SterileAware Podcast

On this episode of the Sterile Aware™ Podcast Charlie Webb CPPL speaks with Darrel Hicks about how hospital housekeeping connects directly to Patience safety. Darrel also speaks to new emerging technology for managing cross-contamination at Hospital and clinic sinks.

Guest bio's:

J. Darrel Hicks, BA, MESRE, CHESP, Certificate of Mastery in Infection Prevention (for Environmental Services Professionals) began his career in the management of housekeeping services in 1981 and retired in 2014 as the former Director of Environmental services at a 500-bed, award-winning hospital in the United States. 

Darrel is the owner/principal of Darrel Hicks, LLC.  His enterprise specializes in B2B consulting, webinar presentations, seminars and facility consulting services related to cleaning and disinfection.

Hicks is the Past President of the Healthcare Surfaces Institute (2019-2020) www.healthcaresurfacesinstitute.org

Hicks was President of the IEHA-Uniting Facility Managers Worldwide during the term 2006-2008 and holds the title of Master Environmental Services Registered Executive (MESRE).

He is an active member of both the AHE (Association for the Healthcare Environment) where he holds the designation of CHESP (Certified Healthcare Environmental Services Professional) and CMIP (Certificate of Mastery in Infection Prevention), and APIC (the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology) professional groups.

Hicks is nationally recognized as one of the subject matter experts in infection prevention and control as it relates to cleaning. He has written and published numerous articles in professional and healthcare-related journals as part of his commitment to providing a cleaner, safer, and healthier indoor environment.

In 2010, Hicks authored “Infection Prevention for Dummies”, a 43-page, pocket-size book that focuses on the role that proper cleaning and disinfection plays in saving lives and the bottom line.

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.darrelhicks.com

LinkedIn profile:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/drclean/

On this episode of  the SterileAware™ Podcast Charlie Webb CPPL speaks with Karen Goelst CEO of KleenEdge about their technology that helps manage patient curtain exchange cycles with the aim of preventing patient infections. 

Guest bio's:

Karen Goelst | Founder & CEO of KleenEdge 

With a 20-year background in architectural specialties and textiles, Karen Goelst became passionate about solving the issues surrounding privacy curtains following her 15-year-old son’s hospital stay with MRSA.

Staying at his bedside she noticed everybody touched the fabric privacy curtain, but the label showed that it hadn’t been exchanged for 14 months. Thankfully her son recovered, but this realization started her journey in trying to understand why curtains weren’t getting exchanged, when other touchpoints in the room were thoroughly disinfected.  Karen founded KleenEdge to ensure this infection risk did not impact other families.  

About KleenEdge

Launched in 2018, the company received early accolades for its innovative Protocol Compliance Software, receiving AHE’s Product Innovation Award, as well as getting patents for the QuickLoad and TeleTrack “no ladder” curtain exchange cubicle track solutions. KleenEdge’s solutions have helped many healthcare facilities dramatically reduce operational costs, while having peace of mind knowing that their curtain exchanges are compliant and deliver the highest standard of care for their patient’s safety.

KleenEdge builds its privacy curtain solutions on 4 pillars:

·      Protocol software that monitors curtain exchange compliance

·      Sustainable cost-saving recyclable curtains

·      No-ladder solutions to promote lean workflows and safety

·      Patient and staff safety

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.kleenedge.com 

The Scherle family share their relocation story with us this week and tell us what it was like for native Californians to leave their home state and roll the dice on a new life in Waddell. What do they love about their new home town and what do they miss after the move.