Linen efficiency strategies: Containing costs and reducing waste
Troy Taylor, Chair- Distribution, Sally Lee, Co-Chair- Value Analysis Program, Ann Bennett, RN- Emergency Department, Joanne Brasch, M.S.- Dept of Textiles, Frances Hollinseed, RNPerioperative Services, Gloria Hurd- Environmental Services, Tristan Kable, RN- Transplant/Metabolic, Jeff Mobley- PCS Administration, Patti McCabe, RN- Pediatrics, Bill MontalvoInfection Control and Prevention, Paula Paivo- Angelica Laundry, Phoebe Penalver, RN- Women’s Health, John Danby- Occupational Safety: Sustainability
Objectives:
The Linen Committee was charged to establish and enforce linen management
policies to improve efficiencies and reduce waste, and to incorporate sustainability
principles, while maintaining patient-focused quality of care and safety.
Methods:
Baseline data was collected to understand linen categories (e.g., bed linens, towels,
gowns, scrubs, etc.), and their replacement and laundering costs. Unit site visits
were performed, and staff were surveyed to assess their understanding of linen
management practices. Departmental policies on bedmaking and linen
management were reviewed.
Staff Education Campaign:
Educational posters and inservices were provided for each nursing unit
that participated in the linen survey. Individual unit results were shared
with staff and posted in staff areas. New policy revisions and products
were clearly outlined along with evidence to support each initiative. The
campaign emphasized the financial, environmental, and safety reasons
for the changes.
2012
Results:
Cost and weight analyses for bed linen composition showed that two major items
for potential reduction were incontinent pads and thermal blankets. Combined,
those two items comprised almost
60% of total bed linen weight and
25% of the linen replacement budget.
Linen Bed Changes
New bed change processes save hours of nurse time and labor
To ensure your comfort and
protect
our
To ensure
your
comfort and protect our
environment,
we will change your bed
environment, we will change
your bed
as needed or upon request.
linens as needed or uponlinens
request.
» If linens for all hospital beds were changed daily, this would
result in $620,000 in laundering costs annually.
HEAL TH IER PLANE
,
» Reduces hospital environmental footprint
The Linen Committee recommended the following changes to improve linen
efficiencies, which were included in the staff education campaign:
(1) eliminate daily linen change requirements;
(2) reduce use of incontinent pads and thermal blankets;
(3) refrain from bringing extra linen into patient rooms;
(4) promote linen reject bag usage to reduce linen waste.
Early Outcomes:
With implementation starting in July 2012, early results have demonstrated
reduced linen replacement and laundering costs for bed linens. The education
campaign has raised awareness on staffs ability to support sustainability efforts
without compromising the quality of patient care.
Linen Survey Results:
Reminder: ALL soiled linens should go in the soiled linen hamper
Incontinent Pads and Thermal Blankets
New bed change practices reduce usage of incontinent pads and
thermal blankets by only using them to make beds for patients in need.
Reminder: Thermal blanket might not need to be changed everytime
Linen should be
put in only the
soiled linen or
reject hamper .
n= 19
Respondants from this department claimed
!
that linen is being disposed in the trash.
68% of repondants from this department claimed
that extra linen is being stored in the patient rooms.
Can you find all the extra linen in this picture?
Not every bed change requires an Incontinent Pad
Reusable Pillows
New reusable pillows potentially coming to patient beds. . .
» In 2012, the Linen Task Force wants to reduce cost and environmental impact
by switching to reusable pillows that offer more patient comfort
Questions? Concerns? Ideas? email: Sustainability@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
General poster outlining the revised
linen policies and practices
To ensure your comfort and protect our
environment, we will change your bed
linens as needed or upon request.
Together we can help to conserve millions of gallons
of water, save energy, reduce air pollution and
minimize the release of detergents into our ecosystem.
HEALTHIER PLANET,
HEALTHIER PEOPLE.
Staff education focused on highlighting the
benefits from saving nursing time and the
hospital’s reduced environmental footprint.
Patient education included tent cards provided at
bedside, and verbal notification at unit admission.
Incontinent pad practices were changed to focus on using them only after
clinical assessment of patient need. Along with the recent introduction of
disposable incontinent pads, overall costs of purchasing and laundering
incontinent pads has decreased.
» In 2009, it was estimated that $164K of linens were thrown
out instead of washed
» In 2011, UCDMC threw away 134,045 disposable pillows (costing over $200K)
Action:
Pediatrics
Together we can help to conserve millions of gallons
HEALTH IER PLANET, HEAL TH IER PEO P le.
HEALTH IER PEOPLE.
The revised bed linen change policy eliminated mandatory daily bed changes,
and focused on bed linen change as needed, or upon patient request.
Reduce use of incontinent pads:
Together we can help to conserve millions of gallons
of water, save energy, reduce air pollution and
of water, save energy, reduce
air pollution
minimize
the releaseand
of detergents into our ecosystem.
minimize the release of detergents into our ecosystem.
» Reducing Incontinent Pad purchasing and processing by 50% would lead to over $110K
cost-savings, along with reduced water and energy consumption
Staff from 15 nursing units participated in a linen survey. Survey results indicated
knowledge gaps in staff practices and that they would benefit from further
educational outreach.
Eliminate daily bed linen change:
Reminder: Incontinent pads are to be used on beds of patients in need
Reduce use of thermal blankets:
New bed making procedures reduce the use of thermal blankets which had
been replaced upon each bed linen change. The blanket gets changed only if
soiled or upon room cleaning, after patient discharge.This has reduced
laundering costs for thermal blankets.
76% of respondants from this department claim that incontinent pads are still being used
on most or all beds. Reducing incontinent pad purchasing and processing by 50% would
lead to over $110K cost-savings, along with reduced water and energy consumption
Promoting a culture of resource conservation
saves money and time for everyone
Questions? Concerns? Ideas? email: Sustainability@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Department specific poster
summarizing survey results
Eliminate unnecessary extra linen storage
in patient rooms:
Staff education campaign focused on deterring extra linen being stored in
patient rooms. This prevents unnecesssary risk of contamination for linen that
might not get used, as well as reduces the need for additional linen inventory.
Promote proper hamper use:
Lessons learned:
- Multi-disciplinary participation is key for an effective committee.
- Updates with nursing management council and senior leadership helped to
refine recommendations and gain support.
- Vendor and product changes during process hindered data collection and
assessment (i.e. changing laundry vendors).
- Staff surveys helped gauge needs in training for the education campaign.
- Time and resource commitments are required for successful policy roll-out.
Clearly defined and labelled hampers facilitate efficient linen sorting of soiled
and rejected linen, ensuring that no linen should be discarded as red bag waste.
Additional Areas of Oppotunity:
Future projects to support linen cost reduction and sustainability goals, include:
- Washable surgical linens and warm-up jackets - Reusable pillows
- Scrub dispensers to reduce loss of scrubs
- “Walking” linen reduction
- Reject linen diversion from landfill
Questions? Ideas? email: Sustainability@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu