Building a Partnership to Decrease Linen Loss
What does it mean to build a partnership? It starts with a mutual agreement to identify opportunities and take action to achieve goals. Trust, collaboration and respect are the foundations of partnerships. At HandCraft, we take our partnerships with our customers seriously. Through our core values, we have a responsibility to provide quality to our customers and a passion for providing exceptional service. We take an honest approach with respect and compassion for our customers’ concerns. We also have a drive to innovate customer service processes.
With that approach in mind, we wanted to answer a recent customer question: What is the one thing we can do to decrease the cost associated with linen loss? The answer to that question is not simple. There is not one, check-the-box solution to linen loss. It takes a coordinated effort to build a linen management plan.
Top 10 Ways to Decrease Linen Loss
We have developed a Top 10 list of steps for YOU to take.
10. Initiate a linen amnesty day for staff to bring in any linen and scrubs they have at home
This reminds employees not to take linen home and adds to your overall pounds of linen returned to the plant.
9. Check your hospital policies on linen management
Updating policies will help ensure employee accountability.
8. Ensure blue soiled linen bags or hampers are easily accessible
Ask staff about workarounds and put blue linen bags in various locations.
7. Review your data trends and share with clinical staff
Just like all the other data you gather, it is important to look at your quarterly and annual linen cost trends. Celebrate the downward trends and innovate if those trends turn upward.
6. Develop a linen committee with staff involvement
Starting a grounds-up approach for action items increases buy-in from staff.
5. Hang HandCraft flyers to remind staff about linen management
Daily reminders of linen awareness increases compliance.
4. Discuss linen awareness at safety huddles
Keep the discussion going to keep linen management on everyone’s mind.
3. Email a Linen Tip of the Month to staff
This goes beyond a check-the-box approach to annual education.
2. Educate staff with a 3-minute HandCraft video for annual training as well as new hire orientation
Annual education is a key step to ensure staff are aware of the expectations.
And the number 1 action you can take to decrease the cost of linen loss?
1. Partner with HandCraft Linen Services
We have a Linen Awareness Program and would love to collaborate with you.
Contact HandCraft for More Information
If you are looking for the right partner to help prevent linen loss and decrease your linen loss costs, you found us. We have the experience, the industry-backed expertise, the technology, and the professionals to help you achieve your goals.
Call us today at (888) 358-8671 or reach us here for more information on our services!
About the Author
Dyan Troxel, MSN, RN.
Dyan is a Registered Nurse with experience in several clinical and non-clinical settings including Surgical ICU, Neonatal ICU, Education, Process Improvement, and Healthcare Leadership.
