“They were always stars in our eyes”

The stellar performance of UBC Hospital’s Environmental Services (EVS) team has made the hospital campus safer and earned the dedicated team a national award from Crothall Healthcare.

“They were always stars in our eyes, and now they have the national recognition to prove it,” says Tracey Taulu, operations director, UBC Hospital.

The UBCH team of 67 EVS staff and management outperformed competition from across Canada to win the title of 2016 National Account of the Year. Part of Crothall’s Be a Star awards program, this title recognizes quality outcomes such as cleanliness and ultraviolet marking results, turnaround times, excellence in customer service, employee recognition and more.

“Disinfection is our main goal and safety is our main priority,” says Ajay Nair, EVS manager. “By doing that we keep our hospital safe for patients, staff and visitors, as well as the large number of students who access the site on a daily basis.”

The UBCH team received a $1,000 cheque from Crothall and celebrated with a luncheon. Two other team members, Annaliza Tagapan and Josefina Tanglao, were singled out for special recognition too.

Annaliza, a housekeeper at Purdy Pavilion, was celebrated for “always looking for improvements, and for helping out not only Crothall staff but clinical staff as well,” says Ajay. “Her audits have received perfect scores month after month.”

Josefina was recognized for turning around the Koerner kitchen into what has been described as “the cleanest eatery on campus.”

“Our EVS team is a very important partner in care,” adds Tracey. “Their services not only equate to a cleaner and safer environment for hospital patients, clients, physicians and staff, but in long-term care the connections made can brighten not only the room but the resident’s days as well.”