the business of clean

When you’re tasked with running the day-to-day operations of a surgical center, the last thing you have time for is worrying about patient wear and linens.

Thanks to a dependable industrial launderer partnership, Arizona Digestive Institute in Tucson, Arizona has peace of mind that their garment and linen inventory is correct and that laundry practices meet strict industry standards. Clinical Director Dori Dawley shares how crucial it is to find a provider who can offer a combination of quality products and exceptional service for healthcare clients.

Explain the role that cleanliness plays in your day-to-day operations.

We have infection control programs and protocols set in place by policies and procedures so that we are aligned with optimal cleanliness to provide patient reassurance. Our whole world revolves around standards and regulations. We know that AmeriPride already operates within our healthcare guidelines. Hygienically clean garments and linens build confidence so that patients want to come here. Having that stamp of approval is always something that people want to see. When patients are getting onto our stretchers in pre-op, we want to make sure those sheets and gowns exceed expectations.

What questions should a healthcare facility ask a vendor before choosing one?

For linens, you should ask how a vendor keeps track of small pieces. If you do your research, it’s the hardest thing to maintain because they are bagged in and bagged out. We came up with a system for our small pieces. We narrow it down to how many pieces we’re using daily so that we can manage costs. That helps us have exactly how many we need instead of extras taking up space.

Also ask what type of chemicals the vendor uses to wash products and whether or not they meet the standards that a healthcare facility requires. Delivery times are very important too. For example, if we were to get into a contract with someone who would show up at noon instead of the 6:00 am drop off that we need, that wouldn’t work. We have to make sure our sheets and gowns are ready to use before patients start coming in for the day.

How important is it to have the right partner to anticipate your needs?

The right vendor brings an element of trust that things are going to be taken care of. We can’t be spending our time always chasing problems. It was never an option for us to not use an industrial launderer; patient gowns and linens are too important to not have them professionally cleaned.

As an administrator, I’m a pretty big stickler when it comes to making sure we get the best value for what we invest in. For a company that uses as many pieces as we do per day, we want to make sure we don’t get overlooked or lost in the shuffle. AmeriPride really adds a personal touch. They made sure they met what we needed and made us feel valued. That level of attention cemented our relationship. They really act as our advocate. That is something every administrator would really value in a vendor partnership.

Why did you choose AmeriPride as your garment and linen provider?

We’ve been in business for 10 years, and you’ve been with us for 10 years. We’ve had other providers come in and show us linens, but you’ve always given us outstanding service so we’ve chosen to stay with AmeriPride. The value we see in AmeriPride comes from that personal touch. We know the person who drops off our products, and he does so at a time that is convenient for our patients and staff. Those things make us feel that you understand how we operate.