Northwest Health Care Linen Achieves Hygienically Clean Healthcare Certification

Health care facilities and their patients can be confident in the laundered items they receive from Northwest Health Care Linen.

Northwest Health Care Linen, a comprehensive health care laundry service provider was recognized by Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) with Hygienically Clean Healthcare Certification.

Until recently, commercial laundry facilities have not had a recognized standard for objectively verifying that textiles, cleaned in a laundry, meet hygiene standards appropriate for medical facilities. TRSA represents and serves more large-scale laundries than any association in the world. Their international certification process offers unbiased bacteriological testing and facility inspections that closely examine the handling of potentially infectious materials. This independent review process provides customers with evidence that the textiles from Northwest Health Care Linen are hygienically clean and safe for their patients.

Northwest Health Care Linen is one of only five facilities in the nation that has achieved this certification.

There are no federal or state standards that require microbial testing. The Hygienically Clean Healthcare Certification is the first of its kind in the United States, requiring microbial testing and raises the bar in certifying laundries for producing hygienically clean reusable textiles.

“Achieving this certification gives our customers (health care facilities) confidence in the laundered items they receive from Northwest Healthcare Linen,” said James Hall, Northwest Health Care Linen CEO. “It removes any concern for disease transmission between the textiles we provide and patients or health care employees.”

To achieve the certification, laundries submit an application and undergo an on-site facility inspection. Bacteriological testing is conducted on a regular basis, beginning in each of the first three months of certification. If all testing in the first three months passes the established criteria, the facility then undergoes semiannual testing. Maintaining the certification also requires laundries to properly document their best management practices.

“We work hard to uphold top marks in the ways we function,” said Hall. “The Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification we received through TRSA is a testament to our commitment to cleanliness.”