Linen Utilization Management Program Presented By: Mayflower Textile Services

A Little About Mayflower: Mayflower was established in 1985 as a modest laundry in Baltimore, MD Over the years, Mayflower has grown to serve the Healthcare and Hospitality industries in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, and the Philadelphia markets We are seeking to expand to a 2 plant operation in the near future, with the new facility based in the Philadelphia market.

Linen Utilization Program Ours years of experience have uncovered many solutions and techniques to managing a successful and cost effective linen program in the healthcare industry. This presentation will outline many of the opportunities that your organization may face.

Agenda Cost Management 2. Linen Awareness 3. Inventory Control

Cost Management: Steps Start an effective Linen Committee with utilization and user groups. Develop policies such as bed changing and scrub wearing. Follow-up with walk through in each unit. Perform analysis’ with patient linen items.

Linen Committees Linen Committees should have the power to set policy and must have the support from Administration and Nursing. Groups should meet initially on a monthly basis, gradually changing to once per quarter. Representatives should include: Linen Manager Environmental Services Transport Services Infection Control Security End Users (Nurses and Housekeeping)

Why is it important to have an active linen committee? Opens lines of communication Finds and solves problems Saves money. Fosters better patient care Makes life easier

Unit Walk-thru Survey Each linen user area should be surveyed monthly Surveys are designed to be used as a tool to help identify potential cost saving opportunities through: - Policy adherence - Standardization of product - Elimination of waste

Benchmark Analysis Your analysis (best practice) compares your hospital to others in your peer group. It will identify your annual potential savings if your benchmark goals are reached. The analysis should be used to help set your usage goals.

Linen Awareness Program Hold a Linen Awareness Day. This is an excellent way to educate the hospital staff on proper linen usage, new products, and cost containment. This will only be successful if you have the support of Administration, Nursing, and the Education department. Make sure the program is non-threatening, and most importantly, is seamless to your patients! Posters can be an effective way to communicate your message. Place them on line 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 Blankets Thermal blankets are to be used for warmth as needed; if additional warmth is required, try using a bath blanket at ½ the cost and weight. Thermal blankets should stay with the patient throughout their stay. Only change when soiled. Do not send thermal blankets with the patient when being transported to nursing homes or other long term care facilities. Ambulances should only use bath blankets when transporting patients. All internal transports should also utilize bath blankets.

Incontinent Pads Pads are to be used for incontinent patients ONLY! Do not automatically add under pads to the bed until patient needs are assessed. Do not use the pads as lifters, instead use a draw sheet.

Combating High Scrub Costs and Losses Hospitals spend thousand of dollars a year on scrubs. So how do we control the losses and unauthorized use?

Defining Unauthorized Scrub Use Anyone other than an authorized user wearing scrubs. OR An authorized user who violated hospital policy by wearing scrubs home.

Defined Scrub Areas: Scrubs are garments designed to be worn in clean room areas of the hospital. Scrubs offer no PPE!! Authorized use areas typically include: Operating Room Labor and Delivery Labs

Controlling Losses and Use: After approved wearers have been set up, it is up to each department head to enforce the policy. Educate the policy staff as to what the policy is. It is important to everyone realizes that an unauthorized user is just that: someone who is violating policy. Plain and simple, it is theft. If employees test the policy, he/she must be confronted, otherwise the entire process is a waste of time. Use an amnesty approach as a means of dealing with the recovery of scrubs that are currently in employee’s possession. Finally, an ongoing hospital wide awareness plan needs to be in place. Address the policy during employee orientation.

Uses of Gowns: ISO/Cover Gowns are used in clinical areas to protect the patient, visitor, or employee who does not have the risk of the body fluid exposure. Surgeon Gowns should be confined to surgical areas. Precaution gowns are used to protect the caregiver from potential body fluid exposure.

Different Reasons for Gown Misuse: Smokers often use employee apparel, as well as patient line, for their comfort, in outside smoking areas. Gowns are used as cover ups when leaving clinical areas. Gowns being worn in a reverse fashion are an obvious sign.

So How Much Will This Cost? If 60 people per day wear a Protection Gown for anything other than its intended use, it could cost you $20,000 annually. If 30 people per day wear a Surgeon’s Gown from a sterile pack as a cover up, it could cost you $30,000 per year. Consider the cost of: Sterile Indicators The items other than the gown that was removed from the pack. The outer wrapper The autoclave tape The time and labor involved in sterilizing The rental or laundering cost of the gown

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