COVID-19 Frontline Feature - Kenyanna Piner, EVS

Kenyanna Piner serves on the Environmental Services (EVS) team at EAMC as a general cleaner. Typically, you can find Kenyanna on EAMC’s medical nursing floors, however, since the COVID-19 outbreak she has been working in the ICU. She, along with countless others have been serving on the frontlines ensuring the cleanliness of COVID-19 units during the pandemic.

Piner explains that since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, her job has looked very different. “Like all EAMC employees, I have to be screened each day at the EAMC lobby to check my temperature to make sure I am not at risk for spreading COVID-19,” Piner says. “In EVS, we have a special piece of equipment called TRU-D which is a UV cleaning system, and we also have a new system called Clorox 360 cleaner which we use in addition to our normal cleaning processes.

Piner also describes that they now wear masks at all times to protect the patients and themselves. EVS has played a key role during COVID-19, and in times when hand washing and social distancing have becoming a national activity, Piner’s role is critical to protecting patient and employees. She explains that scheduling has become more challenging, in addition to all of her added responsibilities at work. “I work every day as does my husband, so when our daughter was sick we had to separate her from the rest of our family to make sure our family stays well and can continue to keep serving at our jobs,” Piner says. “Life can change so fast.”

Piner notes that staying informed has offered encouragement during these challenging circumstances. “I’m so encouraged to stay informed about how to keep myself, my family, and patients protected,” Piner says. “I know people might be afraid, but our team comes in to do our work, and we do it well. We know that we are making a difference for the patients.”

EVS is usually found behind the scenes, but during this pandemic they are front and center as they are constantly adapting to this rapidly changing situation. “We have all stepped up and are going above and beyond normal learning processes,” Piner says. “We’re taking extra steps to wipe down surfaces constantly and use extra precaution when cleaning. I feel that the doctors and nurses are focused on getting the patients well and healthy, and we are behind the scenes keeping the patient area as clean as possible, protecting them from germs.”