St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo., has been recognized as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for a 7th consecutive year. One reason for its consistent success? The environmental services staff has developed infection prevention techniques that work against hospital-acquired infections (HAI), according to an article on CleanLink.com.
Many lives are lost to the spread of infections in hospitals across the country, but J. Darrel Hicks, director of environmental services and patient transportation at St. Luke's, has made it his goal to stay one step ahead of potential infection outbreaks. St. Luke’s is not immune to HAI, but under Hicks' guidelines. infections are quickly controlled and eliminated before becoming a problem.
"We, fortunately, have never experienced an infection control outbreak at the hospital," he says. "That success can be attributed to well-communicated processes; a strong and comprehensive hand hygiene program; mandatory education of infection prevention for all employees; well-trained, conscientious housekeepers; and good supervision in the environmental services (EVS) department."
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