Linen UtilizationLinen UtilizationManagement ProgramManagement Program

Presented By:Presented By:

Mayflower Textile Mayflower Textile ServicesServices

A Little About MayflowerA Little About Mayflower::

• Mayflower was established Mayflower was established in 1985 as a modest in 1985 as a modest laundry in Baltimore, MDlaundry in Baltimore, MD

• Over the years, Mayflower Over the years, Mayflower has grown to serve the has grown to serve the Healthcare and Hospitality Healthcare and Hospitality industries in Maryland, industries in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Washington DC, Virginia, and the Philadelphia and the Philadelphia marketsmarkets

• We are seeking to expand We are seeking to expand to a 2 plant operation in the to a 2 plant operation in the near future, with the new near future, with the new facility based in the facility based in the Philadelphia market.Philadelphia market.

Linen Utilization Linen Utilization ProgramProgram• Ours years of Ours years of

experience have experience have uncovered many uncovered many solutions and techniques solutions and techniques to managing a to managing a successful and cost successful and cost effective linen program effective linen program in the healthcare in the healthcare industry.industry.

• This presentation will This presentation will outline many of the outline many of the opportunities that your opportunities that your organization may face.organization may face.

AgendaAgenda

1.1. Cost Cost

ManagementManagement

2. Linen 2. Linen

AwarenessAwareness

3. Inventory 3. Inventory

ControlControl

Cost Management:Cost Management:StepsSteps

• Start an effective Linen Start an effective Linen Committee with utilization Committee with utilization and user groups.and user groups.

• Develop policies such as Develop policies such as bed changing and scrub bed changing and scrub wearing.wearing.

• Follow-up with walk Follow-up with walk through in each unit.through in each unit.

• Perform analysis’ with Perform analysis’ with patient linen items.patient linen items.

Linen CommitteesLinen Committees

• Linen Committees Linen Committees should have the power should have the power to set policy and must to set policy and must have the support from have the support from Administration and Administration and Nursing.Nursing.

• Groups should meet Groups should meet initially on a monthly initially on a monthly basis, gradually basis, gradually changing to once per changing to once per quarter.quarter.

Representatives should include:

•Linen Manager

•Environmental Services

•Transport Services

•Infection Control

•Security

•End Users (Nurses and Housekeeping)

Why is it important to have Why is it important to have an active linen committee?an active linen committee?

Opens lines of Opens lines of communicationcommunication

Finds and solves Finds and solves problemsproblems

Saves money.Saves money. Fosters better patient Fosters better patient

carecare Makes life easierMakes life easier

Unit Walk-thru SurveyUnit Walk-thru Survey

• Each linen user area should be surveyed monthlyEach linen user area should be surveyed monthly• Surveys are designed to be used as a tool to help identify Surveys are designed to be used as a tool to help identify

potential cost saving opportunities through:potential cost saving opportunities through:- - Policy adherencePolicy adherence- Standardization of product- Standardization of product- Elimination of waste- Elimination of waste

Benchmark AnalysisBenchmark Analysis

• Your analysis (best practice) compares your hospital to Your analysis (best practice) compares your hospital to others in your peer group.others in your peer group.

• It will identify your annual potential savings if your It will identify your annual potential savings if your benchmark goals are reached.benchmark goals are reached.

• The analysis should be used to help set your usage goals.The analysis should be used to help set your usage goals.

Linen Awareness ProgramLinen Awareness Program

• Hold a Linen Awareness Day. Hold a Linen Awareness Day. This is an excellent way to This is an excellent way to educate the hospital staff on educate the hospital staff on proper linen usage, new proper linen usage, new products, and cost products, and cost containment.containment.

• This will only be successful if This will only be successful if you have the support of you have the support of Administration, Nursing, and Administration, Nursing, and the Education department.the Education department.

• Make sure the program is Make sure the program is non-threatening, and most non-threatening, and most importantly, is seamless to importantly, is seamless to your patients!your patients!

• Posters can be an effective Posters can be an effective way to communicate your way to communicate your message. Place them on line message. Place them on line carts and in bathrooms.carts and in bathrooms.

Session should consist of:

-Intro to linen provider

-- Education of wash process

-- Utilization of items

--Benchmark analysis

-- Excess linen in patient rooms

-- Unauthorized scrub use

-- Bed make up policy

Thermal BlanketsThermal Blankets

• Thermal blankets are to be used Thermal blankets are to be used for warmth as needed; if for warmth as needed; if additional warmth is required, additional warmth is required, try using a bath blanket at ½ try using a bath blanket at ½ the cost and weight.the cost and weight.

• Thermal blankets should stay Thermal blankets should stay with the patient throughout with the patient throughout their stay. Only change when their stay. Only change when soiled.soiled.

