Conservation and laundry: using outside vendors to clean reusable linens

Using outside laundry facilities is a viable and efficient means for hospitals to clean and sanitize soiled linens. Such services also allow hospitals to achieve cost-effective linen systems. All kinds of linen products, including gowns, sheets, blankets, pillowcases, mops, diapers, and surgical textiles, are easily processed through such purveyors. Even newer fabrics with improved barrier protection qualities can be serviced. The three elements that make up the laundry cost equation are purchasing, processing, and usage. Improvements and reductions in any one of these areas positively affect the other two. With this in mind, a hospital and an outside laundry service should work closely together to improve linen management, to control usage, and to remove waste, thus reducing hospitals' per-patient-day costs. Close interaction and teamwork will make the relationship work with dynamic results. Together, both parties will grow and meet the ever-evolving needs of the health care industry.

Knowing healthcare customer needs key to profitable niche marketing

A potential $177 million-a-year market has been opened to textile rental operators, thanks to OSHA's recent ruling on bloodborne pathogens. Healthcare providers nationwide are now searching for solutions to their protective apparel needs. Such customer needs are what drive niche markets. Whether you've been serving the healthcare market for years or are just now targeting it, here are the marketing strategies you need.

Hospitals look to hospitality service firms to meet TQM goals

Hospitals that hire contract service firms to manage one or all aspects of their hospitality service departments increasingly expect those firms to help meet total quality management goals as well as offer the more traditional cost reduction, quality improvement and specialized expertise, finds the 1992 Hospital Contract Services Survey conducted by Hospitals.

Readers discuss "Managers recruiting managers" column

Readers discuss "Managers Recruiting Managers" column. Our columnist Carl Shusterman expressed his views on finding your own successor, now see what some of our readers have to say about the subject.

Optimizing the service of contracted hospital laundries

Linen processing is a significant but essential expense to hospitals. To minimize this expense, it may benefit may hospitals to consider processing laundry by either an outside commercial vendor or cooperative association. A comprehensive bid package is the cornerstone to such a relationship and will help ensure acceptable and cost-beneficial quality service to the hospital.

Tunnel washing from the user's viewpoint

It's become a matter of fact. Whenever a launderer is considering some sort of production upgrade, the tunnel washer is one of the options that is investigated. Everyone is aware of the basic concept of tunnel washing, but all of the units that are marketed in the U.S. have some engineering differences that make them unique. To decide which unit is best for your laundry, it is necessary to do some extensive research. This means talking to manufacturers, knowledgeable chemical suppliers, and other launderers who have already taken the plunge. During the past few years, the DIGEST has asked manufacturers to comment on various aspects of tunnel washing. This year, however, we have decided to get the inside story from operators who have installed these units in their plants. We also have some input from chemical suppliers who are experienced in developing formulas for tunnels.

Different answers from different managers

How well is your laundry operating? Columnist Carl Shusterman believes you should keep in close touch with your contemporaries and compare your facility to others in your area.