Ashes Launches An Industry-Wide Initiative To Establish Best Practices With NESPI

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Created on Wednesday, 02 November 2005 16:43

Written by Staff

PHOENIX, Ariz.--The opening ceremonies of the ASHES 2005 20th Anniversary Conference and Healthcare Marketplace held September 25 – 29 in Phoenix, marked the official launch of National Environmental Services Performance Initiative (NESPI).

NESPI is the ASHES response to members and other environmental services professionals challenged by incomplete industry guidelines for staffing day-to-day operations that guide performance and ensure a clean and safe health care environment.

ASHES has assumed the leadership role in this effort to establish best practices through NESPI.

NESPI is an Internet survey that collects data in a confidential and secure environment using database and web applications. The aggregate data is then compiled in real time for meaningful reports. The complete confidentiality of each participant is assured by the NESPI survey platform. NESPI provides a dynamic environment, which participants may update data on an annual basis, or as change or need dictate, with an easy-to-use graphical user interface. In this way, NESPI data will continually report current participant best practices, which other subscribers can use to establish their own performance guidelines.

Participation in the NESPI initiative is open to all environmental services managers and directors in the health care profession. "Our goal is to provide credible data for environmental services professionals to share with senior management and clinicians to make data-driven decisions," explains Patti Costello, executive director of ASHES. "The benefit of the NESPI opportunity for all environmental services professionals is enormous. This initiative can help improve clinical outcomes, improve patient satisfaction, drive efficient, cost-effective operations, and assist academic researchers, product developers and others to better serve the environmental services profession."

With the launch of NESPI, the survey will focus on staffing practices, but ASHES intends to expand the survey platform to other practices relevant to all environmental services managers.

All environmental services professionals in the health care industry are strongly encouraged to participate. ASHES leadership, board, committees and staff will be calling on all environmental services managers nationwide – members and nonmembers alike – to respond to this important national survey. Watch for the NESPI logo as additional details and information on how to participate are posted on www.ashes.org.