Healthcare Environmental Services (EVS) Guide & Tips for Job Seekers

We go to the hospital at some of the most vulnerable times in our lives. Healthcare environmental services (EVS) provide safe, clean conditions at healthcare facilities, meaning patients have one less thing to stress about while seeking care.

In this blog, we’ll cover the role of the EVS department in a healthcare facility, including:

• What an EVS worker does
• The tools and training they require
• The benefits of a career in EVS
• How to find an EVS job

What is EVS?

Environmental services (EVS), also known as housekeeping services, is how the healthcare industry describes the highly trained support service staff and their processes for cleaning and disinfecting patient rooms, medical equipment, and other areas in healthcare facilities.

What is the Role of EVS in a Healthcare Facility?

EVS teams are the frontline guardians of any healthcare facility, keeping patients, staff, and visitors safe through proper cleaning and disinfection techniques.

But it doesn’t end there — by providing a clean environment and positive interactions with patients, EVS workers can improve the patient experience at nearly every stage.

Infection Prevention 

Critically, healthcare environmental services teams employ infection prevention programs to minimize the risk of HAIs (healthcare-associated infections), which are infections patients can get while receiving healthcare for another condition. On average, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one HAI. An effective, proactive infection prevention program can reduce this risk, with clear benefits to the patient and the healthcare facility at large.

Patient Experience

Many factors affect the patient experience, but a patient’s first impression of the hospital’s cleanliness is paramount. EVS teams also influence the patient experience and help improve HCAHPS scores through daily interactions, connecting with patients, and creating a positive space to heal.

What Does an EVS Worker Do?

EVS workers, also called EVS technicians, are highly trained non-clinical healthcare staff who are responsible for cleaning and disinfecting patient rooms and public areas in healthcare facilities.

Successful EVS teams build positive relationships with clinical staff and other hospital support services teams so that all teams can function at their best. Open communication and clear expectations increase the power of these partnerships and make for a better patient experience.

Tools for EVS Teams

EVS teams use a wide variety of tools to help improve patient satisfaction, operate efficiently, and keep hospitals clean and safe. These include hardware, software, processes, and actual mechanical tools.

Here’s a quick overview of the common tools EVS teams may use to accomplish these goals.

AIDET

AIDET is a powerful communication mechanism that strengthens communication with patients and visitors. EVS workers trained to use AIDET can help reduce patient anxiety and provide comfort in a typically stressful situation.

Innovative Technology in Healthcare Facilities

EVS might not be your first thought when talking about the forefront of technological innovation, but many of these cutting-edge tools enable EVS teams to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently.

Quality Assurance (QA) Tools

Validation in EVS is the process of ensuring the cleaning and disinfection procedures are actually effective. HHS uses three validating and monitoring practices.

1. Daily Visual Inspections — EVS directors use a performance indicator (PI) tool to measure cleanliness and give their team immediate feedback.
2. Fluorescent Marking and Black Light — EVS directors use a marking tool before a room or area is cleaned, then inspect the room with a black light after cleaning. A properly cleaned room or area will remove any fluorescent markings and provide a quick and accurate assessment.
3. ATP Testing — Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the energy molecule found in all living cells and can be detected on surfaces using a luminometer. After an area is cleaned, an EVS director can swab a surface and place it into the luminometer to measure the ATP level. A high level of ATP indicates the potential presence of bacteria, viruses, or pathogens.

Robotics

Robotics and automation help EVS teams focus on providing a quality patient experience.

Healthcare facilities have been historically slow to adopt widespread robot use, but companies like Peppermint Robotics are changing the story with autonomous robots designed for complex healthcare environments.

UV-C Light Technology

UV-C light, also called UV light in hospitals, isn’t a new technology, but COVID-19 sparked a renewed interest in its ability to provide an added layer of disinfection.

As with any cleaning protocol, UV-C light must be validated to ensure proper execution and efficacy.

Environmental Services Training

Maintaining high standards and evolving toolsets requires environmental services (EVS) teams to undergo continuous training to meet the demands and importance of their role in healthcare.

Continuous training also requires strong managers to create a positive work environment that encourages procedure compliance. At HHS, we provide our managers with the leadership and relationship skills they need to ensure their team’s continued development and success.

Key EVS Training Areas

• Hand Hygiene
  • Improving hand hygiene compliance drastically reduces the risk of transmitting HAIs. Training how to properly wash hands and reinforcing for compliance is crucial to any infection prevention program’s success.
• Safety & PPE
  • Creating a safety culture and adopting PPE practices and applications protects EVS workers, patients, facility staff, and visitors.
• Chemicals
  • Proper chemical use enables EVS teams to achieve their cleaning and disinfection standards and minimizes safety risks from misuse.

The rapid pace of innovation in chemicals, technology, and processes drives the need for continual training so EVS teams can be as effective as possible in keeping facilities safe.

Environmental Services Processes

EVS processes outline the correct way to execute cleaning and disinfecting techniques. Chemicals and other cleaning products alone aren’t sufficient to achieve rigorous hospital cleaning and safety standards.

HHS trains every EVS manager and team member on the 5 Zone/2 Zone (5Z/2Z) process to ensure proper disinfection of all critical areas and prevent any potential cross-contamination.

Managers also use daily huddles and rounding to reinforce this and other essential processes, keeping them top of mind and ensuring compliance.

How to Find an EVS Job

EVS is an exciting industry — no two days are the same, and EVS workers literally save lives and can see the importance and impact of their work with every patient they serve.

Typically, EVS teams either work directly for a hospital (also called “in-house” ) or through an outsourced company like HHS. Outsourced support services companies offer many benefits, including better training and career trajectory. 

There are many EVS or hospital cleaning companies to choose from, but choosing the right one can significantly impact your future growth and career path.

3 Tips for Choosing the Right EVS Company for You

1. Cultural Alignment
   1. Research hospital cleaning companies and their values. Do they match yours? Working for a company with similar values increases your chances of enjoying coming to work, which in turn boosts your performance and well-being.
2. Employee Investment
   1. Look for a company that invests in its people. Companies can do this through competitive pay, employee assistance programs, and dedicated career development. A company that celebrates its team members’ achievements is a good indicator of a positive work environment.
3. Training and Support
4. 1. Working in healthcare environmental services requires continuous training and strong leadership. Search for support service companies known for their training programs.

We might be biased, but we also know that HHS Environmental Services offers best-in-class training, exciting career opportunities, and the chance to do meaningful, life-changing work every single day. 

Interested in a career with HHS? Check out our careers page for open positions we have across the country.

Benefits of EVS As a Career

Launching your career as an EVS worker has many benefits, including:

Job Security

EVS teams will always be an integral part of the 7,000+ healthcare facilities in the U.S., and the need for more EVS workers will never go away. Like many industries, healthcare is currently facing a staffing shortage, which means that right now is a great time to pursue a career in healthcare support services.

Job Satisfaction

Understanding and connecting with the purpose and impact of your role is key to finding joy in your career. EVS workers find fulfillment in their work by its very nature — serving and protecting people at a vulnerable time in their lives.

Career Growth

Healthcare’s ever-evolving nature creates endless opportunities to grow and advance as an EVS worker. We’re proud of the team members who worked diligently to advance to become supervisors, directors, and even vice presidents within our company, as well as those who have taken the time to specialize in areas like infection prevention.

The Essential Role of EVS in Healthcare

EVS workers directly affect the lives of everyone who enters a healthcare facility. Their efforts to keep their facilities safe improve the patient experience, while the small connections they make with patients can decrease anxiety and create a positive space for them to heal.

Interested in starting a job that allows you to make an impact every day? Start your EVS career today!