Your hospital has enough to worry about already.
When lives are at stake, it’s difficult to be concerned about something that seems as inconsequential as linen loss. So, chances are, linen loss isn’t high on your priority list. But it should be.
HandCraft Services got its start — and made its name — as a dry cleaner in Richmond more than 50 years ago. But these days, the company’s big business is handling the medical industry’s laundry.
FRANKFORT, Ill. — The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) accredited its 100th healthcare laundry when HandCraft Linen Services, Richmond, Va., earned the distinction in May, HLAC reports.
“We’re proud to have reached this milestone in HLAC’s history,” says HLAC Chairperson Patti Costello, executive director of the American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES). “Laundries voluntarily seeking accreditation demonstrate they understand the importance of continuous benchmarking, process improvement, patient safety, and providing hygienically clean textiles to customers.”
The non-profit HLAC was formed for the purpose of inspecting and accrediting laundries processing healthcare textiles for hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. Becoming accredited is an entirely voluntary process. HLAC does not have members, but is comprised of a volunteer Board of Directors.
Since it began accrediting laundry organizations in 2006, the HLAC has “seen a growing commitment to voluntary industry excellence and a much greater awareness of the unique role healthcare textile processing plays in national patient-safety goals,” Costello adds. “As the demand for healthcare grows, so too will the need for qualified healthcare laundry providers who are well prepared to handle the increasing needs of its healthcare customers.”
“We’re thrilled to be the 100th laundry accredited by HLAC,” says Keith Nichols, president of HandCraft Linen Services, a family-owned and -operated company that has been in business since 1969 and employs more than 250. “Seeking this independent certification sends an important message to our customers and prospects that we’ve developed a culture of high performance and excellence, which results in a product that consistently meets their needs every day. And it aligns with the ongoing HandCraft legacy of hard work, innovation, and commitment to the laundry industry.”
HandCraft’s state-of-the-art facilities process more than 27 million pounds of healthcare textiles each year and service more than 4,000 hospital and nursing-home beds and more than 450 medical office surgery centers. HLAC Executive Director Kathy Tinker presented HandCraft’s management and owners with the accreditation plaque in late June.
Northwest Health Care Linen, a healthcare linen-service provider for customers in the Puget Sound, Wash., region since 1992, also received accreditation recently.
“When you go into a healthcare facility as a patient, cleanliness is critically important to stopping the spread of bacteria,” says James Hall, CEO of Northwest Health Care Linen. “In this industry, hospitals have no way to measure what you’re doing, apart from the end product delivered. That’s what this accreditation looks at: how you provide the sanitary laundry that aids in the prevention of bacteria spread and infection.”
The HLAC accreditation process includes an evaluation of written documents; a walk-through and inspection of the facility; employee and management interviews; and more. The HLAC standards focus on a number of aspects, with the ultimate goal being the separation of clean textiles from soiled textiles at all times.
“This accreditation gives us a high level of credibility in the industry, setting us apart from those who aren’t currently accredited or who, frankly, aren’t able to meet these high standards,” Hall says.
Converting to an exchange cart program isn’t just a matter of collecting data in separate systems and having the customer service representatives provide monthly reports. In order to move to an exchange cart program, as proposed by HandCraft Linen Services, three key elements are required. Please click on the above link to see what these elements are and to read more on how exchange carts can be a better and profitability service.
TRSA (Textile Rental Services Association of America) Textile Rental Weekly
From its start as a single dry cleaning store in Richmond, VA in the mid-1950s, HandCraft Services is becoming one of the fastest rising textile service companies in the nation. While the business has changed dramatically, including the opening of a new 60,000 sq. ft. facility last month, what remains at its core is a strong family.
At the new plant’s official opening on Nov. 25 in Richmond, the strength of this growing company was on display. HandCraft Services President Keith M. Nichols; President, Sales & Marketing Jeff Nichols and Vice President John J. Nichols welcomed more than 100 customers, dignitaries, friends and family members for the dedication. Their brother, Fr. Neal A. Nichols, blessed the facility, as each of their families looked on. The family’s matriarch, Mrs. John A. Nichols, widow of founder John Nichols, received congratulations from those in attendance.
“We are proud to carry out our father’s legacy of hard work, exemplary service, and forward thinking,” Keith Nichols said.
The entire Nichols family has reason to be proud. The facility is already worthy of being in the ranks of one of the best healthcare laundries in the country. With a fully automated wash aisle, energy efficient equipment, and an innovative design for the flatwork department, the facility will process more than 50 million pounds of textiles each year.
“This building has been our collective passion for the last decade,” Keith Nichols said. “It embodies the best of how innovation and technology can affect the design of a building, and how the design of a building can transform the process that takes place within its walls.”
TRSA President and CEO Roger Cocivera, who was at the opening with TRSA Vice President George Ferencz, Director of Government Affairs Larry Fineran and Director of Federal Affairs Tony Wagner, praised HandCraft’s accomplishment.
“The Nichols family has grown their business into one of the major healthcare textile service companies in the country,” says Cocivera. “This new plant is a testament to that growth and a sign of their dedication to remain a competitive force in our industry.”
Even for those not in the industry, the plant was impressive in its scale and automation. Virginia Lt. Gov. William T. “Bill” Bolling, who was on hand for dedication, praised what HandCraft is doing to keep healthcare affordable in the Commonwealth.
“During my term as lieutenant governor I have worked to create jobs, grow our economy and improve healthcare delivery for all Virginians,” Bolling said. “HandCraft Services supports this mission by helping hospitals reduce costs and increase efficiency, thereby being able to allocate more resources to patient care.”
City of Richmond’s director of economic development, Carthan F. Currin, III, also was at the dedication, thanking the Nichols for keeping work in the city. “The City is proud to see this Richmond company of over 40 years expanding their operations to meet new local and regional business opportunities in healthcare linen services.”
Read more about the new HandCraft Services plant in an upcoming issue of Textile Rental.
