Crothall EVS Team at MedStar Harbor Hospital Wins Certificate of Merit

Accountability drives success, and for Kevin Theis, Director of Environmental Services (EVS) and Linen Services at MedStar Harbor Hospital, it’s a core value. His commitment to both team and personal accountability recently earned the EVS team a prestigious Certificate of Merit from the Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE). This national recognition honors environmental services teams that make significant contributions to patient experience and their healthcare organization’s mission—and the MedStar Harbor team did just that.

The EVS team at MedStar Harbor Hospital stood out for their outstanding achievements in cleanliness and infection prevention, including:

• 4-Star Cleanliness Rating: For two consecutive quarters, patient surveys reflected high satisfaction with the hospital’s cleanliness.
• Top 4 National Ranking: The team excelled in using Surfacide UV light technology, a critical tool for infection prevention.
• Best-in-Class Bed Turnaround Times: Consistently maintaining room availability with bed turnover times under 60 minutes.

Upon taking the leadership role in 2022, Theis brought a comprehensive strategy to enhance performance. With over 14 years of experience in MedStar Health hospitals—8 of those years spent with Crothall—Theis drew from his extensive background to implement a series of key initiatives aimed at elevating the team’s performance. Starting his career as a patient transporter in 2010, Theis has steadily advanced through various management roles, gaining a deep understanding of the high standards required to succeed in healthcare support services.

“I wanted to ensure we have the best team in the right roles while addressing several issues to maximize our impact and establish a strong foundation for ongoing success,” said Theis.

His strategy involved several critical components:

• High-Profile Cleaning (HPC) Captain Report Cards: These track cleanliness performance for staff in their assigned units and reinforce accountability with weekly departmental reminders.
• Sign-In/Out Logs for Equipment and Carts: Ensuring critical tools are always available for daily operations
• Evening Turn-Down Services: This initiative focuses on patient interaction during the evening shift, ensuring trash removal, linen refreshes, and bathroom cleaning..
• Enhanced Recognition Programs: Staff achievements are celebrated through a “Housekeeper of the Week” board and a monthly newsletter that outlines key metrics and performance highlights.
• Comprehensive Floorcare Programs: The team follows a 13-week cycle of floor projects across different facility zones, ensuring consistent upkeep and cleanliness.

While many of these strategies align with Crothall’s EVS standards, Theis emphasizes execution. For example, his team uses Surfacide UV-C technology daily to disinfect patient bathrooms for five minutes, reducing bacteria and viruses. The team ensures transparency by explaining this process to patients, adding comfort and trust to the equation.

The High-Profile Cleaning (HPC) strategy is another standout component, using custom report cards to evaluate the performance of housekeepers across various shifts. These cards track compliance with a 13-step cleaning process and ensure that uniforms, equipment, and safety protocols are followed.

One of Theis’s most impactful innovations is the nightly turn-down service, which addresses patient needs during evening hours. This service ensures that rooms are refreshed, essential items are replenished, and trash is removed, extending patient care beyond the daytime.

Theis also created a monthly newsletter, known as the Harbor Journal, that reports on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) like cleanliness scores and productivity. This report is shared with both his team and senior leadership, reinforcing the importance of transparency and accountability.

“Every piece of the strategy goes hand in hand,” says Theis. “Publishing our scores makes us accountable. It shows hospital management that we are committed to making the hospital safer and better for patients. It’s all about patient care, and we aim to be the best.”

Under Kevin Theis’s leadership, the EVS team at MedStar Harbor Hospital has truly set a high standard, demonstrating that accountability and commitment to excellence can transform the patient experience. With the Certificate of Merit, their hard work and dedication have been rightfully recognized on a national level.

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