Environmental Services Overview
Housekeepers are an integral part of any healthcare team. From making sure patient rooms are thoroughly disinfected to sanitizing operating rooms after a procedure, we know that cleanliness is a key part of the healthcare journey. At NewYork-Presbyterian, the Environmental Services (EVS) team of professionally trained housekeepers are here 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help keep hospital spaces clean, sanitized, and safe for patients, their families, and hospital staff.
Our housekeeping staff and floor care technicians are specially trained to carefully clean and sterilize equipment, beds, floors, hallways, stairways, and corridors. They use a range of germ-destroying products, such as hospital-approved disinfectants, to prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading in patient rooms and other communal spaces, and operating rooms are cleaned every night and between procedures to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAI), such as the intestinal infection C. diff and catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
What to Expect During your Stay
Every patient room is cleaned daily. NewYork-Presbyterian housekeepers follow a strict and efficient seven step cleaning process to maintain a sanitary environment.
During your stay, housekeepers are available upon request for any cleaning needs, and all rooms are thoroughly disinfected and sanitized between patients.
All housekeeping services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Seven Step Cleaning Process
At NewYork-Presbyterian, we have adopted an efficient seven step cleaning process to maintain a sanitary environment throughout our buildings. Using a range of safe and powerful disinfectants, the housekeeping staff are all trained to follow strict guidelines when it comes to cleaning rooms, hallways, corridors, and stairwells.
Below you will find a detailed summary of the seven-step cleaning process used in between patients:
- Empty trash cans
Remove liners, disinfect inside and outside of trash cans, replace liners - High dust
Dust all high surfaces, including vents and ledges. Housekeeping will never dust these surfaces while patients/visitors in the room, unless upon request - Damp wipe
Disinfect all high touch surfaces, including furniture, telephones, and light switches. Windows and mirrors are all wiped down, and housekeeping staff will check bedside railings and tables, walls, and cubicle curtains for any bodily fluids - Bathroom
Sanitize surfaces, including under and around the toilet seat and bowl and inside the shower, and restock all paper and soap dispensers - Dust and Vacuum Floors
Move furniture and other items to clean all parts of the floor, starting in furthest corner from the door and work towards the exit door, return the furniture, and correct and report any unsafe conditions - Mop
Use specific "S" mopping motion to get into all corners and place "Wet Floor" sign during mopping - Inspect the room
The housekeeper looks over everything in the room to ensure all steps have been followed.
Going Above and Beyond
As an added layer of protection, housekeeping leadership will perform various spot check inspections in patient rooms. Using an ATP device, managers will swab four high-touch surfaces to help ensure the highest standards of cleanliness have been met. If the results show anything less than upholding our standards of cleanliness, the room will be disinfected, sanitized, and re-tested.
Additionally, to hear real-time feedback that can improve the overall performance of the Environmental Services team, room inspectors may also ask patients, or their guests, questions about the housekeeping experience.
Have Questions?
Your Care Team can assist you in getting in touch with the housekeeping staff, or any service you may need, to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
Thank you for trusting NewYork-Presbyterian with your care.