The newly revised Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) document, "Accreditation Standards for Processing Reusable Textiles for Use in Healthcare Facilities - 2016 Edition," is now available for viewing and downloading at www.hlacnet.org. The new Standards go into effect January 1, 2016.

The 60+ page document 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.

"With the 2016 revision, HLAC continues to promote a heightened awareness and increased understanding of the infection prevention and safety culture among healthcare laundry personnel," Gicewicz said.

The newly revised Standards document recently received the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) 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."

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.

"Enlightened management at leading hospitals has recognized that their healthcare laundry needs to be part of their infection prevention strategy," Gicewicz said. "In fact, healthcare laundries are telling us they're receiving RFPs from hospitals specifying 'accreditation' as a requirement to be considered as a vendor.

"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," he said.