MUSC Health EVS employee praised for COVID-19 response

On weekdays, MUSC Children’s Health employee Kaneisha Jones can be found working on the second floor pediatric intensive care unit, maintaining patient rooms and work spaces and supporting a safe and clean critical care environment at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. 

But when the COVID-19 crisis hit the Lowcountry in early March, Jones and other Environmental Services associates rallied together to learn and adopt quickly COVID-19-specific cleaning protocols and guidelines for waste removal and train using required personal protective equipment. 

According to EVS manager Rebecca Luffman, Jones was eager to learn these new skills and work with the PICU clinical team and assist fellow Environmental Services co-workers in learning the new disinfection skills and applying these protocols to practice in units throughout the children’s hospital.

And as communities were celebrating front–line medical workers and first responders for their bravery and commitment during the coronavirus, many were also praising teams of other workers. 

 

One person who was especially thankful was U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. Scott had learned about Jones and her dedication at MUSC Children’s Health and reached out to recognize her as a workplace hero in a video he posted on May 26 on Instagram.

“Today we’re celebrating front-line workers — health care workers, truck drivers, grocery store workers, stockers and EVS workers, especially one person at MUSC, Kaneisha Jones, who works at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. She is our hero today,” said Scott. 

“I want to take time out to recognize MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital’s Kaneisha Jones and all other EVS workers; thank you for all you do. So often we talk about the front–line health care workers and so often, we forget about other important people behind the scenes — cleaning and making sure rooms and areas are ready to go. Thank you Kaneisha for the great things you’ve done. You are our hero. We’re so thankful for the hard work and dedication that you do. You bring a smile to people’s faces. Not only do you do a great job but you have a fantastic attitude,” he said.

Sen. Scott visited MUSC on May 27 to meet Jones, her EVS co-workers and other staff for a congratulatory luncheon. She was stunned. “I am very surprised by the luncheon and especially to see the Senator and Dr. Cole,” said the North Charleston native and mother of two, with tears in her eyes. “I am very thankful and appreciative of this recognition. It was very thoughtful that he took time out of his busy schedule to recognize myself and my EVS co-workers. This recognition has brought me so much joy and happiness. I am very blessed to work with such great people at MUSC.”