Who Cleans the Hospital?

Environmental Services Week is a time to show appreciation for the workers who make sure health care facilities are kept clean, sanitary, and safe. More than that, Environmental Services (EVS) workers make health care facilities welcoming places for patients, families, and other staff members. Imagine if you walked into a hospital and saw garbage on the ground, dirt caked on the floors, and unsanitary medical equipment—you would run the other way! Thanks to our essential EVS team, that won’t be necessary.

Responsibilities

Germs are everywhere in a hospital: the floor, your room, operating tables, laboratories, restrooms, cafeterias, just to name a few. It’s no wonder that EVS workers have such an important job! Their team works to eliminate hazardous conditions in the hospital, like wet floors or spilled chemicals. You might see EVS personnel cleaning patient rooms, dusting ledges or even disposing of medical waste, but an important part of their job is interacting with patients and families. EVS workers often build connections with people inside the hospital, hoping to make patients’ and families’ stay as easy as possible.

Skills

To work in EVS, you must be an active person: workers are always on the move whether they are cleaning or solving problems. EVS personnel must be great communicators, organized, and able to multi-task. It is very important that these workers be able to lend a helping hand to families. Sometimes, that looks like delivering extra supplies to a room, listening to a parent talk, or telling jokes to patients! EVS workers must feel comfortable creating safe spaces, both physically and mentally.

Environmental Services at Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Here at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, our EVS team works around the clock to keep everything, including our big fish tanks, woodland animals, and the Magic Forest, clean! We are especially grateful for the time and care they dedicate to help the hospital defend against infections and viruses. The next time you see an EVS worker, take a moment to thank them for their hard work.