By Jim Fredericks Ph.D. and Missy Henriksen, Health Facilities Management
Health facilities professionals managing hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency medical care centers, and physical or mental rehabilitation facilities, face many challenges to ensure that they meet the highest level of sanitation while caring for sensitive populations.

By Lisa Ford, CHESP, Health Facilities Management
We did not all go to college thinking we would graduate to become environmental services (ES) managers or supervisors. We somehow advanced into this great profession by starting in a part-time housekeeping job or went to school for some other type of management.

By Rob Matheson, MedicalXpress
The World Health Organization (WHO) cites good hand hygiene as a major factor in stopping the spread of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) caused by exposure to various bacteria. In fact, in 2009 the WHO released its "Five Moments of Hand Hygiene" guidelines, which pinpoint five key moments when hospital staff should wash their hands: before touching a patient, before aseptic procedures, after possible exposure to bodily fluids, after touching a patient, and after touching a patient's surroundings.

By Jacob Morgan, Forbes
Anyone within an organization has the potential to become a leader, but managers must be leaders. In schools and in our organizations we have been taught and conditioned to believe that managers and leaders are two separate people which is quite a harmful assumption. As a result we have managers who cannot lead and leaders who cannot manage. A leader who cannot manage has a vision of where they want to go but no idea of how to get there. A manager who cannot lead is not able to build trust and create engagement within an organization to get to where they need to go. Neither of these scenarios are practical or effective.

By Glenn Llopis, Forbes
An article in the New York Daily News reports that nearly 70% of U.S. employees are miserable at work. According to the story, research conducted by the Gallup Poll suggests that the majority of American’s dislike or feel disengaged on the job. Needless to say, this is disturbing news. It’s also an indicator that leaders are having trouble finding ways to stimulate engagement with today’s employees – a workforce that is much more diverse and younger than ever before.

ENGAGE 2015 webinar and course schedule is now available at www.ahe.org. Upcoming events in our new learning management system are: CHESP Review Course; Successful Guidelines for Navigating Contracted Services; and Purchasing Strategies, and Foundations for Success in Environmental Services Management.

Check out the EXPRESS three-part series: The Infection Prevention to Environmental Services Experience:
Part I: Building Clinical Relationships; Part II: Current Trends in Disinfectants; and Part III: Components of Effective Cleaning and Disinfection Programs. So how does it work? Just go on our website and click on the links to listen to each of the 10-15 podcasts. No sign-up, log-in, or registration necessary!

Honor someone you believe is doing an outstanding job in environmental services by nominating them today! Or, nominate yourself – your work shouldn't go unnoticed. AHE's Awards and Recognition Program acknowledges and elevates those who have demonstrated the highest level of effort and leadership in the field of health care environmental services. Apply for one of the prestigious AHE awards, or nominate a peer or staff member today.

We’re gathering submissions for the next issue of EXPLORE magazine, where we’re digging into the many facets of EVS – beyond just cleaning and disinfection. There are so many other responsibilities and aspects of the job, so we want to solicit your expertise to share with other AHE members. Do you have special knowledge in the following areas? If so, email EXPLORE editor Heather at hwilliams@naylor.com to learn how you can contribute.

Topics: Patient transport, waste management and compliance (where to find /how to find it by state), safety and security, workplace violence (active shooters/emergency management), construction and design

ES Week 2015 will be September 13-19. Environmental services teams work hard all year round but let’s not forget them during their special week. More details to come!

By Leslie Small, FierceHealthcare
As the transition from a fee-for-service model to a value-based system continues to build momentum, it will largely be up to hospital leaders to chart a new course forward. To aid in this effort, a new report from the American Hospital Association (AHA) outlines how health system executives, boards, and their communities can work together to improve the quality of care.