Linen Cost Management
What HCSC can do to help you lower your linen costs… HCSC-Laundry assigns an account representative to service each member hospital. This representative is specially trained in linen cost management, usage management, infection control, linen security, linen room management and distribution systems. In servicing only his/her hospitals, the representative gains a better understanding of the specific needs of each facility, and will provide the following value-added services:
Computerized Utilization Cost Report
A monthly facility summary Linen Usage Report (LUR), detailing current month, year-to-date and prior year-to-date usage and cost-per-patient-day, is provided. The LUR also includes month and year-to-date newborn census and clean/soil poundage. Additionally, a Departmental Usage Report (DUR), detailing the same data categories, is provided for each user area within the facility.
Benchmark Analysis
With a 30,000-plus bed database, HCSC can provide you analysis comparing your facility's linen usage against "best practice" or benchmark, thereby showing the degree of potential savings.
On-Site Linen Utilization Survey
A team of trained HCSC representatives can survey your facility, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the entire linen supply program. A full report, containing recommendations for cost containment and program enhancement, is provided.
Hospital Linen Utilization Committee
HCSC will assist in the formation, and actively participate in a linen committee to recommend and monitor good linen practices. The committee should meet on a regular basis, and have the power to set policy and procedure, with the support of administration.
On-site Security Audit
The security audit is designed to identify linen storage areas that are not properly securedl determine the level of awareness of the need for the security of linen among the hospital administration, security personnel and linen users; and identify practices by linen users that can lead to linen abuse or loss.
Linen Awareness Day Program
A 30-minute presentation is intended to create awareness and facilitate discussion of proper linen utilization management, linen security and cost-containment measures, for all hospital employees associated with the linen program.
Student Nursing In-Service
In-services can be provided for student nurses, to help increase their awareness in the proper usage and handling of rental textiles.
Walk-Through User Surveys
On each service visit, your representative can perform a walk-through survey of several user areas, assess how the linens are used, and make observations and cost-containment recommendations. The survey accompanies the regular service call report to the facility.
For more information, contact Mike Kirsch, Director of Customer Service, at 800-444-4272, ext. 2279 or mkirsch@hcsc.org.
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