PLAINFIELD, Ill. — Coming on the heels EXCHANGE 2017, the Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) annual educational event held recently in Orlando, the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) says it is seeing a marked increase in interest in the organization and in the number of healthcare laundries applying for accreditation.
“AHE again put on a wonderful, meaningful conference, similar to our experiences at the recent Clean Show (Clean 2017 World Educational Congress for Laundering and Drycleaning) and APIC (APIC 2017 Annual Conference) events,” says John Scherberger, HLAC board president. “Visitors to our booth showed much more than a passing curiosity about HLAC and its mission. These were professionals who have realized the importance of having healthcare textiles arrive at a facility free of contamination.”
HLAC recently announced that it is seeking to add to its roster of inspectors in response to a marked increase in the number of healthcare facilities applying for accreditation.
HLAC accreditation means the laundry meets HLAC Accreditation Standards, which have been developed based on federal regulations and guidelines, as well as best industry practices. The standards are established as the minimum acceptable practice for the preparation of hygienically clean, reusable healthcare textiles for patient care, implemented and executed by accredited laundry facilities processing reusable healthcare textiles.
HLAC says its standards are internationally recognized. AHE has awarded its AHE Seal of Review and Recognition™ to the HLAC Accreditation Standards document.
“We’re looking at having another notable year for re-accreditations and new accreditations. This, following last year's banner performance, when 61 laundries received HLAC accreditation," Scherberger says. “We salute those healthcare laundries that have made and continue to make a commitment to a new level of excellence in the way they process healthcare textiles.”
According to HLAC, newly re-accredited or accredited laundries so far this year include:
- Aid to Hospitals Inc., Rochester, N.Y.
- Alsco Inc., Eugene Ore.
- Crothall Laundry & Linen Services, Wheeling, Ill.
- Crown Healthcare Laundry Services, Pensacola, Fla.
- Crown Healthcare Laundry Services, Selma, Ala.
- Crown Healthcare Laundry Services, Winston Salem, N.C.
- Florida Hospital Laundry, Greater Orlando, Fla.
- ImageFIRST Healthcare Laundry Specialists, Clifton, N.J.
- ImageFIRST Healthcare Laundry Specialists, Clearwater, Fla.
- ImageFIRST Healthcare Laundry Specialists, Farmington, Conn.
- ImageFIRST Healthcare Laundry Specialists, Lincoln, R.I.
- K-Bro Linen Systems, Burnaby, British Columbia
- Linen King, Springdale, Ark.
- Mediclean Linen & Laundry Inc., Commerce, Calif.
- Mission Linen Supply, Fresno, Calif.
- Mission Linen Supply, Phoenix, Ariz.
- Mission Linen Supply, Salinas, Calif.
- Shared Hospital Services, Portsmouth, Va.
- Sterile Surgical Systems, Tumwater, Wash.
- Textile Care Services, Rochester, Minn.
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