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From left, Georges Antoine, Novril Medley, Linda Forte and Kevin McWha are among staff who last weekend tackled a major cleaning project, despite challenges created by the snowstorm.
BWHers plowed through last weekend's snowstorm, covering extra shifts and working to keep the hospital safe for patients and visitors. Among the many who went above and beyond was a group of staff who proceeded with Tower 8's planned deep cleaning-a project that entailed temporarily relocating all of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit's patients to other units.
"Even on a normal weekend, the collaboration and logistics for this type of effort are daunting," Rick Bass, director of Environmental Services, said. "It speaks to the commitment of the project team that the undertaking went off without a hitch, despite the increased challenge to each department created by the storm." After patients were relocated Saturday to the PACU, 8AB and 8C, housekeepers removed and cleaned all equipment and furniture, refinished the floors and thoroughly scrubbed every nook and cranny on the pod. Altogether, about 18 Environmental Services employees completed the project over four shifts last weekend, despite missed shifts of other department employees due to the storm. Environmental Services worked closely with Tower 8CD Nurse Manager Sarah Thompson and 8D nurses. "Every one of our nurses came in," said Linda Forte, RN, BSN, of 8D, who coordinated the transport of patients to the PACU and pitched in with the unit clean up.
Novril Medley, 8D unit associate, worked overtime to facilitate the patient moves and unit cleaning. "His presence was especially important because he's familiar with the unit. He instructed others where things should go and helped with transport," Forte said.
Once 8D's cleaning was finished and patients were back in their rooms Sunday afternoon, housekeeping staff began cleaning the PACU to ensure it was back up and running Monday morning.
In addition to Environmental Services and Nursing, many departments, including Respiratory Care and Security, worked ahead of time to ensure the project would run smoothly. The PACU prepared to accommodate 8D patients. Because the PACU does not use eMAR, IS wired the unit temporarily for eMAR and set up a fail-safe computer in case of any problems. The Pharmacy coordinated with nurses ahead of time to ensure that 8D patients' medications were available in the PACU. Transport Services moved equipment and patients, and Patient Access Services coordinated the freeing up of beds to accommodate patients.