Elevating Handcraft Linen Services Through Education: Resources That Make a Difference
At Handcraft, we love getting linen back. When carts of used sheets, gowns, towels, and pillowcases arrive at the plant, it means the system is working the way it should be. Getting linen back keeps the cycle going – it gets washed, folded, and sent right back out to support the next patient.
It’s a win for patient care, sustainability, and cost savings.
But in the flow of everyday tasks, linen can easily go missing. It can be tossed in the trash during a busy discharge, hidden in a supply closet, or even sent home with a patient by accident. While one missing blanket may not seem like much, it adds up quickly across units, shifts and facilities.
The good news? Most linen loss is preventable with proactive education.
What Makes Training Effective?
Linen education shouldn’t feel like just another checkbox approach on a long to-do list. The most effective programs are the ones that are clear, practical, and easily woven into the daily routine. That starts with keeping it:
- Quick – short, simple and straight to the point.
- Consistent – repetition, reminders, and real time coaching help build lasting habits.
- Relevant – different roles interact with linen in different ways. Education should match the day-to-day reality of each discipline.
- Supportive – Focus on fostering a just culture, not assigning blame. Understanding the importance of these steps helps everyone perform their best work.
Tools to Support Your Team
We have a collection of resources to help your team understand linen and implement best practices in linen management. Here’s what we offer:
- Customer Access Portal: has a variety of downloadable flyers, biological records, plant information and more.
- YouTube Video Library: Linen awareness videos that break it down in under 3 minutes.
- Blogs: quick reads with real worlds examples and takeaways.
- Linen Awareness Program: we partner with facilities to help clinical staff and administrators implement and evaluate strategies to be good linen stewards
How to Use These Resources Effectively
- Print and Post Flyers: Rotate flyers in your linen rooms or staff lounges to keep the message fresh.
- Play the Videos: Loop them on TV’s or integrate them into orientation and annual education.
- Use QR Codes: link training content on shift report sheets or daily huddles.
- Start the Conversation: Use blog topics and flyers to spark quick discussions during meetings or huddles.
Wrapping it UP
Are you interested in enhancing linen management at your facility? If you’re a Handcraft customer, access the Customer Access Portal to view and download tools anytime. If you need additional support, contact your facility representative.
When education is simple, relevant, and consistent, it becomes ingrained. Understanding the “why” not only encourages adherence to best practices but also fosters ownership of them.
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, industry-backed expertise, technology, and professionals to help you achieve your goals. Remember to look at our HandCraft’s Linen Awareness Program – healthcare linen management strategies that save costs and improve service.
About the Author
Liz Barber, BSN, RN
Liz is a registered nurse with experience in clinical and non-clinical settings. She built her clinical expertise in Med-Surg and ICU. Beyond patient care, Liz has also served in Administrative Supervision, Quality Improvement, Employee Health, and Infection Prevention.
