Environmental Services (EVS) teams play a critical role in every patient’s care journey. At Northside Hospital in Georgia, Aramark Healthcare+ is helping advance a model where cleaning is treated not only as an operational function, but as a clinical support discipline essential to safety, infection prevention, and overall patient experience.
Through unified protocols, EPA‑approved products, and real‑time quality monitoring, EVS teams help ensure every room is prepared to support safe patient care. That work is reinforced by the Aramark Healthcare+ team’s robust leadership development framework that is driving measurable improvements across the system.
“Patients and families aren’t just asking whether a room looks clean,” said Isaac Johnson, a Senior Vice President of Operations with Aramark Healthcare+. “They want to feel safe and confident in the environment. That expectation has fundamentally changed how we train our teams and how we measure success.”
Leadership Development Driving Results
A key factor in Northside’s performance is the STEP (Steps Career Path) Program, a jointly developed leadership and training framework for Environmental Services employees. The program provides structured advancement opportunities tied to nationally recognized certifications through the Association for the Health Care Environment. Since its implementation, there has been a 20‑point increase in Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) cleanliness percentile scores.
Over the past five years, participants have advanced into supervisor, manager, and director roles across the system. Senior environmental services leaders supporting Northside average of more than a decade of tenure and hold advanced credentials such as Certified Health Care Environmental Services Professionals (CHESP) and Certificate of Mastery in Infection Prevention (CMIP).
Dozens of Northside environmental services employees have earned Certified Health Care Environmental Services Technician (CHEST) and Trainer Certified Health Care Environmental Services Technician (TCHEST) certifications, with many transitioning into leadership roles. Program graduates credit STEP with providing a clear pathway for professional growth and a stronger connection to patient care.
A Scalable Approach for Evolving Healthcare Environments
Aramark Healthcare+ complements its people-first model with technology platforms that support scheduling, inspections, and compliance monitoring. Regular cross-facility reviews help leaders evaluate performance and share best practices.
For two consecutive years, three Northside Hospital facilities supported by Aramark Healthcare+ were named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s Top 350 Cleanest Hospitals in the U.S., all ranking within the top 10 nationally.
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