Because a cleaned and disinfected hospital equates to safer patients, the department of environmental services at LLU Medical Center has elevated its annual training of housekeeping staff to a new level in the health care field.
This year’s training took place at the LLU Medical Simulation Center—a fully outfitted mini-hospital in which students and staff practice with high-tech manikins—where the controlled environment allowed for more comprehensive learning than hectic on-the-floor training.
“We are leading the way in health care by training in this manner,” says Kelvin Moore, director of environmental services, LLU Medical Center. “This environment encourages more questions to be asked and allows us to cover issues that may not have arisen on floor training.”
Having a Medical Simulation Center on campus is noteworthy in itself, according to Jesse Mock, MA, vice president for patient engagement at LLU Medical Center. “Only the best institutions have that distinction, and we are fortunate to be one of them,” he says.
“We are committed to innovatively using our Medical Simulation Center to ensure we offer the finest patient care at every level,” Mr. Mock adds.
During June, 162 housekeepers rotated through training stations at the center, each covering procedures for different areas of a hospital including labor and delivery, ICU, operating rooms, and patient rooms.
Other stations were devoted to topics such as hand hygiene, waste management, and interim life-saving measures that may be necessary during a patient evacuation or disaster.
“Our housekeepers now better understand not only the manual aspects of their jobs but the way they can best contribute to world-class patient care on the floors,” Mr. Moore summarizes. “Not just anyone can do this job.”
Mr. Mock seconds that opinion:
“Our environmental services team has a key role in reducing and eliminating hospital-acquired hazards such as infection, slips and falls, and pressure ulcers. Using the Simulation Center to annually train our staff provides a true-to-life experience that is structured for adult learners. I believe this resource greatly assists us to achieve our goal of world-class patient and staff safety.”
Each employee also left the training with a new burgundy-colored uniform, which is a more stately update to the previous look.
