Protecting Patient Health: The Role of HLAC-Accredited Laundry Providers in Healthcare

In healthcare environments, cleanliness and sanitation are top priorities. This goes beyond keeping surgical areas sterile to prevent infection; the entire facility, including items like curtains, must be thoroughly sanitized to reduce the spread of illness and protect the health of both patients and healthcare staff.

Professional organizations like the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) have been established to ensure a safe environment for medical procedures.

The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) is a 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.^*

Their primary mission is to protect the health of patients and medical staff by creating healthcare laundry standards. Unlike many organizations, HLAC doesn’t have a traditional membership but instead employs a voluntary Board of Directors made up of industry experts, including professionals in the commercial laundry and infection control industries, association executives, and federal government representatives.

HLAC Accreditation

HLAC’s accreditation process is based on inspections, where inspectors assess a healthcare laundry facility’s operations against established standards. For instance, items leaving the facility must be clean and properly sanitized to meet the hygienically clean standard, helping to reduce the risk of spreading infections or pathogens to patients and healthcare staff.

These inspections focus on several key factors, including a laundry facility's compliance with regulatory requirements, design, equipment and practices, and training and safety protocols.

Achieving HLAC accreditation through this process demonstrates that a facility’s operations have been independently reviewed and meet professionally recognized standards to prevent infection. Once awarded, the accreditation is valid for three years.

Benefits of Partnering with an HLAC-Accredited Laundry Provider

• Demonstrated Commitment to Health and Safety. HLAC-accredited providers have proven their dedication to meeting strict health and safety standards.
• Assurance of Quality. Hospitals can be confident that their linens and medical textiles are cleaned and sanitized according to the high standards set by the HLAC.
• Enhanced Compliance. Working with an accredited provider ensures adherence to industry regulations and best practices for laundry services in healthcare settings.

Not every healthcare laundry provider is created equal. Significant differentiation can exist even among those seeking and achieving HLAC accreditation. This is why it’s so important to choose a provider with a strong track record of maintaining accreditation and offering industry-leading customer service and inventory management solutions.

*https://hlacnet.org/