When it comes to the healthcare industry, selecting the right medical linen service is critical. If your company of choice can’t meet your deadlines, fill orders correctly, or remove dangerous bacteria from your linens and uniforms, then you’re putting your business and the health of your patients and staff at risk.
So, what should you look for when you’re trying to choose a medical linen service?
1. Find a healthcare linen service that offers a wide variety of products and services.
First, you need to make sure that any medical linen provider that you consider has all of the products you need. But once the basic requirements are met, look for ways to bundle services together. The medical industry can get very complex, so if you can find one company that provides multiple essential programs, you can simplify your management process. For example, many medical linen services also provide floor mats, mops and cleaning towels.
2. Find a healthcare linen service that complies with government regulations as well as industry standards.
In no other industry is hygienic laundering as important as in the medical industry. Take extra precautions to ensure that your healthcare linen service is complying with government regulations surrounding the laundering of medical textiles, like those put in place by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and The Joint Commission.
3. Find a healthcare linen service that can respond quickly to your needs.
In the healthcare industry, things can change, fast. You need a healthcare linen service that can adapt efficiently to your needs, adjusting to increases or decreases in supply. It helps to work with a local company that understands your area and what’s going on in your community, and can respond to you quickly because they’re close by.
4. Find a healthcare linen service that’s been around for a while.
You don’t want to sign on with a company that’s still figuring things out. As with any new venture, they’re going to be working out the kinks of their new operation, and you don’t want your medical facility to suffer in the meantime. So, make sure you work with a company that has at minimum a decade of experience, and the more experience the better.
5. Find a healthcare linen service that cares about environmental sustainability.
While this might not be at the top of your priority list, it’s always great to work with a company that is keeping the environment in mind while they’re doing business. A commercial laundry facility is more environmentally-friendly by nature than domestic laundering due to economies of scale, but a commercial laundry facility can still use a lot of water and energy. So, try to find a healthcare linen provider that is actively reducing their environmental impact.
6. Find a healthcare linen service with a good reputation.
A great way to find out if a healthcare linen provider is for you is to find out what others are saying about them. Are they linked to news stories about infection outbreaks? Or do their customers leave great reviews?
7. Find a healthcare linen service that offers superior customer service.
Finally, you want to make sure that your healthcare linen service is going to respond to your needs and address any issues that come up. One way to evaluate a company’s customer service is to pay attention to your interactions. Do they respond promptly to your calls and emails? Do they give you real answers and real solutions to your problems? If you’re not getting the response you want before you sign on, it’s only going to get worse once you’re locked into a contract. So, make sure that you’re getting high-quality service from the companies that you consider.
Wilkins Linen and Dust Control Could Be the Provider You’re Looking For
With almost 70 years in the industry, we have the experience, reputation, products and services you need to ensure that your healthcare facility is using safe textiles. We understand that you need to provide a safe and clean environment for your patients and staff, and we’d like to partner with you to make your workload easier. For more information about our company or to get a quote on our services, contact us today! You can give us a call at 1-866-945-5467 or send us an email at info@wilkinslinen.com.
