UMF Corporation announces that Mohawk Hospital Linen Services of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, (a division of Mohawk Shared Services) has joined its PerfectCLEAN® Infection Prevention Network (PC/Network) of recognized leaders specializing in processing linens and textiles for acute care hospitals, extended care and ambulatory surgical centers.
“With the addition of Mohawk Shared Services to the PC/Network, we continue to narrow the dangerous gap in the defense against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) that know no borders,” says George Clarke, CEO of UMF Corporation, a manufacturer and innovator of infection prevention products for processing patient environments, including unique training programs covering all patient environments. “Mohawk exemplifies the level of service and expertise demanded by healthcare facilities to ensure that they are doing everything possible to reduce the risk of HAIs such as Clostridium difficile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).”
Clarke adds, “Healthcare facilities are realizing that traditional cleaning products (cotton string mops and cotton bar towels) rented from large commercial laundries are ineffectual and can be a liability. These commercial laundries have little or no understanding of infection prevention, many do not have complete separation between soiled and clean products in their plants - they rent door mats, uniforms, first aid kits and in some cases, shred paper - they do not process hospital linens nor are they comfortable or experienced in dealing with blood borne pathogens. Furthermore, if they do rent microfiber products the offering is minimal, their plants are not set up to handle a color-coded, ONEperROOM infection prevention system, a strategy required by healthcare to protect the patient and control HAIs. Healthcare facilities that rely on providers like Mohawk, who are part of the PerfectCLEAN Network, can rest assured they’re receiving an environmental hygiene system and training from a vendor that understands the critical importance of providing products that support a comprehensive program dedicated to a safe patient environment."
In a statement, Mohawk noted that several companies presented their microfiber cleaning products and systems before the company decided on UMF Corporation and that Mohawk management was impressed with PerfectCLEAN’s product durability, pricing and training support. According to Mohawk, “Partnering with UMF Corporation enables Mohawk Hospital Linen Services to bring a value-add to client hospitals in the form of highly durable textiles that achieve the highest level of environmental hygiene with less effort, less waste and less cost than traditional cleaning methods. UMF also provides training, support and best practices. They’re responsive, proactive and they stand behind their products all the way. All of this fits perfectly with our business model."
Clarke says the PC/Network was formed in response to numerous complaints and concerns voiced by hospitals that had been renting or having PerfectCLEAN, and other products, processed by a commercial laundry company. Many commercial laundries still promote traditional janitorial products that are not clinically acceptable when it comes to controlling and preventing HAIs. For example, Clarke says, some commercial laundries offer so-called “microfiber” products that are not stable in hot water or can’t be dried in a dryer (going so far as to recommend “air dry” on the product label), many prohibit the use of chlorine bleach, and others are made of materials that reduce performance and efficacy.
“In these contagious times, a comprehensive infection prevention program must comprise training; adoption of best practices; and a high performance system of specialized products that are color-coded for areas such as operating rooms, intensive care, isolation rooms the patient room. This is precisely what the PerfectCLEAN Network offers,” he says.
Source: UMF Corporation
