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Congratulations to Newly Accredited Laundries!
The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) has announced that the following laundries have received accreditation:
· Sodexo at Wright Place, Buffalo, NY
· Superior Health Linens, Madison, WI
· Superior Health Linens, Cudahy, WI
· Crothall Laundry Services, LaMirada, CA
· Crothall Laundry Services, Ontario, CA
· Nixon Uniform Service & Medical Wear, Beltsville, MD
· Crothall Laundry Services, Coastal, AL
· Sodexo Pittsburgh Linen Services, Pittsburgh, PA
· Crothall Laundry Services, Red Wing, MN
· Crothall Laundry Services, Lakeland, FL
To date, 53 healthcare laundries have received accreditation and 20 laundries are preparing for inspection.
HLAC's mission is to publish high standards for laundering healthcare textiles, and to provide an inspection and accreditation process that recognizes those laundries that meet these high standards. The decision to become accredited is completely voluntary.
The primary benefit of accreditation is that an independent third party has inspected your facility and found that it meets or exceeds the highest standards for processing healthcare textiles. A laundry cannot inspect and accredit itself and its customers generally do not have the time or expertise to conduct inspections.
For more information on HLAC: www.hlacnet.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. Download Inspection Guidelines at www.hlacnet.org or
call Kathy Tinker at 708-790-1749 for more information on how you can join the growing ranks of accredited laundries in the United States.
P.O. Box 1072
DuBois, PA 15801
Phone: 814-771-9414
Fax: 814-375-5267
email: info@hlacnet.org
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Quick Links
Our Website
Check out the expanded HLAC website featuring:
- Industry articles,
- Links to accredited
laundry websites,
- Accredited "laundry
finder" feature.
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Greetings!
This quarterly enewsletter is for professionals interested in meeting the highest standards possible in processing healthcare laundry. You work with or own one of the growing number of accredited healthcare laundries in the nation...or you aspire to. This newsletter is meant to inform and educate. Please forward comments or questions and let us know how we are doing at info@hlacnet.org.
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HLAC Names Kathy Tinker Executive Director
The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) has named Kathy Tinker as its executive director, effective immediately. Tinker has served the council as its sales director for the past 18 months.
"We are thrilled to announce Kathy Tinker as our executive director," says HLAC Chair Judy Reino. "The dedication and professionalism she has shown as sales director sold us on her ability to lead the organization. I believe her ability to deliver results will take HLAC to the next level of development."
In addition to handling sales for HLAC, Tinker has also been instrumental in strengthening and building HLAC's marketing program to help laundries prepare for inspection and effectively market themselves after receiving accreditation. Tinker brings 15 years of experience to the position. Prior to serving as sales director, Tinker worked for McIntyre Group and Ecolab, Inc. She has a bachelor of arts in business and marketing from the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minn.
To reach Tinker, call 708-790-1749. For more information on HLAC, www.hlacnet.org.
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HLAC In The News!
Inspector Tony J. Fitzgerald Receives ASHES Award
 HLAC Inspector Tony J. Fitzgerald, III, CHESP is the recipient of the 2008 Phoenix Award, presented by The American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES). The Phoenix Award is ASHES highest honor, recognizing an individual who has made a lasting impact in the ASHES organization through his or her outstanding contributions to the growth and professionalism of health care environmental services and textile care services.
Fitzgerald has been an ASHES member since 1989. He served as president of the ASHES board of directors in 2004 and 2005 and has worked for many years in the environmental services field for the Veterans Administration's healthcare system. Currently, Fitzgerald serves as Assistant Director for the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System in California. Throughout his involvement with ASHES, Fitzgerald has been an outspoken supporter of the Certified Healthcare Environmental Services Professional (CHESP) certification program. He has served as an inspector for HLAC since 2006. Congrats Tony!
HLAC to Present Education Session, Exhibit at Clean 
Make a note to include HLAC on your to-do list for Clean '09. We will hold an education session on, "Healthcare Laundry Accreditation: Why and How" (date and time TBD), as well as exhibiting at the Clean Show (Booth #1228) set for June 18-21, 2009, at the Morial Convention Center, New Orleans. Stay tuned for more information.
Tools to Help You Prepare for Inspection
The thought of preparing for inspection to become accredited can be overwhelming. HLAC is committed to provide healthcare laundries the best tools and materials available to help prepare for inspection. Once an application for inspection is received, you will receive the User Guide, FAQ Sheet and a PowerPoint to help educate staff. For more information on inspection preparatlon tools and accreditation contact Executive Director Kathy Tinker at 708-790-1749 or go to www.hlacnet.org.
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HLAC Mail Program Delivers Results for
Crothall GM Eric Polacek
 "It was a very rewarding moment," says Crothall GM Eric Polecek. "I had never met the CEO of one our largest client hospitals. And because of the HLAC Mail Program, he sought me out by name at a social function to congratulate me on the accreditation!"
The Crothall plant in Clermont, Fla. managed by Polecek was accredited the end of May. As part of the accreditation process, once the plant passed inspection, he received an Accreditation Marketing Kit and was asked to select five clients or prospects to receive announcement of his accreditation through the HLAC Mail Program. "We purchased extra letters and had them sent in July," he says. "I chose to send all my letter to CEOS. I believe it's easier for good news to trickle down than depend on good news flowing up the management chain.
"It was a good choice for us," says Polecek. "I've had an excellent response. The CEO response was the most exciting, but I have had several other managers and clients contact me with their congratulations.
"You can't keep your accreditation a secret. Clients and prospects can't read your mind. Accreditation is good news we can't afford not to share," he says.
About the HLAC Mail Program and Fact Sheets
Here's how the HLAC Mail Program works: Once a laundry receives accreditation, HLAC mails a formal letter, signed by its chairperson, that announces the operation's accreditation to five hospitals near its facility - at no charge (additional letters may be purchased). A two-sided, four-color Fact Sheet is included with each letter.
The purpose of the announcement is to help you market your accreditation to existing or potential customers and to educate healthcare executives on HLAC: its mission, standards and benefits. The Mail Program and HLAC's Fact Sheets are invaluable tools to help market your accreditation.
Call Executive Director Kathy Tinker at 708-790-1749 for more information on the HLAC Mail Program.
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