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The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council is pleased to
announce the newest accredited laundries:
Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Miller's Textile Services,
Wapakoneta, OH
Hospital Linen Services,
Kansas City, KS
Medico Professional
Long Beach, CA
Mayo Foundation,
Jacksonville, FL
Buckeye Launderers & Cleaners,
Napoleon,
OH
Sodexo Laundry Services, Shreveport, LA
HandCraft Linen Services,
Richmond,
VA
Accreditation is valid for three years upon which time a facility must
undergo a new inspection to retain its accredited status. The
following have recently been reaccredited:
Paris Healthcare
Linen Services, Williamsport, PA
Unitex Textile Rental Services, Hartford, CT
Unitex Textile Rental Services,
Mt.
Vernon, NY
Ameritex Services, Omaha, NE
Congratulations to all for their commitment and leadership in healthcare
textile processing.
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HLAC
will be represented at the following events:
APIC 2010 National Conference
July 11-15, 2010
New Orleans, LA
www.apic.org
ARTA Green Summit
July 22-23, 2010
Quebec City, Quebec
www.arta1.com
ASHES Annual Conference
September 26-30, 2010
Washington, D.C.
www.ashes.org
TRSA Healthcare and Tech Summit
September 28-30, 2010
Las Vegas, NV
www.trsa.org
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The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council is an
independent organization committed to supporting the highest industry
standards in processing healthcare textiles.
View or download the Standards at www.hlacnet.org.
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HLAC Accredits 100th Laundry
The Healthcare Laundry
Accreditation Council
is pleased to announce it has
accredited its
100th healthcare
laundry.
"We're proud to have reached
this milestone in HLAC's history," says HLAC Chairperson Patti
Costello. "Laundries voluntarily seeking accreditation demonstrate
they understand the importance of continuous benchmarking, process
improvement, patient safety, and providing hygienically clean textiles
to customers," Costello says. "Since it began
accrediting laundry organizations in 2006, the Healthcare Laundry
Accreditation Council has seen a growing commitment to voluntary
industry excellence and a much greater awareness of the unique role
healthcare textile processing plays in national patient safety goals.
As the demand for healthcare grows, so too will the need for qualified
healthcare laundry providers who are well prepared to handle the
increasing needs of its healthcare customers."
HandCraft Linen Services of
Richmond, Virginia holds the honor of being number 100 and will receive
its plaque in person later this month.
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New "Accredited Laundry"
Poster Being Launched
Earning the HLAC credential is  a
significant accomplishment for a
healthcare laundry. Not only does it involve time and effort to prepare
for the inspection, but entails building a culture that includes a
daily commitment to excellence in every aspect of processing--from soil
sort to delivery back to the customer
and everything in-between.
The new "Accredited
Laundry" poster has been created to help reinforce to employees
that their hard work and commitment makes a positive difference that
contributes to healthcare excellence and your accreditation credential.
An added benefit--the poster is an excellent visual cue to customers
and guests that your facility has undergone a 3rd party inspection and
stands prepared to serve with competence and textile expertise. Every
accredited laundry will be receiving 3 posters in June.
Display them with pride where
employees and visitors will see them.
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Healthcare
Laundries: Looking for ways to enhance and promote your
"green" effort?
If the answer is yes, then consider attending the
American Reusable Textile Association's Green Summit, being held July
22-23, 2010, in Quebec City, Quebec. Due to the strong financial support
of participating sponsors, the registration fee for all laundry
operators has been reduced to $395. The Summit is open to all laundry
operators. Visit www.arta1.com to learn more and register.
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"Thinking About Safe
Surgical Attire"
The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) continues to
discuss the importance of educating healthcare workers about the
potential negative impact that work attire (scrubs) can have on
patient safety if they're not processed and handled in a
consistent manner that keeps them hygienically clean.
In the June issue of AORN
Connections, HLAC was interviewed as well as an
HLAC-accredited laundry and one of their customers to
get first-hand perspective into the Standards and accreditation
program. Click here to read the article.
 focus on education to healthcare
professionals at every level. Our next educational presentation is
scheduled for the national APIC Conference on July 14, 2010
(Association for Professionals in Infection Control Epidemiology).
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Inspector's
Corner:
HLAC Standard
Part I, 2.2.6 states:
"Emergency
eyewash/shower equipment must be available with unobstructed access
(i.e. requiring no more than 10 seconds to reach) for immediate
emergency use in all areas where soiled healthcare textiles are being
processed, chemicals are used and/or stored, or where there is
potential for contact with blood or other potentially infectious
material."
As you prepare for an inspection
or renewal inspection, be sure to test all eyewash stations
to ensure good water flow and temperature. Water temperature
should be tepid. In circumstances where chemical reaction is
accelerated by fluid temperature, consult a professional to determine
proper temperature. A best practice is to check stations (plumbed and
portable) routinely and have employees initial a log
book.
Why 10 seconds? ANSI states the
average person covers a distance of 55 feet in 10 seconds when walking
a normal pace. Remember, this is a general guideline. An employee who
is in discomfort may need assistance to get to the station. Placement
within 10 seconds or less will help ensure employees can reach the
station quickly if needed.
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