FRANKFORT, Ill. — Rocco Romeo, CEO of HLS Linen Services, Ottawa, Ont., was elected president of the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) during the organization’s recent 2013 elections.
Other officers for the year are Chuck Rosmiller, Crothall Laundry Services, vice president; Robert Potack, Unitex Textile Rental Services, secretary/treasurer; Nancy Bjerke, BSN, RN, MPH, CIC, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), immediate past president; and Bradley J. Bushman, Standard Textile Co., director-at-large.
Myles Noel, COMTEX, and Neil Pascoe, RN, BSN, CIC, Texas Department of State Health Services, were elected to the HLAC Board of Directors for the first time. They join the following directors who are continuing their terms into 2013: Gregory Gicewicz, Sterile Surgical Systems; Sandra J. Hensley, RN, MSEM, BSN, CIC, University of Toledo Medical Center; Rick Kislia, Crescent Laundry; and John Scherberger, CHESP, Healthcare Risk Mitigation Inc.
“HLAC made significant progress in many different areas this past year,” says Romeo. “Thanks to a strong, dynamic board and leadership team, HLAC continued to grow, ensuring its presence as the premier accrediting body in the healthcare laundry industry.”
The new HLAC Standards (including the introduction of Part III, Surgical Pack Assembly Room Standards for the Operating Room), were successfully implemented, the organization reports.
There are more than 170 accredited HLAC laundries in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Israel, and the organization plans to pursue additional opportunities in other countries.
“Laundries seeking accreditation do so voluntarily and demonstrate their commitment to healthcare customers and patients by promoting a culture of excellence and continuous process improvement,” Romeo says.
HLAC is planning a series of webinars this year that will assist laundries seeking accreditation and will promote patient safety and infection control.
