LINEN & LAUNDRY SERVICES
Overview
• Previously, people (dhobi) used to be hired, or all washing activities used to be on Contract Basis based on Tender.
• Due to various drawbacks of “Dhobi” system, it was changed and self-regulated by hospital.
• It is a department responsible for providing adequate, safe and timely supply of linen items when and where needed.
• It is a good public relation tool and marketing tool for hospital because of high visibility.
• It contributes in providing overall good quality patient care.
• It is also a department, which faces maximum criticism in a hospital.
• It has great importance justified in two ways;
• For safety of patient
• For good appearance
• The term hospital linen covers all textiles of the hospital including mattresses, pillows, blankets, sheets, towels and so on most frequently used materials.
• Laundry is such department which is responsible for providing adequate, safe and timely supply of linen to user departments.
• Laundry is also very vulnerable to the cross-infection so infection control mechanisms should be properly considered in this department..
• It has been found that a breakdown in linen supply causes 3%- 4% cancellation of operation schedules.
• Similarly 3%-4% infections spread due to mishandling of infected linen in the hospital.
Classification of Hospital Linen
• Patient Linen
• Bed Linen,
• Body Linen,
• OT Linen
• Staff Linen,
• Department Linen
• Laundry Linen
• Contaminated infected Linen
• Soiled linen,
• Foul Linen
Linen Requirement
- OTs & Labor room are calculated on actual consumption.
- General & private wards are estimated at the rate of 2-3.5 Kg. Of dry linen per patient per day.
4 sets of linen per bed is needed
# One set to be in use.
#1 set at the laundry.
# 1 set for available for immediate used.
# 1 set for stand by and emergency purpose
5 sets of linen should be planned as active inventory;
– A soiled one in use on the patient’s bed.
– A clean one in the linen closet in the nursing unit
– A soiled one in the dirty linen collection area
– One piece being processed in the laundry
– A clean one in the linen store or back-up store for replacing active store
– Preferably in the ground floor of an isolated building connected or adjacent to the power plant. Because laundry is the largest user of power, steam, and water.
– It should be so located as to have ample daylight and natural ventilation.
– It should be accessible to inpatient ward.
– Close to service elevators.
– It should be so located that allows movement of linen by the shortest route.
Location
• Preferably in the ground floor of an isolated building connected or adjacent to the power plant. Because laundry is the largest user of power, steam, and water.
• It should be so located as to have ample daylight and natural ventilation.
• It should be accessible to inpatient ward.
• Close to service elevators.
• It should be so located that allows movement of linen by the shortest route.
FUNCTION Linen & Laundry Services
• Collection or receiving soiled and infected linen
• Processing soiled linen
• Inspection and repair of damaged articles, their condemnation and replacement.
• Assembling and packing of linen.
• Distributing finished linen.
• Maintenance and control of inventories and processed linen.
Organization
• The efficient operation of the laundry depends upon trained and skilled manpower.
• The operational chief of the laundry is a laundry manager who may have been trained in laundry operation or adequate experience in the field.
• Reports to the associate administrators.
• Most of the hospitals are recruiting trained personnel to head their in house laundries.
• Others technical as well as general will work.
Manpower requirement of the laundry
To success & efficient operation of the laundry select technically trained, experienced laundry manager.
Estimated average numbers, by size of hospital
No. Bed No. of employees
50 2
100 6
200 11
300 20
400 27
500 32
Types of laundry Services
- Contract System: Demerits:
# Mixing of linen.
# More chances of loss in transit.
# Chances of cross infection.
2. Rental system- More expensive & only short period recommended. small <50 beds ideal.
3. Cooperative system – Caters number of hospital.Merits:
# Cheaper costs of production
# Less investments
# Convenient for smaller hospitals.
4 In-plant system: Run owns and its own mechanical laundry services.
Advantages:
# Reduced loss and damage
# Assure regular supply within limited inventory
# Safe handling of infected linens
# Control on washing formula.
Methods of Supply
• Clean for dirty exchange: Clean linen is provided in place of dirty linen.
• Topping up system: 24 hrs. supplied.
• Requisitioning system
• Daily quota system
Linen Work flow
Facilities requirement
• Reception area with facilities for receiving,
• storing & washer-loading of soiled linen,
• central disinfections area, clean linen processing room,
• laundry manager’s office, sewing, inspection & mending area,
• light table, supply storage room, lockable store,
• provision for supply of water, power, stream,
• cart-washing and cart storage area,
• clean linen storage room and issuing counter.
• In off site: A clean linen storage & issuing room, lockable storage in nursing unit/user department, separate rooms for receiving and holding soiled linen from the wards.
Floors
• Dust free, smooth (chips), concrete
• Having drainage
• Should not be slippery or water remaining on the surface
• Preferably, lattice-type wood mats should be placed at each workstation.
Equipment use in Linen & laundry
• Washer extractor sluicing machine,
• Double door washing machine,
• Hydro extractor (combining washing, rinsing and extraction), Flat work iron,
• Tumble dryer, table trolley,
• ironing table, hand iron,
• dry linen trolley, Linen hanger,
• distribution trolley,
• motorized sewing machine etc.
Duties of Linen & laundry Manager
• Buying linen,
• warehousing,
• issuing new linen,
• delivering,
• collecting and some times repairing linen.
• Managing people and equipment.
• Manage large quantities of supplies.
• Check timely shortages and linen abuse .
Control of Theft of linen
• Use of lock and keys
• No duplication of keys
• Prohibiting unauthorized entrance
• Color codes and stamps
• Inventory checks and counting
• Keeping linen supply level low as far as possible
Conclusion
• Linen carts should be kept facing to nursing station
• Main objective of providing better medical care to the patients in a clean, conducive environment.
• The efficiency and effectiveness of nursing care can increase with a better organized this Linen services.
