HLAC Announces 2011 Board of Directors

At its November board meeting, the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) announced its 2011 board of directors. Currently 120 laundries have received HLAC accreditation and more are currently preparing nationwide.

The HLAC 2011 officers are:

- Chair: Nancy Bjerke, BSN, RN, MPH, CIC, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) representative

- Vice Chair: Rocco Romeo, CEO, HLS Linen Services

- Secretary/Treasurer: Rob Potack, Vice President, Unitex Textile Rental Services

The HLAC 2011 board of directors also includes:

- HLAC immediate past chair, Patti Costello, Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) representative

- Brad Bushman, American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA) representative

- Sandra Hensley, RN, MSEM, BSN, CIC, Consumer representative

- Rick Kislia, COO, Crescent Laundry

- Bill Mann, Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) representative

- Ed McCauley, president/CEO, United Hospital Services

- Judy Reino, president, Reino Linen

- Lynne Sehulster, PhD, M (ASCP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention representative

Joining the board is Chuck Rossmiller, CEO/general manager, Healthcare Laundry Systems/Crothall, Wheeling, Ill.

"I am honored to be leading such a distinguished team of laundry and healthcare leaders," says Nancy Bjerke. "Patient care and comfort remain a high priority for healthcare facilities. HLAC-accredited laundry providers offer the level of quality and consistency that directly aligns with the increasing supply chain needs of healthcare clients. In 2011, HLAC and the board will continue its focus on key initiatives of standards development, creation of value-added tools for accredited laundries, inspection consistency and education to healthcare professionals at all levels."

Founded in 2005, HLAC is an independent council that has developed a comprehensive set of standards for healthcare textile processing. It is the only organization that exclusively inspects and accredits laundries that process healthcare textiles. To learn more about the Standards, and the inspection and accreditation program, visit www.hlacnet.org.