healthcare value analysis
By Melanie Miller , RN , CVAHP
Healthcare Textiles , Laundry and Infection Prevention Programs in Ambulatory Care
Understanding the operational challenges and reusable / disposable product shortfalls throughout the pandemic is important as we begin to dissect infection prevention programs related to textile management in the ambulatory care setting .”
The pandemic begs the question , “ Are we doing enough to manage ambulatory care textiles ?” Ambulatory surgery centers ( ASCs ), like acute-care organizations , contract with laundry processors . Laundry processors are expected to follow “ hygienically clean ” linen standards compliant with the Association of Linen Management ( ALM ), HLAC and TRSA . Additionally , the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology ( APIC ) has developed standards for ensuring that laundry processors comply with stated recommendations for collecting , transporting , sorting , washing , drying , staging and return delivery to the user .
The pandemic opened up Pandora ’ s Box and the general public , thanks to the news media , was suddenly introduced to the concept of disposable and reusable personal protective equipment ( PPE ). Within a few days , the world was notified by thne media that PPE and medical commodities were in short supply due to lack of basic raw products and dramatic COVID-19 shutdowns internationally .
Laundry processors were negatively affected by the worldwide pandemic , as were HCOs and service industry businesses alike . When restaurants and service providers were placed on hiatus , laundry processors in both the healthcare and service industries experienced immediate loss of business and revenue . This loss resulted in downstream impacts including , but not limited to , personnel layoffs and laundry closures and shutdowns . If a laundry processor was fortunate to have both service and healthcare organization clientele , it fared better during the pandemic .
Understanding the operational challenges and reusable / disposable product shortfalls throughout the pandemic is important as we begin to dissect infection prevention programs related to textile management in the ambulatory care setting .
Many ASCs were shuttered during the pandemic due to the “ hold ” on elective procedures . It is estimated that ambulatory centers lost 60 percent of patient throughput at the height of the pandemic .
For those ASCs that remained open , ambulatory service leaders learned quickly that remaining nimble and mid-course correcting when confronted with lack of disposable PPE was key to staying afloat . Leaders quickly contacted their supply chain , purchasing and value analysis colleagues to help them source appropriate reusable PPE .
This was not an easy task . For years , reusable PPE was talked about as a substantive alternative to waste , reducing our carbon footprint and improved sustainability but HCOs were not sold . Fast-forward to disposable shortfalls and drastically reduced allocations without notice . Immediately , reusable suppliers went into overdrive trying to produce reusable PPE to meet the new and growing need .
The challenge was which standards were to be followed and would the reusable PPE meet the current published standards . Additionally , would the PPE pass the hygienically clean requirements , including wash-cycle validation and certification by recognized testing industry leaders .
Again , ambulatory care leaders looked to the supply chain , specifically , value analysis leadership to determine best practices and the required testing and certification to ensure that reusable PPE met and exceeded ANSI / AAMI and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) guidelines , including AATCC 42 / 127 , Class I Flammability , Anti-Static and Wash Cycle certification .
Value analysis committees across the country had a new direction by sourcing gloves , masks , gowns , respirators , ventilators , and other critical life-saving equipment not in that order . Whereas in the past , a product review might take four to six months , in the pandemic , there simply was not enough time for aligning with project management guidelines , communication and collaboration , addressing value analysis methodology , maintaining best business practices as well as professional , ethical and financial practices .
At the same time , gray-market brokers capitalized on the challenging state of events and went to market with products that did not meet minimum performance standards .
The world of inpatient and ambulatory care was turned upside down in some counties and states due to lack of disposable and reusable supplies , including sheets , towels , patient gowns , isolation gowns and laundry bags .
Leading healthcare laundry and textile organizations jumped to attention and developed webinars and information sharing blogs to help educate HCO staff and healthcare apparel manufacturers . Laundry processors realized that however bleak , downtime was a blessing and instituted new and improved facility cleaning standards , equipment preventive maintenance review and safety training for all staff with an eye to minimizing employee exposure and risk in the workplace .
www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com • july 2021
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