Photos by Kristin Ellis Warren Ramirez, SWAT⁄COLT (Clean-Out-Long-Term) team member, cleans every inch of the bed to provide the cleanest environment for Warriors in Transition to recover.

Nothing is left untouched. Soap dispensers are attentively disassembled, ceiling panels swept with precision, and the bed vigilantly turned to expose the source.

ìFifteen minutes!î someone calls out.

This means they have 75 minutes left to get 360 degree coverage and bring that room to their chiefís standard. Their meticulous work will be checked and rechecked to make sure this room is sanitized from top to bottom.

The SWAT team Alpha Squad of Environmental Services, also known as the COLT team (Clean-Out-Long-Term), is specially trained to perform detailed cleanings for long-term patient rooms within the hospital. This new initiative began to take shape in April 2007 when Gary J. Brown Sr. came on board as the chief of Environmental Services Division. He met with Fluryanne Leach, chief of Infection Control to discuss ways to ensure the cleanest environment for patients who spend more than two weeks in their hospital room.

ìLong-term patients can be at the highest risk,î Leach explained. ìTheir rooms didnít get the overall deep cleaning like when they are discharged. We discussed what ESD would clean and what it would consist of. Itís been a joint effort.î

The six-member team was hand selected by Brown and runs with the structured professionalism of a military squad. No one is called by their first names, rather ìMr. Bellamyî or ìMs. Flowersî.

Brown holds town halls for the 227 total members of the ESD to hear their concerns, has monthly leadership courses, ordered new, more professional uniforms for the cleaning staff, and two-way cell phones to speed up the already fast response time.

SWAT Team Alpha squad members sanitizes the sink area in a longterm patient’s room last week.

Brownís executive officer, Elliott Johnson, explained the team reports in the morning and the team captain goes to each ward to find out what the needs and concerns are from the nurses.

Once the long-term patient has temporarily moved their belongings, the SWAT team blocks the doorway and supply cart with yellow gates. ìWe have kids here too and we want to make sure they are safe as well,î Brown pointed out.

Each person is assigned a specific area to clean; ceilings and walls, windows, bathroom, and floors. One also stands as security of sorts to make sure the team can work without disruption and holds a script of the teamís mission and purpose in the event passersby wonder what is going on in the room.

ìMeanwhile, we are on top of everything in the room,î Michael Stewart remarked. ìTeamwork is absolutely important.î

Andre Marable is the squad leader, the conductor, of this cleaning mission and said the patients notice a difference. ìWhen they get back into the room, they can see it. You see theyíre happy.î

ìWe are getting a lot of feedback,î said Warren Ramirez, SWAT/COLT team member. ìWeíre setting a trend and exceeding the standards. It makes me proud to know weíre having an impact.î

After the team sanitizes everything on the checklist, they hold an after action report, and the room is rechecked the next day to ensure every detail in the patientís room is clean.

ìOur goal is to have a clean hospital,î Brown said. ìRestore the reputation in the hospital and in themselves. I want to get to a point where my team doesnít need meÖ where ESD will run on automatic.î

Gary Makell, SWAT/COLT team member, jumped in, ìI feel like we do need the chief. I have seen great changes since he has been here.î

Team captain, Campbell, quipped, ìI was about to retire, but I liked what the chief was doing so I stayed.î

Brown pointed out that the hospital leadership challenged the department chiefs to go above and beyond in some way for the patients. ìThis is my way of doing that. Weíre getting there and as we go along, weíll get better.î

ESD offers COLT cleaning by appointment, Tuesdays thru Thursdays by calling 202-782-7550.