August 27, 2024
Boston Children’s Hospital is already renowned for its innovative approach to pediatric healthcare and is now charting new territory with its environmental services (EVS) department.
The Boston Children’s Hospital EVS team is setting a new standard in pediatric infection prevention by dedicating a position solely to infection prevention control (IPC).
Why EVS Is Vital to Infection Prevention at a Pediatric Hospital
Infection prevention is critical in any healthcare setting, but pediatric hospitals face unique challenges like developmental vulnerability, different pathogen exposure risks, and the need for age-appropriate practices.
These challenges mean that every team at Boston Children’s — including EVS — must be trained to follow specific protocols. This also means parents and family members may have to set aside well-intentioned desires to ensure the safety of every patient, staff member, and themselves.
When EVS team members are trained to support these efforts through proper cleaning protocols and positive interactions with patients, they can ease this discomfort and help create a safe and healing environment for patients and their families.
How Thomas Stjepanovic Is Making Infection Prevention a Central Focus of the Boston Children’s EVS Team
To meet these challenges, the Boston Children’s EVS team appointed Thomas Stjepanovic as Director of Infection Prevention. With a background in biology and over a decade of experience in EVS, Thomas is instrumental in shaping the team’s infection prevention initiatives.
The EVS Infection Prevention Program at Boston Children’s
Boston Children’s EVS infection prevention program is built on six pillars: implementation, compliance and innovation, education, liaison, and data reporting.
1. Implementation
Boston Children’s EVS team follows strict processes to ensure patient quality care, including:
- Hand Hygiene Program — Weekly meetings to reinforce the how and why behind hand hygiene.
- One Glove Method — A simple yet effective technique for preventing infection spread: one gloved hand handles potentially infectious materials and the other touches common surfaces.
- PPE Usage — Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) protects both EVS team members and their patients.
2. Compliance
These daily audits provide quality assurance:
- EVS Cart Audits — Confirm carts are properly stocked and maintained.
- EVS Closet Audits — Ensure closets are organized and fully stocked.
- Chemical Audits — Check that chemicals are up-to-date and safely stored.
- Hand Hygiene Audits — Management observes team members’ performance to ensure hand hygiene compliance.
- Blacklight Inspections and Performance Indicators (PIs) — Quick, effective verification that areas have been thoroughly cleaned.
3. Innovation
Thomas keeps his team informed of the latest CDC guidelines and potential risks from disease outbreaks. He regularly attends and participates in IPC meetings, making sure the EVS and IPC departments are aligned.
4. Education
Thomas devotes much of his time to educating the EVS department’s leadership and frontline staff on:
- Why IPC is important and EVS’s role in infection prevention
- Common organisms, bacteria, and viruses at Boston Children’s
- Key IPC terminology and processes
5. Liaison
A successful IPC program relies on close collaboration between EVS and IPC.
Though part of the EVS team, Thomas’s background and experience in biology allow him to bridge the gap between the teams. Over time, this collaboration has encouraged a true partnership between the two departments.
6. Data Reporting
Performance metrics are shared at the weekly IPC meetings and reviewed quarterly with hospital leadership. This transparency has strengthened IPC and hospital leadership’s trust in the EVS team.
Frontline staff also get involved with the data when EVS leadership shares the metrics during team huddles to identify areas for improvement and recognize team wins. Monthly awards are given for attendance, performance, and peer or manager nominations.
Looking Ahead
As Boston Children’s Hospital continues to be a leader in pediatric care, the partnership between their EVS and IPC teams proves how innovation and collaboration with support service providers can enhance patient safety and set new standards in healthcare.
As we continue our partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital, we remain committed to pushing boundaries to achieve better results, working together with our customers, and keeping our patients at the forefront of everything we do.
Don’t miss our upcoming posts as we continue to explore our EVS team’s innovative initiatives at Boston Children’s Hospital. Subscribe now to stay informed!
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Healthcare