Smart Healthcare Administrators prioritize housekeeping services for their hospitals because cleanliness is a prime factor in reducing HAIs, promoting safety, and improving patient satisfaction scores. But is the self-management of EVS performance the right focus for a hospital administrator?
Let’s look at some of the challenges… First, having an in-house EVS team can be very expensive as it makes hospitals fully liable for all worker compensation and other associated expenses. This can be up to 25% in additional housekeeping expenses for the hospital. Additionally, the hospital administrator would need to drive the ongoing education around cleaning and sanitizing standards for the team.
Many EVS departments choose to outsource their housekeeping needs but struggle to guarantee the desired quality of service from a contractor. The best way to evaluate a potential service provider is to review their housekeeping training program. This will establish accurate expectations for the contractor’s future performance as well as verify their compliance with regulatory agencies such as JCAHO, DHS, OSHA, CMS and CAPP.
An effective training program should consist of two parts: classroom training and on-the-job training. Classroom training covers the basics related to the housekeeping industry. On-the-job training is responsible for the requirements of a specific medical facility.
A proper classroom training should include at least the following modules:
- A general orientation of basic bacteriological concepts, infection control, and universal precautions, relating duty functions to these areas.
- Complete instruction on obtaining, use, and care of supplies and equipment, and selection and measurement of proper cleaning chemicals.
- Duties of each employee and techniques for measuring quality of work performance (including evaluation of cleaning effectiveness).
- Familiarization with applicable Federal, state, local and facility regulations and policies, (including fire prevention, ground safety, employee health, universal precautions, personal protective equipment, etc.).
- Techniques of cleaning of high asepsis areas.
- The role of Housekeeping in the facility and its effect on the health and well-being of patients, staff and visitors.
- Employee’s personal hygiene.
- Patient/personal relations.
- Medical waste disposal.
- Hazard communications, including location and access to the Safety Data Sheet.
On-the-job training includes not only familiarization with the safety requirements of a specific facility but also teaching the overall culture of the hospital. This training is meant to ensure that the housekeeping staff understands the organizational mission and values and is ready to represent them on the daily basis.
Contact Susan Matt, Director of Operation for Healthcare to learn more about our housekeeping training.
Our offering includes:
- Housekeeping services
- Linen and laundry management services
- Regulatory compliance consulting
- Management only
- Staffing services
