This episode is part of our in-depth coverage of the Healthcare Infection Transmission Systems (HITS) Consortium 2019 conference in Buffalo, NY that took place August 6-8th. Check out all our shows from HITS 2019.
The costs and human impact of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are well known and have been well documented on this show. And as we’ve seen there are industry best practices and proven science to help us prevent and control HAIs. Yet, running an Environmental Services (EVS) unit at a hospital is no easy task. How do you pick the right people, and train and retain them? What products should you use? How should you use them? How will you stay on top of the constantly changing regulatory landscape? And how will you keep up with the evolving science, technology, and best practices to ensure you’re doing all you can to protect your patients?
On this episode, we talk with Brooke Hossfeld, Infection Prevention Specialist and Jeff Bennett, Director of Marketing about Sodexo Healthcare’s infection control protocol, Protecta. With Protecta, Sodexo Healthcare aims to address infection control at acute-care hospitals with a full-service model that covers staffing, training, product, procedure and best practice research, and outcomes measurement. Brooke and Jeff explain why this type of service is needed, tell us about the results so far, and share their insights on where the industry is headed next.
Brooke Hossfeld, MPH, CIC, MLS (ASCP)CM
Infection Prevention Specialist, Sodexo Healthcare
Brooke brings more than a decade of knowledge and experience in healthcare and infection prevention. Brooke currently serves as the Infection Prevention Specialist with Sodexo Healthcare and is responsible for the clinical oversight of Sodexo’s infection prevention program. Prior to joining Sodexo, Brooke worked at Weiss Memorial Hospital, in Chicago, IL, where she served as the Infection Control Practitioner and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. Her previous experience includes roles in Infection Control and Prevention, Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Preparedness, Clinical Laboratory Education, and Medical Laboratory Sciences.
Jeff Bennett
Director of Marketing, Sodexo Healthcare
Jeff is a proven healthcare industry leader with over 20 years of sales and marketing experience with increasing levels of responsibilities. Jeff currently leads the development and execution of marketing strategies that drive growth and establish a strong brand identity for Sodexo Healthcare in Environmental Services and infection prevention. Jeff has held leadership positions at IMRIS, Boston Scientific and Medtronic.
Sodexo Healthcare
Sodexo Healthcare is part of a global, Fortune 500 company with a presence in 72 countries. Sodexo is a leading provider of integrated food, facilities management and other services that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life for millions of customers in corporate, education, healthcare, senior living, sports and leisure, government and other environments daily.
Protecta: go.sodexo.com/protecta
Web: https://us.sodexo.com/industry/healthcare.html
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sodexousa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sodexo/
This episode is sponsored by the Healthcare Infection Transmission System (HITS) Consortium. For the second year in a row, The #HCBiz Show had the honor and privilege of being a media partner for the annual HITS Conference. Last year we were in Nashville – check out the episodes we recorded there. This year, we attended HITS 2019 in Buffalo, NY.
Thank you to Christine Greene, Kelly Reynolds, Savannah Hatt, John LaRochelle, and Michael Diamond, along with the entire HITS Consortium for the work you’re doing to protect our families and our communities. The battle against healthcare-associated infections can only be won through collaboration, and from what I’ve seen in working with you all for the past few years, HITS is bringing the best ideas and brightest minds together to do just that.
About Healthcare Infections Transmission System (HITS) Consortium
The Healthcare Infection Transmission System (HITS) Consortium is a not-for-profit organization serving the field of infection control and prevention. HITS takes a holistic perspective to targeting healthcare-associated infections by including multiple disciplines in the conversation, including infection prevention, environmental services, construction and renovation, facilities management and engineering along with research scientists and industry experts. HITS focuses on the major avenues for pathogen transmission in hospitals: hands, surfaces, water and air. HITS provides the necessary, cross-disciplinary platform to share knowledge and engage in research regarding the prevention of healthcare-associated infections and promotion of overall hospital health.
The Annual HITS Conference
The Healthcare Infections Transmission System (HITS) Consortium looks to promote public health by reducing healthcare-associated infections through the integration of best infection prevention practices. HITS will focus on the major pathogen transmission systems in the healthcare setting specifically; surfaces, person to person, water and air. Join us for this one-of-a-kind, multimodal event where researchers and experts from across disciplines will work toward identifying research gaps and applying data-driven methods in the field. Meet, greet and share ideas with the individuals and organizations who are growing and sustaining the industry, as we explore creative and innovative solutions to this global problem.
How is HITS different?
Our conference theme is Catalyst for Change. Fittingly, HITS will take a holistic perspective to targeting healthcare-associated infections. The conference looks to focus on “hospital health.” By including multiple disciplines in the conversation, HITS looks to remove silos and encourage a systems approach, aligning with infection prevention.
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