insights
How Environmental Services Can Save Thousands – Part 2
In today’s healthcare world of ACO’s, Value Based healthcare and LEAN management system the EVS department has a real strategic opportunity to contribute EVS staffing expertise that may save your medical center or facility thousands.
The second of three possible staffing opportunities in Environmental Services Departments includes Invasive Care Case Response Productivity.
Invasive Care Areas in healthcare may include Inpatient and Outpatient Surgery Departments, Endoscopy Services, Cardiac Cath lab, Labor/ Delivery Units, Radiology Procedure Rooms, and Emergency/Trauma Services etc. require both between cases cleaning (BCC) as well as terminal cleaning. Managing the case turnover services for quality outcomes, rapid respond and high productivity is not easy and may require one or more of the following tactics to remain cost effective:
Limit “Locked In” Staff- A productive invasive care service system limits the number of “Locked In” staff for BCC work to an absolute minimum. This enable the department to build a team of BCC staff who can service case turnover for multiple departments. These staff members are also assigned other work nearby which can be easily deferred to another time in the day when case cleaning needs are not needed. The reduction of locked in staff reduces the number of staff who are “ready for action” in favor of more productive utilization of EVS labor dollars.
Embrace Emerging Communication Systems – Limiting “locked in” staff will be much easier if effective communication systems are employed. If the invasive care department has the technology to quickly notify the EVS team via text messaging a few minutes before the case is completed, the person or persons performing the case cleaning can arrive at the precise “wheels out” moment and case turnover time can be minimized. This practice could be as simple as the purchase of cell phones or it may involve the purchase of some other nonverbal notification software system tied to the surgery or procedure schedule. Of course the necessary equipment as well as agreed upon procedures for the timing of communications and expected response will be needed.
Implement Innovative Training Systems – Another requirement to accomplish “limited lock in” staffing will be innovative training systems that include comprehensive BCC training for a variety of invasive departments in the medical center and competency documentation for multiple employees. This may mean an EVS worker is trained to respond to any invasive care department and can demonstrate competency in including case turnover procedures, supplies location, equipment operation/disinfection cleaning steps and expected suite or procedure room layout for each invasive care department. Building a team of invasive care area BCC cleaners may be time consuming at the outset, however can result in enhanced morale, improved service to invasive care departments, and consistent support during vacation periods or a staff vacancy.
Stay tuned for part 3 of this article!
For more information on software systems to help you with Census Based Staffing, Invasive Care Case Response Productivity or Collections Services Management visit www.smartfacilitysoftware.com.
Cindy E. Paget has worked in healthcare since 1986, providing leadership development and consulting for Environmental Services and Human Resources. Cindy is a member of AHE, is both CHESP and SPHR certified and serves as a convention speaker and writer for healthcare leadership learning events. Cindy holds a dual degree BS in Business Administration/Information Systems and an MA in Organizational Leadership and lives in Sequim, WA.