PHOENIX, AZ — The Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE), of the American Hospital Association (AHA), and Kimberly-Clark have announced the first recipients of the Heart of Healthcare Awards, honoring outstanding frontline environmental services professionals, according to a press release.
The award is part of the Heart of Healthcare campaign developed by AHE and Kimberly-Clark Professional, which recognizes and elevates the critical role that frontline environmental services technicians play in the healthcare environment, the release stated.
"Environmental services professionals and their technicians perform important roles in supporting their facilities' safety, quality and patient satisfaction initiatives," said Patti Costello, AHE executive director.
"We are honored to recognize the Heart of Healthcare Awards winners and honorable mentions. The technicians were nominated by their managers and have shown immense dedication in creating exceptional healthcare environments. We are also thrilled with the interest and the response the Heart of Healthcare campaign has garnered this first year; it has really exceeded our expectations and we look forward to growing the program to recognize team members who so richly deserve recognition," Costello added.
According to the release, the first place award was given to Elsa Enriquez of Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington, New Jersey, who has been with Hunterdon Medical Center's environmental services department for 15 years, where she’s been recognized by the medical center for her commitment to patient safety.
Honorable Mentions include: