In this episode, public health leader and combat veteran Aaron Woodall joins Linda Lybert to explore the importance of collaboration across infection prevention, environmental services, and nursing teams. Together, they discuss how shared accountability, education, and proactive leadership can reduce healthcare-associated infections and strengthen safety culture in every facility.

In this episode of Beyond the Surface, Dr. Gavin Macgregor-Skinner shares what it was like to spend 14 hours as a patient in a busy hospital emergency department. From observing cleaning practices to noticing gaps in infection prevention and staff training, Gavin offers a rare dual perspective—both as a healthcare safety expert and as someone receiving care. Together with host Linda, they discuss the unseen risks patients and families should be aware of, the importance of environmental services in infection control, and how a culture of safety must extend beyond patients to include staff, equipment, and the built environment.

In this episode, we sit down with Iris Verdi, Director of Strategic Accounts for Healthcare at KBS, to explore the critical role of environmental services in patient safety.

With more than 25 years of experience in hospital operations and EVS leadership, Iris shares how the focus in healthcare has shifted from “looking clean” to ensuring true disinfection and compliance. She opens up about the ongoing challenge of balancing patient flow with thorough cleaning, her personal experience as a patient in an unclean hospital environment, and why empowering frontline staff is key to infection prevention. From operating rooms to emergency departments, Iris highlights the need for better training, leadership engagement, and investment in cleaning as part of quality care.

Whether you’re a healthcare professional, facilities leader, or patient advocate, this candid conversation underscores why clean environments save lives.