The folks on the Environmental Services team at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital are used to being called “housekeepers” – but there’s far more to what they do than simple cleaning work.
“Anything that needs cleaning top to bottom – offices, delivery rooms, operating rooms, patient areas, lobby, all the bathrooms, entrances – you name it, they take care of it all,” says Robbie LeBlanc, Assistant Manager of Facilities Support Services. “But really, we’re here to keep the hospital safe. Infection control is a big thing! We keep germs from spreading from room to room, from patient to patient, and from staff to staff. It’s not only about the patients. We’re keeping everyone who walks through our doors safe.”
Environmental Services team member Felicia Hirschfeld is ready to get to work! With six weeks’ experience on the job, she is one of the newer members of the team.
The training that goes with the position is extensive, and proper use of personal protective equipment is vital, given the staff’s proximity to illness and infectious disease. In fact, due to the level of care and attention given to the cleanliness and safety of our hospital, some Environmental Services workers can use up to 50 pairs of disposable gloves per day.
The job can be quite physically demanding as well, but there’s a large team to handle it all. “We have about 45 or 50 people who work here during the day and night. We’re at it 24 hours a day!” explains LeBlanc.
Here at the foundation, we’re sure you’ll agree that this is an invaluable team. So this Environmental Services Week, let’s give our thanks to the professionals who work so hard to keep us, our hospital, and our loved ones safe!
