Medline recognizes excellence in environmental services

Environmental service (EVS) workers aren’t clinicians but they play a vital role in delivering high quality care. That’s why Medline is marking EVS Week 2020 by announcing the winners of its inaugural “EVS Super Stars VIPs of Clean” contest.

Nearly 100 nominations were submitted across the country, each highlighting ways in which teams are boosting morale, implementing new procedures and expanding training as the frontlines of defense against pathogens.

First place: Meadowbrook Manor in Naperville, Illinois received top honors for its ability to keep staff engaged and enthusiastic about making infection prevention a top priority. Additionally, nominators noted how teams across the facility create close bonds with residents and know everyone by name.

Second place: Mercy Health-St. Rita’s in Lima, Ohio works to ensure patients understand they are there to help make patient stays as comfortable as possible. In one instance, the team purchased a birthday cake for a patient’s spouse so they could celebrate.

Third place: Lompoc Valley Medical Center in Lompoc, California rounds out the top three for its ability to streamline efficiency to drive excellence in EVS. Additionally, the facility replaces dividing curtains each time a patient is discharged to reduce the spread of germs.

“A clean office space. Empty waste cans. A clean bathroom. These are things we all expect when we come into a workplace, but how those tasks are done in healthcare can vary widely,” says Tracey Stewart, a sales specialist who spent more than a decade developing results-driven EVS programs prior to working at Medline.

“Now more than ever, it is important to recognize the unsung heroes of EVS who work tirelessly in facilities across the country to put the patient or resident at the center of all they do. Medline is proud to honor these facilities and applaud EVS teams everywhere for the essential work they do.”

Medline is proud to thank environmental service workers today, and every day for ensuring the safety of patients and staff throughout the continuum of care.