How to Become a Healthcare Environmental Services Manager in Canada
A clean, hygienic and infection-free clinic or hospital not only pulls professionals to be a part of the organization but also increases patient satisfaction and spreads positive word-of-mouth. As the expectations of patients and their families from a healthcare facility are increasing, it has become important for hospitals and other medical facilities to maintain an environment that is free from possible hazards, infections and other medical threats. A hygienic work environment directly affects the bottom line, providing the healthcare facility with a competitive advantage over other players in the industry.
This is why, clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, residential facilities and long term care facilities want to adopt the best healthcare environmental management practices, processes and programs that guarantee a safe, clean, hygienic and infection-free environment. This can be translated into increased demand for professionals who can help businesses in developing and establishing systems and processes to protect employees and patients from any kind of medical and environmental hazards.
The healthcare environmental managers are professionals who are dedicated to maintain a safe and sanitized environment, comply with safety and hygiene standards and regulations, apply effective cleanliness systems and procedures, apply infection control procedures, recruit, and train and develop healthcare environmental services employees, and maintain records complying with established standards and protocols.
Healthcare Environmental Services Management Courses
As healthcare environmental services management is a mainstream profession, individuals interested in building a career in this field must undergo a formal education and training in order to be capable of managing the healthcare environmental operations. Centennial College Toronto offers a two-year post-secondary healthcare management program in environmental services preparing them to take up employment with various healthcare settings and in commercial buildings, schools and residential buildings.
This program runs for four semesters and incorporate classroom lectures, hands-on practical lab experience, field trips, guest speaker presentations, two industry field placements and professional practice, covering all aspects of environmental services. Students are provided with a thorough grounding in Occupational Health and Safety, The Healthcare System, Role of a Healthcare Environmental Service Manager, Infection Control, Cleaning and Linen Methodology, Purchasing and Materials Management, Healthcare Business Practices, Plant Operations and Systems Management, Cost Analysis, Labour Relations and Financial Management and Budgeting.
A strong emphasis is also laid on industry-specific computer applications, business communications, and inter-professional collaboration for environmental services, math applications, management and leadership principles and human resource management. The Centennial’s healthcare management course in environmental services reflects high standards of learning. And the program curriculum focuses on all aspects of the profession, including technical, business and interpersonal.
Enrollment Guide
Interested students who have completed their secondary education can send their applications to the college online, via mail or in person along with the required supporting, such as a copy of secondary school diploma certificate and scores in English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent and Mathematics Grade 11 M or 12 C or University or equivalent. Applicants who do not meet these requirements must take college’s English skills and mathematics assessments for admission. They will need to book the assessment through the college’s assessment centre.
