Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 25th April 2024 Issue no. 1111
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Call for nominations for 13th Annual National Hygiene Specialist Excellence Award
Nominations are open for the 13th Annual National Hygiene Specialist Excellence Award, which acknowledges the crucial role of environmental services (EVS) departments in the US, in reducing preventable healthcare associated infections (pHAIs). Sponsored by UMF Corporation, the Award aims to spotlight EVS staff, the essential healthcare workers who too often are overlooked when it comes to controlling pHAIs such as MRSA, C. diff., hepatitis, Covid-19, and more. Nominations are open through 30th April, 2022.
"Each year, one in 25 hospitalised patients will get a pHAI, an infection resulting from the care they receive, and an estimated 75,000 patients will die," says UMF CEO George Clarke.
"We established the National Hygiene Specialist Excellence Award more than a decade ago to celebrate EVS workers, who serve as a first line of defence in preventing pHAI spread. After more than two years of a pandemic, they have remained steadfast in their commitment to deliver an essential service throughout hospitals, long-term care centres and other healthcare facilities."
EVS staff are responsible for cleaning and disinfecting patient rooms, operating rooms and common areas throughout healthcare facilities. They are integral to enterprise-wide multimodal infection prevention and control. According to the US Centres for Disease Control & Prevention, to keep patients safe, healthcare facilities must maintain a clean environment and minimise the presence of pathogens, which can result in significant morbidity and/or mortality. Cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces is fundamental to reduce pHAIs. EVS staff - and hygiene specialists, in particular - lead the charge in ensuring this happens properly throughout healthcare facilities.
"EVS departments, especially hygiene specialists, play such an important role in keeping patients safe from infection,” adds George. “The National Hygiene Specialist Excellence Award is an opportunity to recognise their critical contributions."
EVS managers are encouraged to nominate dedicated staff members for the award. The award recipient will receive an all-expenses paid trip for two, including airfare, to South Beach, Fla. Nomination forms, available at https://bit.ly/3liHmmh should be submitted by 30th April, 2022.
24th March 2022