Should Your Healthcare Laundry be Credentialed?

Hey there, I’m Greg, 

Welcome back to the tenth Compliance Shark Newsletter! I hope everyone had a wonderful break and is ready to learn more about laundry.

Credentialing isn’t required, but let me ask you this: would you eat at a restaurant that skips health inspections? Of course not. So why take that gamble with your hospital’s linens?

When it comes to patient safety, “good enough” isn’t good enough.

Imagine walking into a laundry facility where soiled carts brush against clean ones. Employees handle sanitized linen with dirty hands. Equipment looks like it belongs in a museum … red flags, left, right and center.

I know how dangerous these oversights are because I’ve been there. Early in my career, I ran a laundry that failed an inspection spectacularly. I thought my Harvard degree and corporate experience would carry the day. But infection prevention nurses – whose sole job is to spot risks and stop infections – saw through us instantly.

That humbling moment changed everything. I dove deep into credentialing and gained so much respect for the process that I eventually became the President of the HLAC Board of Directors, chaired its standards committee, and led inspections to help others meet the bar.

Here’s the bottom line: your patients – whether it’s a recovering surgical patient or a premature newborn – deserve better than a “best effort.” Without credentialing, your laundry provider is operating without a verified safety net. And that’s a risk your hospital can’t afford to take.

Here’s why insisting on HLAC accreditation or TRSA Hygienically Clean certification isn’t just smart – it’s essential.

A Deep Dive: HLAC vs. TRSA Hygienically Clean

Now, there are people within this community who work in hospitals, and others who run mom-and-pop laundry operations – just like I did when I started in this world. I get it: the entire credentialing world can feel pretty daunting.

So here it is, plain and simple. Whether you’re just starting out or deep into the credentialing process, this will make sense.

There are two gold-standard credentialing programs in the healthcare laundry industry: 

1. HLAC Accreditation

• Focus: A process-based approach. HLAC ensures every step of laundry operations meets strict, evidence-based standards.

• Key features:

• Comprehensive onsite inspections of equipment, processes, and training.

• More than 600 standards covering everything from soil sorting to final delivery.

• Based on guidelines from top authorities like CDC, AAMI, and AORN.

• Why it matters: If a laundry follows HLAC’s standards, the outcome – safe, hygienic linens – is virtually guaranteed.

2. TRSA Hygienically Clean Certification

• Focus: Combines process-based standards with microbiological testing for a dual layer of confidence.

• Key features:

• Onsite inspections to ensure best practices.

• Random samples of textiles tested in certified labs to verify cleanliness.

• Why it matters: It’s empirical proof that linens meet hygiene benchmarks.

Both programs are rigorous, reputable, and effective. The difference?

• HLAC focuses more on processes and protocols.

• TRSA adds microbiological testing to measure outcomes.

Some laundries choose both HLAC accreditation and TRSA certification for an extra layer of trust and a competitive edge.

Final Thought

Credentialing doesn’t just keep your laundry vendor honest. It keeps your patients safe, your reputation intact, and your hospital ahead of risks before they happen.

Now, I get it – time and preparation, resource strain, cost, and ongoing maintenance can feel daunting. But the truth is, it’s a vital investment that pays off in safety, trust, and peace of mind.

If you need help evaluating your provider or understanding accreditation or certification, reply to this email. I’m here to help.

By the way, over the past few decades, I’ve learned more than I ever imagined about healthcare textiles, infection prevention, and credentials. I’ve written a book capturing everything I know to help you protect your patients and facilities.

If you’d like an early copy, reply to this email and I’ll send it your way.

Until next time,
Greg
Compliance Shark