insights
Celebrating the Humans Behind EVS at Children’s Health Dallas
We are so proud of the environmental services workers who fight on the frontlines of infection every day.
This week, we’re celebrating some of the people who keep their EVS teams running and their hospitals safe and infection-free.
EVS workers are a crucial part of the infection fighting team: while medical staff fight infections in the body, EVS techs fight infection in the building. One of the EVS teams that embodies this commitment to fighting infection is the EVS Team at Children’s Health in Dallas, who were recently awarded as one of the EVS Departments of the Year for 2023.
We reached out to EVS Managers at Children’s Health to talk about why EVS matters, and recognize some of the heroes of their EVS department.
“Hospitals couldn’t operate without Environmental Services,” said Raymond Robinson, Second and Third Shift EVS Manager at Children’s Health Dallas. EVS Manager David Abrego agreed: “Although EVS does not provide patient care, we do provide indirect patient care by being the first line of defense against pathogens preventing outbreaks and illnesses.”
Here’s what they had to say about the EVS workers who keep their department—and their hospital—running:
Rosalie Similien
“Rosalie Similien has dedicated over 20 years to making life better for children. She has disinfected every area in this hospital – such as the ER, OR discharge cleaning, and area cleaning – with a hospitable spirit. She is also very flexible in our EVS operations. Rosalie is always willing to step in and help her colleagues without hesitation. Rosalie has had a huge impact on our team. Every area she covers is in compliance with the standards of Children’s Health. She strives to provide the best experience for patients, team members and visitors.”
– Raymond Robinson, Second and Third Shift Environmental Services Manager
Mairy Mabour
“Mairy Mabour will do whatever is asked of her, no matter what. If Mairy sees something, she takes care of it without being asked. She is very proactive and conscientious, and also very humble – she always greets people with a smile. Mairy was asked to participate in a video for the Patient Experience team, where team members learn about the impact they’ve made on patients and patient families. Mairy shared how she takes pride in her work and greatly cares about the children who receive care at Children’s Health.”
-Sonia Rodriguez, First Shift Environmental Services Manager
Maria Almaguer
“Maria Almaguer is as passionate as they come, and it shows in the quality of work she provides in the OR. While Maria’s interactions with patients is limited, the quality of work she performs –like in between case cleaning, end of day OR terminal cleaning – provides our pediatric patients with a safe and thoroughly disinfected environment. Her work has continuously keeps patients safe in a sensitive invasive unit.
Maria is also one of the most positive, friendly, supportive and caring people I know. She is a team player always willing to step in to cover gaps, train other employees with the utmost integrity, and encourage others regarding their role. She brings a smile and bounce to her step every day when she comes to work. When Maria is off, you notice her absence.
Children’s Health mission is to “make life better for children.” Since joining Children’s Health, Maria has supported three different areas. To this day, I continue to receive requests to have her reassigned to those past areas because she is liked, trusted and cared for. Maria “makes life better for children” by always doing the right thing, and having the highest of expectations of herself and every team member alike.”
-David Abrego, Environmental Services Manager