Northwest Healthcare Linen

Danielle Malins has been manager of the Materials Management Specialist Program for Washington state’s Group Health Cooperative, a consumer-governed, nonprofit health care system that coordinates care and coverage, since 1993. Under her supervision and management is a staff of 62 employees and 26 Group Health Medical Centers.

In her role as Materials Manager, Danielle oversees the quality and inventory of medical linen for each of Group Health’s locations. Northwest Health Care Linen has been providing linen service to all of Group Health’s western Washington facilities since 2001.

Danielle’s main point of contact at Northwest Health Care Linen is Director of Customer Service, Bill Akers. Danielle and Bill meet quarterly to discuss the needs of Group Health’s facilities, roll out new products and ensure all needs are being met.

“Bill is constantly doing inventory counts and reporting back to me. He creates efficiencies by making me aware of facilities that have excess, or unused linen and identifying areas where we can cut back on costs,” Danielle said. “I appreciate his integrity and honest focus on our inventory. I know he always has our best interest and budget in mind.”

Northwest Health Care Linen presents products and solutions to Group Health’s attention during their regular meetings.

“Bill comes to us with new ideas and new products that Northwest Health Care Linen carries,” Danielle said. “He presented us with the micro-fiber mop system and explained in great detail the reasons and benefits of bringing in longer lasting and environmentally friendly products. All my locations now utilize this mopping system.”

It is the partnership with the team at Northwest Health Care Linen and how, as a team, they work together to increase the quality of products with the patients’ best interest in mind that is most important to her.

“It is so helpful to have a relationship where I can report back to Northwest Health Care Linen with products that are or are not working well in our facilities,” Danielle said. “We discuss items specifically and work together to find new and improved solutions.”

Together they can meet the needs of each facility, while providing patients with exceptional health care.

“Since we began collaborating with Northwest Health Care Linen, they’ve made significant improvements to their product inventory. They carry very high quality products and service that we know we can trust. I am thankful for a linen provider who I know will listen to me and find ways to help us be our best. To a patient, quality linen exemplifies quality health care, and we want to be the best.”