Geisinger Medical Center team receives national recognition as Environmental Services Department of the Year

DANVILLE, Pa. - The Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) recently honored the Environmental Services (EVS) Department at Geisinger Medical Center as its Environmental Services Department of the Year among U.S. hospitals with more than 500 beds.

The national award recognizes EVS departments that demonstrate excellence in cleaning and disinfection practices, infection prevention, patient satisfaction, environmental stewardship, staff education and training, and the innovative use of technology.

"This recognition reflects the dedication, professionalism and expertise our EVS team brings to work every day," said William Martz, operations director for hospitality services in Geisinger's central region. "Our staff takes pride in providing excellent patient care in a clean and welcoming environment, and our EVS team plays an essential role in keeping patients, visitors and staff safe."

Often working behind the scenes, EVS technicians play a vital role in patient safety by helping prevent infections, maintaining clean and welcoming care environments, and supporting efficient room turnover. Among the initiatives highlighted by the AHE were the team's continued success in discharge turnaround times and its implementation of quality and safety measures, including ultraviolet disinfection technology.

This marks the fifth time a Geisinger EVS team has received AHE Department of the Year honors, highlighting a longstanding culture of excellence across the organization. Previous recipients include Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital in 2024, Geisinger Medical Center in 2023, and Geisinger Community Medical Center in 2021 and 2019.

The honor is awarded annually to one facility in each of three categories: 1 to 249 beds, 250 to 499 beds, and 500+ beds. Geisinger Medical Center received the award this year for the 500+ bed category.

About Geisinger

Geisinger is among the nation's leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in rural and urban communities across central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates $9 billion in annual revenues across more than 130 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses - and Geisinger Health Plan, with 509,000+ enrollees in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 600 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,600 clinical research studies. With 28,000 employees, including 1,900 employed physicians and 5,400 registered nurses, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania's largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $18 billion on the state's economy. In 2024, Geisinger joined Risant Health, a nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.