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Celebrating our Environmental Services Team!
September 9, 2022
This year during Environmental Services Week taking place from September 11th-17th, we want to highlight the critical role that this team plays at St. Mary’s. The Environmental Services Team (EVS), are key in helping us provide safe, exceptional care to our patients and community. The theme of this year’s celebration week is “Housekeeping Heroes”, and this team truly exemplifies the meaning of this with the work they do every day throughout the hospital.
Our EVS team at St. Mary’s consists of about 90 team members working throughout the hospital in patient, staff, and public areas. Not only is this team responsible for cleaning most areas of the hospital, but they also look after linen and waste management. The EVS team ensures that new linen is ordered and that floors receive a smooth delivery so that we can continue providing care to our patients. They also ensure that we are in compliance with all waste and environmental regulations as it relates to our waste management.
"The role of the EVS team at St. Mary’s is so important,” says Kelley, Housekeeping Supervisor. “They are essential in helping keep staff, patients, and visitors safe as well as aiding in Patient Flow. EVS is a wonderful team that deserves to be recognized often for their ongoing efforts in helping provide a safe and efficient environment within the organization. I am proud to be part of such an amazing team.”
The housekeeping team members assigned to inpatient floors are dedicated members of the unit responsible for terminal cleans upon discharge, regular patient and staff room cleanings, vents, windows, etc. They are also a friendly face for our patients and Care Partners, and a familiar and reassuring face for those who are in our care longer. Our patients build relationships with our EVS team members who will often stop to have a quick conversation or simply say “hello”. The inpatient EVS team members are key in supporting and facilitating patient flow working very closely with our Patient Flow and IPAC teams.
In addition to the inpatient areas, Housekeeping is responsible for outpatient clinics, administration floors/offices, and public areas. The evening shift team members take on most of the responsibility for the outpatient clinics and administration offices, working after hours to ensure that these areas are clean and safe for staff, patients, volunteers and visitors the following day. You often see them in public areas such as the lobby and hallways ensuring that those who come into our hospital, as well as all of you who work here, have the safest environment possible.
“Environmental Services is a team that can sometimes fly under the radar, but each and every member adds so much value to the overall operations of the hospital and recognizing this is very important,” says Suzy, Director, Corporate Services. “A huge THANK YOU to each and every member of the team, for EVERYTHING you do! Not only today, but every single day.”
The EVS team is always willing to support wherever they can, often being involved in things most people don’t even realize is managed by them. They are responsible for set-up and tear-down of events such as public announcements, award ceremonies, trainings, and more. They also have a huge role to play in our construction projects working with the Facilities Team to conduct terminal cleans and regular cleanings in areas reopening after construction.
Thank you to our entire EVS team! Without you, we wouldn’t be able to provide the care that we do. It truly takes every single person and department within our walls to ensure that our community and patients have access to compassionate, exceptional, equitable, and safe care.
This team is an integral part of our hospital. When you see one of our exceptional EVS team members this week, or any time, please remember to say thank you for everything they do.
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