Servicios Generales

The present article describes the activity performed by the medical support services and, more specifically, by operational services (which include mainly cleaning, laundry, and non-patient transport) and catering. We outline the normal activity of these services and then provide details of how they were affected on 11 March and subsequent days. Data relating to the Rehabilitation Centers and Ophthalmology Institute are not included as they were not significantly affected from the point of view discussed herein.

Hereford Hospital: a 65 m Pounds PFI development project

The new 340-bed acute general hospital at Hereford is one of a growing number of innovative PFI healthcare projects where Sodexho is a leading consortium member. The company is an equity partner with a 30-year contract to provide support services.

[Vertical integration and contracting-out in generic hospital services in Spain]

OBJECTIVES

This study examines the factors that influence make or buy decisions corresponding to four generic services (housekeeping, laundry, food services, and maintenance and security) in Spanish hospitals (3,160 transactions in 790 hospitals).

METHODS

The empirical estimation of a logistic model based on hospital utility maximization is presented. Factors included in the model are not only those related to transaction costs, but also those related to public intervention and the political dimension.

RESULTS

A total of 55.7% of hospitals contracted-out at least one of the generic services. The services most frequently contracted-out were housekeeping and maintenance and security(45.1 and 32.5%, respectively). In contrast, the services (94.3% and 80.1%, respectively). Hospital size (economies of scale), measured by the number of beds, was one of the most important factors influencing make or buy decisions.

CONCLUSIONS

We find evidence that economies of scale are related to a higher level of vertical integration, while specialization and for-profit objectives favor the decision to contract-out. The choice of organizational model for laundry services presents a different pattern from that of the other three services. Empirical results show that some asset specificity could be present in laundry services.

Hospital saves $1 million by outsourcing laundry

Thirty-five percent of hospitals nationwide are outsourcing laundry services, according to the Textile Rental Services Association. Pennsylvania Hospital cut its cost per pound of laundry from 61.5 cents to 46 cents, saving $1 million in its first year of outsourcing. Outsourcing also brought the hospital better inventory control, more efficient delivery, and fewer complaints about missing items.

Healthcare textile services: infection control

The purpose of this technical document is to acquaint managers with the basic infection control practices that are generally considered to be appropriate for a textile care services operation in a health care facility. An infection control program that provides the information needed by employees to conduct operational activities in a safe manner is essential to avoid the contamination of personnel. This document discusses the responsibilities of various staff members in the department, basic infection control practices, the physical control of organisms, appropriate housekeeping as well as engineering and maintenance and employee health issues relevant to the textile care department.

The participative method of subject definition as used in the quantitative modelling of hospital laundry services

The objectives for developing the participative method of subject definition were to gain all the relevant information to a high level of fidelity in the earliest stages of the work and so be able to build a realistic model at reduced labour cost. In order to better integrate the two activities--information acquisition and mathematical modelling--a procedure was devised using the methods of interactive management to facilitate teamwork. This procedure provided the techniques to create suitable working relationships between the two groups, the informants and the modellers, so as to maximize their free and accurate intercommunication, both during the initial definition of the linen service and during the monitoring of the accuracy and reality of the draft models. The objectives of this project were met in that the final model was quickly validated and approved, at a low labour cost.

A case history: forging a "reusable" alliance

This article presents the focus of partnerships in the future of health care providers. It discusses the necessity for partnerships as well as the mutual benefits that must be a vital part of the relationship. The article also shows specific information about and outlines the value of a specific partnership between the Medical Center of Central Georgia and Medline Industries. The future of health care delivery and reform will depend on different types of partnerships and that all the providers of services and products, as well as health care delivery, must be willing to aggressively align with partners.