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EMS CLEAN Covers

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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.

This innovation is replicating across multiple facilities as its impact continues to be validated. See more replicating innovations.

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

Tags:

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

Overview

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 ... See more

Images

Maintenance being conducted in an empty room over a patient bed

Visitors for another patient using an adjacent empty bed

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 ... See more

Images

Patient Room

Operating Room Equipment

Wheel Chair awaiting use

Patient Room

Operating Room Equipment

Wheel Chair awaiting use

Transporting Clean Linen

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)

Statuses

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

  • Housekeeping
  • Infection control

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

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Email

Email 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

Search tags

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