Friday, March 31, 2017

Environmental Services Henrico VA Hospitals Rely On Are Critical

By Karen Anderson


A hospital is not someplace most people want to spend a lot of time. They are noisy, and medical personnel and staff members seem to be up and down the corridors at all times of the day and night. It is a place where germs and contagious diseases come together, and the individuals charged with the care of patients are in and out of rooms all the time. Without meticulous attention to cleanliness, the possibility of serious problems is a real risk. That is why the environmental services Henrico VA hospitals depend on is so critical.

The last thing patients want to do is leave the hospital sicker than when they went in. Doctors, nurses, and other staff members move from one sick room to the next, and they can carry germs and other contaminants with them if they are not very careful. Making sure the entire hospital is as antiseptic as possible is the job of the service staff. They are the individuals charged with housekeeping, swabbing floors, and sanitizing all surfaces.

In order to maintain high standards and give the best possible service, training sessions are mandatory. During these sessions, personnel listen to the latest information on fire and radiation safety, preventing falls, emergency codes, and protective gear. They are reminded about the critical importance of securing medications and which diseases can be passed through blood intermingling.

In a hospital environment, quality is a top priority. Service employees are expected to maintain it to the highest degree. There are periodic inspections to ensure all measures are taken to make sure the hospital is as clean and germ free as possible. There are occasionally new regulations put into place to improve the quality of floor care and laundry service.

This is a department that deals with an abundance of waste every day, and it is important that they dispose of it in a responsible manner. Wherever possible, employees recycle and re-use items. There are federal guidelines concerning some types of waste, and department managers must keep up with all the latest directives.

Most of the service staff work eight hour shifts and, when it is time to end one shift and begin another, everyone has to be able to communicate and cooperate to ensure the least amount of disruption. In order to build the teamwork this requires, many departments plan special events, such as birthday parties, and picnics where co-workers can get to know one another outside the hospital. Awarding outstanding service is another way to make employees feel like they are an important part of the team.

Hospitals with reputations for cleanliness are much more likely to have patients who feel confident and secure. When organizations and communities recognize the efforts of the service department at a particular hospital, the management makes sure the information is spread by print and social media.

People who find themselves in a hospital may not exactly enjoy the experience, but they can appreciate the hard work that goes into improving their situation. From the doctors to the service personnel, making the surroundings safe, secure, and comfortable is a top priority.




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