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October 2010

HLAC Panel Presents at TRSA Healthcare Seminar

Scott Delin, Superior Unform Group, presents TRSA's

Certificate of Appreciation to HLAC, accepted by Kathy Tinker,

HLAC Executive Director.

At this year's TRSA Healthcare Seminar, held at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, September 28-29, healthcare operators shared their perspectives on the value of being accredited and the positive impact it has had on their organizations. Panelists all agreed that processing healthcare textiles requires operating at a high level and going through the inspection and accreditation process resulted in better-trained employees, improved operational efficiencies, and high customer satisfaction.

"During the education process of customers and employees, we were pleased to note that both groups positively embraced this innovative approach of accreditation. I believe that because the Standards were for the benefit of the healthcare industry and included the best interests of those individuals employed by laundry services, the program has sold on its merits to monitor and improve the industry," says Aimee Forbes, Ameritex Services, Omaha, Nebraska.

Accredited laundry panelists included:

- Aimee Forbes, Director of Operations, Ameritex Services,
serving Nebraska and Iowa

- Josh Ramirez, General Manager, Medico Linen,
serving southern California
- Randy Bartsch, CEO, Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service,
serving Washington state and British Columbia, Canada

HLAC gratefully thanks the panelists for their continuing commitment to excellence in healthcare textile processing and participation in the panel presentation.

HLAC Brings Inspectors Together for Training and Calibration

In back: Brett Higgins
In front: Don Pedder, Sonny Wyatt, Richard Phelon. Not Pictured: Tony Fitzgerald

Consistent interpretation of the HLAC Standards is important to all laundries who undergo an inspection. HLAC recognizes this and works continuously with its inspectors to meet this goal. "HLAC Inspectors have various backgrounds," says Rick Kislia, Inspection Committee Chair, We recognize and value these various backgrounds, and work towards blending this vast knowledge together so each can learn from each other and apply a consistent set of skills to each inspection."

The August training meeting was held at Reino Linen in Detroit, Michigan, where Inspectors could use a hands-on approach to reinforce the discussions and learning.

VA Butler Lauds Balfurd Healthcare Linen Services For Accreditation

L to R: Bill Barnes, Balfurd HC Service Manager, John Brewer, Program Manager, Environmental Management, Butler VA, and Sam Spence, Balfurd General Manager.

Balfurd's recent accreditation by HLAC confirms that linen service assists the VA Butler Healthcare Center in meeting federal standards for sanitation and disease control, he says. "When you're dealing with hospital-grade linens, you have to have high standards to avoid cross-contamination" says John Brewer, CHESP, VA Butler environmental program manager. "I'm grateful to have a contractor like Balfurd who's concerned about that and wants to do the best job for our country's veterans."

"Accreditation assures our clients that we're following sanitary best practices for our industry," said Sam Spence, general manager of Balfurd Healthcare Linen Services. "Ultimately, it helps our client facilities improve patient care." Balfurd serves Pennsylvania and northern Maryland.

Click here to read the full press release.

AORN Recommends Surgical Attire Be Laundered at Accredited Facilities

AORN Logo

This month the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) will be releasing its newly revised Recommended Practices for Surgical Attire. The RP takes a stand against home laundering and recommends surgical attire be processed by an accredited laundry facility. Read the full article at Infection Control Today.