare environmental services. AHE Executive Director Patti Costello believes those who enroll in the course will have a professional advantage — so will facilities that support and encourage environ-mental services workers to enroll in the certificate program. “The collaborative venture with a major university will benefit both healthcare and hospitality professionals,” Costello told HPN.
Visit HPN’s EVS & Facilities Management page to learn more about the role EVS plays in the daily lives of patients, families, and healthcare workers.
