HLAC's Accreditation Standards Awarded AORN Seal of Recognition
The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) has awarded its AORN Seal of Recognition™ to the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) standards document covering the complete textile processing cycle for use in healthcare facilities.
The AORN Seal of Recognition confirms that the content of the HLAC document, "Accreditation Standards for Processing Reusable Textiles for Use in Healthcare Facilities 2011 Edition," or the HLAC Accreditation Standards, has undergone thorough review by AORN and meets the guidelines of the "AORN Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices, " according to Lisa Spruce, DNP, RN, ACNS, ACNP, ANP, CNOR, AORN's director of evidence-based perioperative practice. While not an endorsement, the Seal of Recognition is confirmation that HLAC's accreditation standards as presented in the document have met AORN standards of excellence in safe patient care.
The HLAC Accreditation Standards are established as the minimum acceptable practice for the preparation of hygienically clean, reusable healthcare textiles for patient care, implemented and executed by accredited laundry facilities processing reusable healthcare textiles. The document covers the complete textile processing cycle: from handling and transporting to laundering and finishing to customer service. Special attention has been directed to laundry processes directly related to patient safety and OSHA required practices, including Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Standards.
"The AORN Seal of Recognition helps to reinforce the credibility and quality of our standards," says Gregory Gicewicz, HLAC president. "For current HLAC-accredited customers, this seal provides them with instant peace of mind that they've aligned themselves with an organization that has met AORN's stringent standards for excellence in safe patient care. This is a message worth communicating at many levels - to hospital administrators, infection preventionists, nurses, environmental services professionals and, of course, to patients and their families."
Source: Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC)
Disclaimer: The AORN Seal of Recognition has been awarded to the HLAC Accreditation Standards for Processing Reusable Textiles for Use in Healthcare Facilities 2011 Edition on Jan. 8, 2014 and does not imply that AORN approves or endorses any product or service mentioned in any presentation, format or content. The AORN Recognition program is separate from the AORN, ANCC Accredited Provider Unit and therefore does not include any CE credit for programs.
Happy Hand Hygiene Day! Rethinking Glove Use for Safer, Cleaner, and More Ethical Health Care
May 5th 2025Despite their protective role, gloves are often misused in health care settings—undermining hand hygiene, risking patient safety, and worsening environmental impact. Alexandra Peters, PhD, points out that this misuse deserves urgent attention, especially today, World Hand Hygiene Day.
Show, Tell, Teach: Elevating EVS Training Through Cognitive Science and Performance Coaching
April 25th 2025Training EVS workers for hygiene excellence demands more than manuals—it requires active engagement, motor skills coaching, and teach-back techniques to reduce HAIs and improve patient outcomes.
The Rise of Disposable Products in Health Care Cleaning and Linens
April 25th 2025Health care-associated infections are driving a shift toward disposable microfiber cloths, mop pads, and curtains—offering infection prevention, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency in one-time-use solutions.
Vet IP Roundtable 2: Infection Control and Biosecurity Challenges in Veterinary Care
March 31st 2025Veterinary IPs highlight critical gaps in cleaning protocols, training, and biosecurity, stressing the urgent need for standardized, animal-specific infection prevention practices across diverse care settings.
Invisible, Indispensable: The Vital Role of AHRQ in Infection Prevention
March 25th 2025With health care systems under strain and infection preventionists being laid off nationwide, a little-known federal agency stands as a last line of defense against preventable patient harm. Yet the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is now facing devastating cuts—threatening decades of progress in patient safety.
