Universal Linen Blog

Universal Linen Service RECEIVES INDUSTRY ACCREDITATION:
National Inspection assures customers that highest quality and safety standards are met.

Louisville, KY— Universal Linen Service has received accreditation—the industry’s highest rating on quality and safety—from the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC).

HLAC is a non-profit organization that inspects and accredits laundries processing healthcare textiles for hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities.

HLAC’s mission is to publish high standards for processing healthcare textiles in laundries, and to provide an accreditation process that recognizes those laundries that meet these high standards. The decision to become accredited is completely voluntary.

“Becoming accredited makes us a better company. And its gives our customers peace of mind to know their supplier is meeting the highest standards in processing healthcare textiles,” says Tom Austin, CEO of Universal.
“The medical customers that we serve — predominately acute-care hospitals, surgery, rehab & ambulatory care centers, nursing & assisted living communities, physician and dental offices — are used to dealing with agencies, vendors and people who have accreditations,” Mr. Austin says. “It’s the right thing to do if you are in the business of processing and providing healthcare textiles. Our dedication, experience, and our people continue to provide stable, long term customer/vendor relationships that exceed all expectations; our HLAC accreditation aids in that commitment.”
The primary benefit of accreditation is that an independent third party has inspected your facility and found that it meets or exceeds the highest standards for processing healthcare textiles. A laundry cannot inspect and accredit itself, and its customers generally do not have the time or expertise to do so.

The HLAC accreditation process was developed with several industry groups, including:
 American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES)
 American Reusable Textiles Association (ARTA)
 Association for Linen Management (ALM)
 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)
 International Association for Healthcare Textile Management (IAHTM)
 Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA)
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For more information on Universal, go to www.www.universallinen.com. For more information about HLAC, go to www.hlacnet.org.