Volunteering to clean every COVID-19 room

During the initial months when the first COVID-19 cases were identified at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital, Kayla Elfgren stepped up to clean the rooms of inpatients fighting the virus.

The environmental services technician, who’s worked more than 20 years at the hospital, picked up extra hours and shifts to keep her commitment – making sure she was the primary one taking care of the rooms.

“I’m not afraid of this virus,” she said. “It’s just another bug we have to live with and deal with.”

Elfgren knew it was important to limit cross-contamination to best protect all patients, staff and providers. She also knew the assignment would make some technicians nervous, especially those in higher-risk populations or with small children or older family members to care for.

The work entailed wearing special, personal protective equipment most of every shift and maintaining focus to thoroughly clean and disinfect every room – as she always does – to protect anyone who would enter. Some days, she’d only clean a few rooms; others, as many as 20.

There were some long, hot days behind an N95 mask and fully gowned up, but there were also many patients she got to know and help in that time. She loved being able to see so many of them get well enough to go home.

“Some patients, they would start crying, and I would ask why they were crying,” Elfgren told Fox 31 (KDVR-TV) in Denver, which interviewed her for a story. “They didn’t want to make me sick. I kind of chuckled, I’d say, ‘Oh honey you are not going to make me sick, I have everything I need to protect me and we are going to get you better so you can go home and get back on your feet.’”

Poudre Valley Hospital Intensive Care Unit Manager Lydia Baldwin said the nursing team trusts and deeply appreciates Elfgren’s work.

“Her dedication to quality and creating a positive environment is exceptional,” Baldwin said. “During the time that we experienced the initial wave of critically ill patients with COVID-19, Kayla committed to spend her long work days cleaning ICU rooms for patients in isolation. Kayla is thorough, kind and a wonderful colleague.”

Holland “Dutch” Fla Havhan, environmental services manager at the hospital, said Elfgren stepped forward without prompting to clean the rooms.

“This came as a surprise to no one, as Kayla has been a role model for more than 20 years with PVH,” he said. “Her bravery and dedication were very much appreciated by my EVS staff.”

Elfgren said she feels honored to serve in this way. She has no regrets and said she’d do it all over again if needed. It’s been inspiring to see so many patients recover from the illness and return their extraordinary lives.