Pandemic helps Elkhart EVS associate realize, “This is what I am supposed to be doing”

Tori Stack is an Environmental Services associate at Elkhart General Hospital.

“In the early days of the pandemic there was an overwhelming amount of new information and policy changes for the entire hospital. As an Environmental Services associate, we break the chain of infection keeping patients, family members and clinical staff safe. This was something that was often overlooked before the panic of a pandemic made the general public aware of the importance of disinfecting frequently touched surfaces. The first few months of the pandemic brought so much recognition to the crucial role we play in the heath care system.

“I started in Environmental Services six months before the pandemic started and planned on using it as a foot in the door. I have now realized that this is what I am supposed to be doing. Being on the front line has given me a sense of pride, knowing that I, and my coworkers, stop the cycle of infection. Helping each other don and doff PPE that wasn’t commonly used before the outbreak of this novel coronavirus, and giving each other the reassurance for all the apprehension surrounding the frequent policy changes as we learned more about transmission and the use of various person protective equipment, has definitely brought the whole department together in ways that none of us could have ever imagined. We are a stronger, more diligent team and we are ALL here for YOU.”