When it comes to the care and maintenance of medical linens and garments, there is absolutely no room for second-guessing. The stakes are even higher when you’re working with a third-party medical laundry service provider. While there is no understating the convenience it brings, it is also rife with risks. Linens, after all, remain one of the most at-risk items in your inventory. Throughout the years, we’ve seen case after case of linen-induced outbreaks. Some of them even proved fatal.
That is why knowing what to look for in a medical laundry service company is of paramount importance.
What to Look for in a Medical Laundry Service Provider
When you peel back the layers of marketing tactics and PR stunts, it all boils down to these four things. These are the hallmarks of quality medical laundry service:
Specialization
Healthcare laundry service is an entirely different world from other types of commercial laundry. The standards are higher, the skill requirements are more critical, and not everyone with a ‘Laundry Service Provider’ title can deliver. That is why the ideal service provider is one that focuses solely on the industry. This guarantees that not only do they have the competency to deliver topnotch laundry results. It also guarantees that their facility and operations are fully directed at and designed precisely for healthcare laundry.
Accreditations
Anyone can make claims about meeting industry standards on safety and hygiene. Only a few can actually prove their trustworthiness. Your best and most secure gauge is through their accreditations. Primarily, you should look for their compliance with the standards set forth by the OSHA, The Joint Commission (TJC), and the CDC. You should also look for third-party certifications like Hygienically Clean Healthcare from the TRSA. These accreditations are your most objective assurance that your (potential) service provider can deliver on its promised safety.
Facility and Technology
The safety and overall quality of your medical linens depend on more than just how they process your linens. The caliber of the facility also plays an important role. Not only does the right equipment ensure linen cleanliness. It also helps guarantee the company’s capacity to deliver the linen volume you need. This capacity, in turn, guarantees zero interruption to your deliveries.
Track Record
Nothing speaks more truly about a company’s quality than firsthand accounts. The history, track record, and testimonials from clients past and present give you a clear overview of what you can expect from a medical laundry service provider.
The Best Medical Laundry Service Provider for Your Facility
Your medical laundry service provider has the ability to empower the infection control protocols you have in place. They also have the power to breach all your safeguards. When you jump into outsourcing your medical laundry needs, go with a company that has met all the aforementioned qualities. Go with HandCraft Healthcare Linen and Uniform Specialists!
Find out more about what HandCraft can do for your healthcare facility. Call us today at (888) 358-8671 or fill out this form!
