Every morning, Crothall Healthcare Environmental Services (EVS) team member, Lynn Bennett, introduces herself to patients with a warm greeting and asks, “Is there anything specific you need or anything else that I can do for you today?” Known for her commitment to patients, Lynn was recently honored with the “Team Member of the Year” award at Allegheny Health Network’s Allegheny General Hospital.
Lynn’s care for patients is not only seen every day by nurses and others, but is well documented. She is frequently mentioned in Press Ganey reports and has received numerous letters from grateful patients. Some of the recent comments from patients include:
- Lynn was wonderful in keeping me company while cleaning;
- Lynn B. was very conscientious in her work and very kind;
- Housekeeper Lynn was very courteous and polite and did a great job;
- I was impressed by the cleanliness of my room. Lynn was the housekeeper who cleaned my room. She did an excellent job, in addition to being very polite.
Lynn’s commitment to her work is reflected in her approach to the job every day. “What I enjoy most about working in EVS is the patients,” she says. “Being able to interact with them, brighten their day, and know that the work I do helps create a clean, safe environment for their care is very rewarding.”
Brent DeBona, Crothall’s Resident Regional Director of Operations at Allegheny Health Network, and the person who nominated her for the award, says Lynn creates a welcoming environment for patients by listening attentively and ensuring their needs are met. Just as important, she is consistent in her approach to patient care.
“When she notices a patient having a difficult day, she will ask: ‘It looks like a tough day. Can I do anything to make you a little more comfortable?’”
The award from Allegheny Health Network recognizes several other qualities Lynn brings to the job, such as her concern for patient safety. For example, she responds immediately to safety situations, such as spills, and notices and resolves even the smallest issues.
Brent says her thorough cleaning and sanitizing practices are essential for infection prevention and directly enhance the quality of care. “Lynn ensures that the patients and nurses are happy, and her areas are cleaned and disinfected properly,” says Brent.
Lynn sees her work as a way to build relationships with patients, including those facing difficult health situations. “I feel my work makes a difference because patients, visitors, and staff can trust that the rooms are clean and safe. I also value being able to interact with patients and have conversations with family members while I’m in the room cleaning, which helps make their experience a little more comfortable.”
Connecting with Other Associates
In addition to patient care, Brent’s nomination makes it clear that Lynn values teamwork, highlighting her ability to collaborate with associates in other departments to ensure patient rooms are clean. He says she readily assists other team members during staffing shortages and praises her peers through personal notes and comments during daily huddles and other forums.
In turn, Lynn’s reliability is appreciated by those who work with her. Her colleagues nominated and selected her as EVS Employee of the Month in January 2026. She also won the hospital’s “Bee Award” in February 2026, the top honor for a non-clinical staff member.
Driving Change
Beyond her daily responsibilities, the award also recognizes Lynn’s leadership ability. As the president of the EVS Employee Engagement Committee, she has introduced several new initiatives that improve performance. Brent says Lynn has played a major role in training new EVS employees by helping them become engaged quickly after joining the organization.
“She has been integral in ensuring that her co-workers are helping train our new folks and all staff are following the same training,” Brent says.
In addition, Lynn is also involved in organizing other events that recognize others, such as providing flowers teammates and other associates in the department for Mother’s Day, and organizing activities around Black History Month.
Lynn was overwhelmed when the “Team Member of the Year” award was announced, and says it’s an honor that shows she is appreciated for her hard work.
“When I found out I was selected as Team Member of the Year, I cried. I was truly surprised and felt very grateful and proud to be recognized.”
-Lynn Bennett, EVS Team Lead
“Being part of this team means the world to me,” says Lynn. “My advice to someone new to joining EVS is to take pride in your work and do the job properly. Pay attention to detail, stay consistent, and don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn from others.
