AHE has started this initiative to encourage professionals in the field to begin, or continue to refer to the departments and the personnel caring for the healthcare environment as environmental services professionals rather than as housekeepers, janitors and custodians. The staff and management teams responsible for maintaining the clinical environment of care require different skills and competencies from those needed in the commercial cleaning and general maintenance industry and it's time we address this critical distinction.

Please help us redefine healthcare environmental services!

Association for Community Health Improvement
Registration is now open for the Association for Community Health Improvement's (ACHI's) 2018 National Conference. The conference's theme is Be the Bridge — "whether you are fostering connections within your organization or strengthening relationships with your community and partners." The conference will take place in Atlanta, March 14-16, 2018. ACHI is offering CHES and MCHES credits to attendees.

Healthcare Facilities Today
Focuding on odor control in restrooms can have a positive effect on patient satisfaction.

American Laundry News
Experts examine the future of of the industry within the next 10 to 20 years.

USA Today
Flu season has arrived early this year, and there are indications that it could be worse than usual.

Clinical Leadership & Infection Control
Clostridium difficile spores can linger in floor corners even after cleaning and disinfection.

Contagion Live
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) has issued a new guidance for hospitals on preparing for and responding to infectious disease outbreaks.

Contagion Live
Clinical trials of a new vaccine for the Zika virus have shown positive results.

HuffPost
Goals should be simple and achievable, building on lessons learned from the previous year, according to one expert.

Forbes
By setting an example of openness and honesty, leaders can foster more openness among their team members as well.

By John Scherberger, BS, FAHE, CHESP

By Hank Carbone and Angela Becker

Make yourself indispensable and advance your career! Plan your education for 2017. Visit AHE’s 2017 ENGAGE site to learn more about educational courses, podcasts, webinars, and events. And make sure to check out AHE's EXPRESS Learning Courses. EXPRESS is a mobile learning platform that offers educational podcasts delivered by environmental services and infection prevention thought leaders. You asked for learning opportunities that require less of a time commitment and we delivered!

CMIP, the Certificate of Mastery in Infection Prevention for Environmental Services Professionals (CMIP) is a robust certificate program that provides the requisite knowledge for a "trained" professional in infection prevention and control specific to the clinical environment of care.