Environment of Care Rounding team celebrated for dedication to compliance
By Nick Houser
(SACRAMENTO)
Environmental Health and Safety and Licensure and Accreditation leadership organized an annual training that doubled as an appreciation event for its Environment of Care Rounding team Thursday.
The Rounds team is composed of the following individuals, representing a range of specialties:
Thomas Ocheltree, Environmental Health & Safety (team leader)
Alana Martin, Emergency Management
Colin Mcglynn, Infection Prevention
Olga Gonzalez Moreno, Plant Operations and Maintenance
Corey Nommensen, Plant Operations and Maintenance
Alex Pelaez, Fire Marshal’s Office
Mija Ryer, Licensure and Accreditation
The Environment of Care Rounding team is important for maintaining UC Davis Health’s compliance and readiness for The Joint Commission. The group completes comprehensive inspections of different departments each week – at every UC Davis Health medical facility, including remote locations - throughout the year, looking for anything in the medical environment that requires a correction.
In 2023, the team had over 3,700 findings. Identifying these findings during rounds helps drive continuous improvement, cultivate a culture of compliance and helps UC Davis Health achieve high marks from our patients and regulators.
“They keep us prepared for accreditation visits such as those by The Joint Commission. The checklist has about 100 items, related to categories such as Life Safety, Medication Management, Infection Prevention, and Environment of Care,” said Becky Grunewald, associate director of Environmental Health and Safety.
"The environmental rounds team strives to create a positive atmosphere around their audits," said Kaila Benton-Vitz, director of Environmental Health and Safety. "I am always encouraged by the number of departments who welcome the expertise of this team and partner to find solutions. The result is a better environment for our patients and for our staff."
On Thursday, the team members refreshed their skills and on-boarded new members who will begin joining inspections in 2024. Then, the focus switched from learning to celebrating.
Leadership including Jita Buno recognized each member individually, presenting certificates for their dedication and hard work toward keeping UC Davis Health compliant.
