Crothall Gets “Up Close and Personal” with Norovirus

“I never saw anyone standing around. I could tell they knew the importance of their work.”

Quick Response

In early January, the Transitional Skilled Unit (TSU) at Lehigh Valley Hospital’s 17th and Chew facility closed to new patients and visitors due to several patients being infected with Norovirus, a highly infectious stomach illness that lasts a few days and has several uncomfortable symptoms. Quick thinking and cooperation among the different hospital departments contained the outbreak and prevented many more people from becoming ill.

LVH staff responded most professionally and responsibly, taking the initiative to alert the media. The hospital was featured in an issue of Advance for Nurses magazine for being proactive in communicating and educating the community.

Shining Stars

For their exceptional work during this stressful time, the General Services department, led by Crothall Operations Manager Deborah Jones, earned the hospital’s recognition by receiving the “Service Stars” award for the month of April. The award was shared with Infection Control nurses and other TSU staff, who all worked collaboratively to minimize the impact for patients and families. Bonnie Kosman, RN, MSN, Administrator for the TSU, in nominating the winners, commented on the “teamwork that occurred behind the scenes to ensure the safety and well-being of the patients and staff.”

Although Crothall’s experts have stringent infection control processes, they recognized the need to work closely with Infection Control to meet the hospital’s specific goals. Deborah Jones consulted with the hospital on what they wanted to be done, which areas to concentrate on, and what specific chemicals to use. The General Services department was responsible for cleaning and disinfecting every surface and high-touch item in the unit. This ramped-up program to target the virus required several steps over-and-above the standard cleaning regimen. These included:

• Remove & clean hospital curtains
• Strip and wax the floor after every discharge
• Use bleach to clean and disinfect every inch of the patient room
• Use bleach to clean door handles and other high-touch areas throughout the hospital (beyond the TSU)

Up Close and Personal

The cleaning staff sacrificed their time and took risks by being on the front lines of this effort. Deborah Jones appreciated her team’s dedication: “I am very proud of my staff. They responded as a team. If not for them, the problem would have affected more people and lasted much longer.” Bonnie Kosman agrees: “Nothing was ever a problem for the General Services staff, who were literally up close and personal with the virus. Extra staff was pulled in to assist. They were diligent and embraced their job; I never saw anyone standing around. I could tell they knew the importance of their work.”

Within 10 days, the TSU reopened to newcomers, and the Norovirus scare was successfully contained. But for the Crothall staff, the work was not done. Infection Control directed the cleaning staff to continue using bleach on all surfaces for a full two months following the outbreak—just to be sure. Three months later, Bonnie Kosman continues to appreciate the performance of those upon whom she depended: “All of the TSU staff showed pride in their working together for the patients, families, and their colleagues.”