PLAINFIELD, IL – The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) has accredited the Alsco healthcare laundry service provided by its Eugene, OR, branch. Alsco Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT, is a worldwide linen and uniform rental services company. The accreditation comes after a voluntary inspection of Alsco/Eugene’s complete textile processing cycle: from handling and transporting soiled healthcare textiles, to in-plant processing and delivery back to the customer.
“We’re letting our customers know that they can have the utmost confidence that our laundering processes meet strict criteria for removing pathogens from healthcare textiles,” said Bill Inge, Alsco general manager. “Our HLAC-accredited laundry service uses specialized wash processes to reduce and eliminate biological contaminants. Our processes meet federal regulations and guidelines as well as best industry practices.”
HLAC is an independent, internationally recognized nonprofit organization that inspects and accredits laundries that process reusable textiles for hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities – based on the highest, professionally recognized standards for patient safety and infection prevention. Alsco/Eugene’s accreditation is good until 2020.
HLAC accreditation means a laundry meets HLAC Accreditation Standards that have been 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’s standards are internationally recognized. The Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) has awarded its AHE Seal of Review and Recognition™ to the HLAC Accreditation Standards document.
Inge noted that having to go through the voluntary HLAC accreditation inspection process involved “rigorous and extensive” preparation. “The process engaged employees at all levels of the organization and required a time commitment to ensure they were fully primed on inspection day. Passing the inspection is testament that the Alsco/Eugene is running at a high level of operational efficiency, and that our employees are well trained and productive. We’re proud of our team.”
John Scherberger, HLAC board president, noted, “Alsco is joining the ranks of proactive, leading providers that have realized laundry standards play a critical role in a hospital’s infection prevention strategy. HLAC accreditation is a giant step in that direction. We welcome Alsco to the HLAC community.”
