HLAC's Newly Revised Accreditation Standards Awarded AORN Seal of Recognition

The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) has awarded its AORN Seal of Recognition™ to the newly revised Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) standards document covering the complete textile processing cycle for use in healthcare facilities. This is the second consecutive year that a version of the HLAC standards document has been recognized by AORN.

The updated document, "Accreditation Standards for Processing Reusable Textiles for Use in Healthcare Facilities - 2016 Edition," goes into effect Jan. 1, 2016, and comes after a lengthy and thorough review by HLAC's board of directors and public comment from professionals who serve the healthcare industry or use or process healthcare textiles, according to HLAC board president Gregory Gicewicz.

"What's especially gratifying is that our standards met AORN's standards as submitted, without any changes," Gicewicz says. "We believe much of this has to do with the fact that, like AORN's, our standards are processed-based and backed by data."

The AORN Seal of Recognition confirms that the content of the HLAC document, the HLAC Accreditation Standards, has undergone thorough review by AORN and meets the guidelines of the "AORN Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices." 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 Gicewicz. "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)