Enter ES Department of the Year competition now

If you're looking for a chance to shine the spotlight on your environmental services (ES) department or housekeeping team members for their dedication and excellent work, a golden opportunity to honor them presents itself once again.

To recognize outstanding achievement, Health Facilities Management, the Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) and Cintas Corp. announce the sixth annual Environmental Services Department of the Year Award. To enter, go to www.hfmmagazine.com/2012ESDepartment where you will find instructions to apply for the program. The deadline to apply is May 25.

Open to all hospitals, the program recognizes high levels of performance in 14 critical areas. The winning ES department will be profiled in Health Facilities Management and recognized at the AHE conference scheduled for Sept. 16-19 in Phoenix. Other ES departments may be recognized as finalists or given an honorable mention, depending on their scores.

Last year's winner of the Environmental Services Department of the Year was Advocate Christ Medical Center and Hope Children's Hospital, Oak Lawn, Ill. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was a finalist and seven other facilities received a certificate of merit last year.

For more information on the annual AHE conference or to register for the event, visit www.ahe.org.