HLAC to unveil new standards document at Clean 2015 Show

The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) will unveil its newly revised standards document at the Clean 2015 show to be held in Atlanta April 16 - 19.

The document, "Accreditation Standards for Processing Reusable Textiles for Use in Healthcare Facilities - 2016 Edition," will be available for review at HLAC's Booth 552. The newly revised document, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2016, comes after a lengthy and thorough review by HLAC's board of directors and public comment from professionals who serve the healthcare industry or use or process healthcare textiles, according to HLAC board president Gregory Gicewicz.

HLAC and the American Reusable Textile Association are hosting a breakfast at Clean 2015 at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, April 17.

The newly revised standards document recently received the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Seal of Recognition™. The AORN Seal of Recognition confirms that the content of the document has undergone thorough review by AORN and meets the guidelines of the "AORN Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices."

"Enlightened management at leading hospitals has recognized that their healthcare laundry needs to be part of their infection prevention strategy," Gicewicz said. "Knowing their laundry has been accredited by HLAC - and that HLAC's standards have been nationally recognized by AORN - provides a significant level of excellence that other laundries simply cannot demonstrate."

The HLAC Accreditation Standards are established as the minimum acceptable practice for the preparation of hygienically clean, reusable healthcare textiles for patient care, implemented and executed by accredited laundry facilities processing reusable healthcare textiles. The document covers the complete textile processing cycle: from handling and transporting to laundering and finishing to customer service. Special attention has been directed to laundry processes directly related to patient safety and OSHA required practices, including Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Standards.