Focus: Environmental Services

Environmental services technician certification proves its worth

Certification also helps decrease infection rates in hospitals


The Certified Health Care Environmental Services Technician (CHEST), launched in 2015. Since then, a survey has indicated there has been a decrease in several infection rates, according to an article on the Health Facilities Management website.

For instance, after the training there was a 3 percent decrease in Clostridium difficile rates. 

The program also helped improve HCAHPS scores, as the average number of patients at the facilities surveyed who reported their bathroom was “always” clean jumped from 69 percent to 79 percent. 

The program has also resulted in an average decrease of 7 percent in staff turnover rates.

Read the article.



June 17, 2020


Topic Area: Environmental Services


Recent Posts

What 'Light' Daily Cleaning of Patient Rooms Misses

Most environmental services workers still clean as if they were wiping dust off a countertop, not disrupting a living, structured community.


Sprinkler Compliance: Navigating Code Mandates, Renovation Triggers and Patient Safety

As CMS deadlines approach and renovation projects accelerate, healthcare facility managers must understand how NFPA 101, state fire codes and sprinkler design strategies intersect.


MUSC Board of Trustees Approves $1.1B South Carolina Cancer Hospital

Research and education are intentionally embedded in the hospital’s design, with dedicated spaces for scientific collaboration, clinical investigation and training.


Study Outlines Hand Hygiene Guidelines for EVS Staff

Researchers find that current guidelines for hand hygiene don’t include EVS workers and suggest indicators to fill that gap.


McCarthy Completes $65M Sharp Rees-Stealy Kearny Mesa MOB Modernization

The completed tenant improvement includes approximately 100,000 square feet of improved space across two buildings and represents an investment of $65 million.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.