• Do not send thermal blankets Do not send thermal blankets with the patient when being with the patient when being transported to nursing homes or transported to nursing homes or other long term care facilities.other long term care facilities.

• Ambulances should only use Ambulances should only use bath blankets when bath blankets when transporting patients.transporting patients.

• All internal transports should All internal transports should also utilize bath blankets.also utilize bath blankets.

Incontinent PadsIncontinent Pads

• Pads are to be used for incontinent patients ONLY!Pads are to be used for incontinent patients ONLY!

• Do not automatically add under pads to the bed until Do not automatically add under pads to the bed until patient needs are assessed.patient needs are assessed.

• Do not use the pads as lifters, instead use a draw Do not use the pads as lifters, instead use a draw sheet.sheet.

Combating High Scrub Costs and Combating High Scrub Costs and LossesLosses

• Hospitals spend Hospitals spend thousand of dollars thousand of dollars a year on scrubs.a year on scrubs.

• So how do we So how do we control the losses control the losses and unauthorized and unauthorized use?use?

Defining Unauthorized Scrub Defining Unauthorized Scrub UseUse

• Anyone other than an authorized user wearing Anyone other than an authorized user wearing scrubs.scrubs.

OROR

• An authorized user who violated hospital policy by An authorized user who violated hospital policy by wearing scrubs home.wearing scrubs home.

Defined Scrub AreasDefined Scrub Areas::Scrubs are garments designed to be worn Scrubs are garments designed to be worn

in clean room areas of the hospital.in clean room areas of the hospital.

Scrubs offer no PPE!!Scrubs offer no PPE!!Authorized use areas typically include:Authorized use areas typically include:

Operating RoomOperating RoomLabor and DeliveryLabor and DeliveryLabsLabs

Controlling Losses and Use:Controlling Losses and Use:

After approved wearers have been After approved wearers have been set up, it is up to each department set up, it is up to each department head to enforce the policy.head to enforce the policy.

Educate the policy staff as to what Educate the policy staff as to what the policy is. It is important to the policy is. It is important to everyone realizes that an everyone realizes that an unauthorized user is just that: unauthorized user is just that: someone who is violating policy. someone who is violating policy. Plain and simple, it is theft Plain and simple, it is theft..

If employees test the policy, he/she If employees test the policy, he/she must be confronted, otherwise the must be confronted, otherwise the entire process is a waste of time.entire process is a waste of time.

Use an amnesty approach as a Use an amnesty approach as a means of dealing with the recovery means of dealing with the recovery of scrubs that are currently in of scrubs that are currently in employee’s possessionemployee’s possession..

Finally, an ongoing hospital wide Finally, an ongoing hospital wide awareness plan needs to be in awareness plan needs to be in place. Address the policy during place. Address the policy during employee orientationemployee orientation..

Uses of Gowns:Uses of Gowns:

• ISO/Cover Gowns are ISO/Cover Gowns are used in clinical areas to used in clinical areas to protect the patient, protect the patient, visitor, or employee visitor, or employee who does not have the who does not have the risk of the body fluid risk of the body fluid exposure.exposure.

• Surgeon Gowns Surgeon Gowns should be confined to should be confined to surgical areas.surgical areas.

• Precaution gowns are Precaution gowns are used to protect the used to protect the caregiver from potential caregiver from potential body fluid exposure.body fluid exposure.

Different Reasons for Gown Different Reasons for Gown Misuse:Misuse:

• Smokers often use Smokers often use employee apparel, as employee apparel, as well as patient line, for well as patient line, for their comfort, in their comfort, in outside smoking outside smoking areas.areas.

• Gowns are used as Gowns are used as cover ups when cover ups when leaving clinical areas.leaving clinical areas.

• Gowns being worn in a Gowns being worn in a reverse fashion are an reverse fashion are an obvious sign.obvious sign.

So How Much Will This So How Much Will This Cost?Cost?• If 60 people per day wear a Protection Gown If 60 people per day wear a Protection Gown for anything other than its intended use, it for anything other than its intended use, it could cost you $20,000 annually.could cost you $20,000 annually.

• If 30 people per day wear a Surgeon’s Gown If 30 people per day wear a Surgeon’s Gown from a sterile pack as a cover up, it could from a sterile pack as a cover up, it could cost you $30,000 per year.cost you $30,000 per year.

Consider the cost of:Consider the cost of:1.1. Sterile IndicatorsSterile Indicators2.2. The items other than the gown that was removed from the The items other than the gown that was removed from the

pack.pack.3.3. The outer wrapper The outer wrapper 4.4. The autoclave tapeThe autoclave tape5.5. The time and labor involved in sterilizingThe time and labor involved in sterilizing6.6. The rental or laundering cost of the gownThe rental or laundering cost of the gown

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