“Our job is to break that chain of infection”: Challenges environmental management services (EMS) staff face in accomplishing their critical role in infection prevention
Abstract Objectives: Contaminated surfaces in healthcare settings contribute to the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. Adequate environmental cleaning is important for preventing the transmission of important pathogens and reducing healthcare-associated infections. However, effective cleaning p...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2732494X22002613/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811157201101783040 |
|---|---|
| author | Cassie Cunningham Goedken Linda McKinley Erin Balkenende Stacey Hockett Sherlock Mary Jo Knobloch Eli N. Perencevich Nasia Safdar Heather Schacht Reisinger |
| author_facet | Cassie Cunningham Goedken Linda McKinley Erin Balkenende Stacey Hockett Sherlock Mary Jo Knobloch Eli N. Perencevich Nasia Safdar Heather Schacht Reisinger |
| author_sort | Cassie Cunningham Goedken |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
Objectives:
Contaminated surfaces in healthcare settings contribute to the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. Adequate environmental cleaning is important for preventing the transmission of important pathogens and reducing healthcare-associated infections. However, effective cleaning practices vary considerably. We examined environmental management services (EMS) staff experiences and perceptions surrounding environmental cleaning to describe perceived challenges and ideas to promote an effective environmental services program.
Design:
Qualitative study.
Participants:
Frontline EMS staff.
Methods:
From January to June 2019, we conducted individual semistructured interviews with key stakeholders (ie, EMS staff) at 3 facilities within the Veterans’ Affairs Healthcare System. We used the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework (ie, people, environment, organization, tasks, tools) to guide this study. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for thematic content.
Results:
In total, 13 EMS staff and supervisors were interviewed. A predominant theme that emerged were the challenges EMS staff saw as hindering their ability to be effective at their jobs. EMS staff interviewed felt they understand their job requirements and are dedicated to their work; however, they described challenges related to feeling undervalued and staffing issues.
Conclusions:
EMS staff play a critical role in infection prevention in healthcare settings. However, some do not believe their role is recognized or valued by the larger healthcare team and leadership. EMS staff provided ideas for improving feelings of value and job satisfaction, including higher pay, opportunities for certifications and advancement, as well as collaboration or integration with the larger healthcare team. Healthcare organizations should focus on utilizing these suggestions to improve the EMS work climate.
|
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T05:01:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f55d7a2e292f42ea88cc1ace5f4519e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2732-494X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T05:01:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-f55d7a2e292f42ea88cc1ace5f4519e62023-03-09T12:28:17ZengCambridge University PressAntimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology2732-494X2022-01-01210.1017/ash.2022.261“Our job is to break that chain of infection”: Challenges environmental management services (EMS) staff face in accomplishing their critical role in infection preventionCassie Cunningham Goedken0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0990-1799Linda McKinley1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6172-7700Erin Balkenende2Stacey Hockett Sherlock3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3180-782XMary Jo Knobloch4Eli N. Perencevich5Nasia Safdar6Heather Schacht Reisinger7Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IowaWilliam S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WisconsinCenter for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaCenter for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaWilliam S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WisconsinCenter for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaWilliam S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WisconsinCenter for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, Iowa City, Iowa Abstract Objectives: Contaminated surfaces in healthcare settings contribute to the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. Adequate environmental cleaning is important for preventing the transmission of important pathogens and reducing healthcare-associated infections. However, effective cleaning practices vary considerably. We examined environmental management services (EMS) staff experiences and perceptions surrounding environmental cleaning to describe perceived challenges and ideas to promote an effective environmental services program. Design: Qualitative study. Participants: Frontline EMS staff. Methods: From January to June 2019, we conducted individual semistructured interviews with key stakeholders (ie, EMS staff) at 3 facilities within the Veterans’ Affairs Healthcare System. We used the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework (ie, people, environment, organization, tasks, tools) to guide this study. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for thematic content. Results: In total, 13 EMS staff and supervisors were interviewed. A predominant theme that emerged were the challenges EMS staff saw as hindering their ability to be effective at their jobs. EMS staff interviewed felt they understand their job requirements and are dedicated to their work; however, they described challenges related to feeling undervalued and staffing issues. Conclusions: EMS staff play a critical role in infection prevention in healthcare settings. However, some do not believe their role is recognized or valued by the larger healthcare team and leadership. EMS staff provided ideas for improving feelings of value and job satisfaction, including higher pay, opportunities for certifications and advancement, as well as collaboration or integration with the larger healthcare team. Healthcare organizations should focus on utilizing these suggestions to improve the EMS work climate. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2732494X22002613/type/journal_article |
| spellingShingle | Cassie Cunningham Goedken Linda McKinley Erin Balkenende Stacey Hockett Sherlock Mary Jo Knobloch Eli N. Perencevich Nasia Safdar Heather Schacht Reisinger “Our job is to break that chain of infection”: Challenges environmental management services (EMS) staff face in accomplishing their critical role in infection prevention Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology |
| title | “Our job is to break that chain of infection”: Challenges environmental management services (EMS) staff face in accomplishing their critical role in infection prevention |
| title_full | “Our job is to break that chain of infection”: Challenges environmental management services (EMS) staff face in accomplishing their critical role in infection prevention |
| title_fullStr | “Our job is to break that chain of infection”: Challenges environmental management services (EMS) staff face in accomplishing their critical role in infection prevention |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Our job is to break that chain of infection”: Challenges environmental management services (EMS) staff face in accomplishing their critical role in infection prevention |
| title_short | “Our job is to break that chain of infection”: Challenges environmental management services (EMS) staff face in accomplishing their critical role in infection prevention |
| title_sort | our job is to break that chain of infection challenges environmental management services ems staff face in accomplishing their critical role in infection prevention |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2732494X22002613/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cassiecunninghamgoedken ourjobistobreakthatchainofinfectionchallengesenvironmentalmanagementservicesemsstafffaceinaccomplishingtheircriticalroleininfectionprevention AT lindamckinley ourjobistobreakthatchainofinfectionchallengesenvironmentalmanagementservicesemsstafffaceinaccomplishingtheircriticalroleininfectionprevention AT erinbalkenende ourjobistobreakthatchainofinfectionchallengesenvironmentalmanagementservicesemsstafffaceinaccomplishingtheircriticalroleininfectionprevention AT staceyhockettsherlock ourjobistobreakthatchainofinfectionchallengesenvironmentalmanagementservicesemsstafffaceinaccomplishingtheircriticalroleininfectionprevention AT maryjoknobloch ourjobistobreakthatchainofinfectionchallengesenvironmentalmanagementservicesemsstafffaceinaccomplishingtheircriticalroleininfectionprevention AT elinperencevich ourjobistobreakthatchainofinfectionchallengesenvironmentalmanagementservicesemsstafffaceinaccomplishingtheircriticalroleininfectionprevention AT nasiasafdar ourjobistobreakthatchainofinfectionchallengesenvironmentalmanagementservicesemsstafffaceinaccomplishingtheircriticalroleininfectionprevention AT heatherschachtreisinger ourjobistobreakthatchainofinfectionchallengesenvironmentalmanagementservicesemsstafffaceinaccomplishingtheircriticalroleininfectionprevention |