Infection Prevention Experts Join UMF Corporation Advisory Board

Five distinguished experts in healthcare have been named to UMF Corporations recently formed environmental hygiene advisory board. UMF Corporation is a leading developer of infection prevention products and an advocate for the reduction of preventable healthcare-associated infections (pHAIs) for the past 10 years.

The new board members are Nancy B. Bjerke, BSN, RN, MPH, CIC; Joan C. Blanchard, MSS, BSN, RN, CNOR, CIC; Brian M. Harris, CHESP; J. Darrel Hicks, BA, REH, CHESP; and John Scherberger, BS, CHESP, REH.

As members of the environmental hygiene advisory board, the group will advise on the clinical benefits of having environmental services (EVS), the first line of defense against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), play a more significant role in strategic quality initiatives, according to UMF Corporation CEO George Clarke.

Today, more so than at any other time, research and clinical trials have demonstrated the direct correlation between effective processing and disinfection of patient care environmental surfaces and positive impact on quality patient outcomes and patient satisfaction scores, Clarke says. Weve learned that HAI-causing pathogens can be removed from the patients environment at a fraction of the cost when compared to the direct costs of treating an infection. With their clinical knowledge and extensive experience, the members of our advisory board will provide UMF Corporation the opportunity to integrate research, processes, procedures, best practices, and recommended guidelines into product development, customer support and clinical innovations.

Clarke said the board will also have a role in selecting the recipient of UMF Corporations annual Hygiene Specialist® Excellence award, now in its third year.

Nancy Bjerke is currently an independent consultant with Infection Control Associates, providing consultation services to diverse healthcare practice settings, including program management, onsite assessment, best practice strategies, employee education and outbreak investigation.

Joan Blanchard has more than 20 years of experience as an RN in perioperative nursing and infection prevention and most recently she was affiliated with the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) as nursing specialist and infection preventionist. Blanchards leadership and innovativeness in infection prevention include a specialty in the ambulatory surgical center environment.

Brian Harris has broad experience in facilities management, including in healthcare, senior living, government and military services, and education.

Darrel Hicks is a past president of IEHA and is a nationally recognized expert in infection prevention and control as it relates to cleaning. Included among his many writings, Hicks is the author of Infection Prevention for Dummies.

John Scherberger is founder and president of Healthcare Risk Mitigation consultants. He is a member of the American Hospital Association (AHA), AHA Certification Center board of directors, AHA Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) advisory committee, Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council board of directors, and the South Carolina Chapter of the AHE board of directors.

Source: UMF Corporation