A family business that comprises a full-service healthcare laundry processor and a linen company, Northwest HealthCare Linen Service that serves around the Puget Sound region of western Washington have recently been recertified for Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification. Their continuous commitment to best management practices (BMPs) as observed in their on-site inspection has verified it’s a reflection in their recertification. The company has been deemed to produce hygienic clean textiles as quantified by the ongoing microbial testing.

The Hygienically Clean inspectors’ evaluation mainly focuses on quality assurance documentation which the company has proven to establish through its continuous dedication to prevent infection, its corporation with recognized industry standards and processing healthcare textiles using BMPs. The independent third-party inspection must also verify essential evidence such as the protection and training of the employees, manager's understanding of regulatory requirements, OSHA-compliance and the effectiveness of the physical plant operations.

To achieve the certification, laundries had to pass three rounds of outcome-oriented microbial testing, to assure that their processes are producing Hygienically Clean Healthcare textiles and do not have any presence of yeast, mold, or harmful bacteria. However, to successfully maintain this level of certification they must pass quarterly testing to ensure as the laundry conditions change such as water quality, textile fabrics composition and wash chemistry. Laundered product quality remains to be consistently maintained. A re-inspection is conducted every two to three years.

This process eliminates subjectivity as it is an outcome and result oriented that verify textiles clean standards and BMPs for hospitals, surgery centers, medical offices, nursing homes and the medical facilities.

The company's effectiveness in protecting healthcare operations verifying quality control procedures in linen, uniform and service operations acquainted with the handling of textiles that contain blood and other infectious materials is acknowledged by this certification provided by Hygienically Clean Healthcare.

Laundries that have obtained certification use processes, chemicals and BMPs recognized by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, American National Standards Institute and others. In 2012, the Hygienically Clean Healthcare established the international cleanliness standards for healthcare linens and garments used worldwide by the Certification Association for Professional Textile Services and the European Committee for Standardization.

Experts in the field of epidemiology, infection control, nursing and other healthcare professionals work with Hygienically Clean launderers to sustain the certification and enforce the highest standards for producing healthcare textiles.

The Northwest HealthCare Linen Service is also TRSA clean green Certification holders for their practice with regard to environmental stewardship.

Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and the CEO, has congratulated the Northwest HealthCare Linen Service on their recertification. He also stated that their achievement has proven their commitment towards infection prevention and they take every possible set to prevent human illness.