UMF Corporation and IEHA Collaborate to Promote Hygiene Specialist Excellence Award and Program

UMF Corporation, a leading developer of infection prevention products and an advocate for the reduction of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) for the past 10 years, and IEHA, a 3,500-plus professional member organization for managers of facility housekeeping, announce a collaborative initiative to promote the annual Hygiene Specialist® Excellence Award and program. The initiative was announced at IEHAs 46th annual conference and convention held recently in Chicago.

In its third year, the Hygiene Specialist® Excellence Award was established to acknowledge and recognize the vital contribution made by the Environmental Services (ES) staff, the first line of defense in providing a safe patient environment, in reducing HAIs. HAIs, some of which are now at historical highs as reported by the CDC, add an enormous burden to healthcare and are estimated as the sicth leading cause of death in the U.S.

The award is part of UMF Corporations Hygiene Specialist® Program, which is focused on training, education and ongoing reinforcement of infection prevention best practices for environmental services personnel in the healthcare, hospitality, food service and educational industries.

Education is the top priority of IEHA, which makes this collaboration with UMF Corporation a perfect fit for us, says Beth Risinger, IEHA CEO and executive director. Their established program devoted to best practices in providing safe environments will be a tremendous benefit to our membership worldwide.

George Clarke, CEO of UMF Corporation, says, IEHA and its invaluable network of professionals will provide us with greater opportunities to help elevate the role of ES and help ensure that the key people responsible for reducing the transmission of disease receive the respect theyre due within their organizations and industries.

Nominations are currently being accepted for the third annual Hygiene Specialist® Excellence Award. ES managers are invited to nominate a dedicated housekeeper of their choice for consideration. Nominations forms are available at www.perfectclean.com. Nominations should be submitted on or before Dec. 31, 2012. The recipient will be announced in January 2013. The Hygiene Specialist Excellence Award includes an all-expense-paid vacation for two to South Beach, Florida, including airfare and accommodations.