EMS CLEAN Covers

Last updated 2024-03-13T12:32:43Z

Patient beds, gurneys, medical equipment and clean linen now have an added layer of protection while awaiting use. The EMS Clean Covers Initiative was implemented to provide a visual assurance to patients and staff that clinical equipment is properly cleaned and sanitized. Regardless of the item, the EMS Clean Cover provides a much needed additional layer of protection from dirt, debris and other contaminants.

Origin:

July 2019, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Cleveland, Ohio)

Adoptions:

1 successful

Awards and Recognition:

VHA Shark Tank Winner, Identified as a Best Practice by Joint Commission Inspection Team, Identified as a Best Practice by the Office of Inspector General, Identified as a Best Pra ... VHA Shark Tank Winner, Identified as a Best Practice by Joint Commission Inspection Team, Identified as a Best Practice by the Office of Inspector General, Identified as a Best Practice by the National Environmental Programs Service Leadership, Diffusion of Excellence Promising Practice, iNET Spread Investee

Partners:

Diffusion of Excellence, VHA Innovators Network

Overview

The problem

Medical equipment awaiting use is vulnerable to dirt, debris and other contaminants for an undetermined amount of time. For example, when entering a Patient’s room before or after discharge, it is very difficult to tell if the bed and any surrounding equipment has been thoroughly cleaned and has remained clean while awaiting use. The EMS Clean Plastic Cov ... Medical equipment awaiting use is vulnerable to dirt, debris and other contaminants for an undetermined amount of time. For example, when entering a Patient’s room before or after discharge, it is very difficult to tell if the bed and any surrounding equipment has been thoroughly cleaned and has remained clean while awaiting use. The EMS Clean Plastic Covers will indicate to patients and staff that a piece of medical equipment is clean and ready for use.
A Medical Center's patient beds, gurneys, medical equipment, and clean linen should have an added layer of protection while awaiting use. See more

Images

Above:

Maintenance being conducted in an empty room over a patient bed

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Visitors for another patient using an adjacent empty bed

The solution

EMS CLEAN Covers offers an easy-to-use, clear-to-read, and quickly deployable cleanliness management solution for any piece of equipment or furniture in a medical center or clinic. The CLEAN Covers are clear plastic disposable covers that are labeled with the word CLEAN in blue text, and cinch at the bottom to keep germs out. The CLEAN Covers are most often ... EMS CLEAN Covers offers an easy-to-use, clear-to-read, and quickly deployable cleanliness management solution for any piece of equipment or furniture in a medical center or clinic. The CLEAN Covers are clear plastic disposable covers that are labeled with the word CLEAN in blue text, and cinch at the bottom to keep germs out. The CLEAN Covers are most often placed on patient beds or medical equipment. EMS staff place the covers on the equipment after it has been sanitized, alerting and assuring the nurses and/or patients that the equipment is ready for use. Once the equipment is ready to be used, the cover can be removed and disposed of.

The EMS CLEAN Covers very clearly communicate the cleanliness status and eliminate any doubt from patients and staff. See more

Images

Above:

Patient Room

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Operating Room Equipment

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Wheel Chair awaiting use

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Patient Room

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Operating Room Equipment

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Wheel Chair awaiting use

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Transporting Clean Linen

The results

Since the implementation of the EMS Clean Covers, patient and medical center staff have reported an increase in satisfaction and confidence that medical equipment, gurneys and beds have been properly cleaned and have remained clean while awaiting use.

Diffusion tracker

Does not include Clinical Resource Hubs (CRH)

OH: Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Cleveland, Ohio)

Started adoption on 04/2020, ended on 08/2021.

There are no in-progress adoptions for this innovation.

There are no unsuccessful adoptions for this innovation.

Implementation

Timeline

Initial Adoption

Medical center will determine where the EMS CLEAN Covers will be implemented
First Order

Based on the scale of implementation, the Medical Center will place the initial order of EMS CLEAN Covers from the vendor
Training & Use

The dedicated medical center point of contact will receive training and then provide that training to medical center EMS personnel
Gathering Feedback

The medical center EMS point of contact will gather pertinent data to show effectiveness and return on investment (ROI) to medical center leadership
Expansion of Use & Continued Sustainment

Medical center EMS point of contact will identify additional uses and further determine the needs for continued sustainment

Departments

Infection control
Housekeeping

Core Resources

Resource type	Resource description
PEOPLE	EMS Point of Contact required for 5 hours/week for 3 months

Optional Resources

Resource type	Resource description
PEOPLE	Infection Control Representative to aid with adoption and sustainment

Contact

Comment

Comments and replies are disabled for retired innovations and non-VA users.

Email

Email VHACLEEMSCLEANCOVERS@va.gov with questions about this innovation.

About

Origin story

During Environment of Care rounds, it was observed that there is no clear indication that properly cleaned medical equipment & patient beds have remained clean while awaiting use. Equipment and patient beds that went unused for days at a time were continuously vulnerable to cross contamination.

Original team

Robert Bankston

Chief of EMS

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Building Management COVID-19 Emergency Care Employee Experience Environmental Services Geriatric Health Healthcare Administration High Reliability Hospital Medicine Inpatient Care

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EMS CLEAN Covers

Origin:

Adoptions:

Awards and Recognition:

Partners:

CATEGORIES:

Overview

The problem

Images

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The solution

Images

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The results

Diffusion tracker

Successful adoption (1)

In-progress adoptions (0)

Unsuccessful adoptions (0)

Implementation

Timeline

Initial Adoption

First Order

Training & Use

Gathering Feedback

Expansion of Use & Continued Sustainment

Departments

Core Resources

PEOPLE

Optional Resources

PEOPLE

Contact

Comment

Email

About

Origin story

Original team

Search categories