HLAC Names New Accreditation Inspectors

The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC), a nonprofit organization that inspects and accredits laundries processing textiles for hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities, has named three new accreditation inspectors: G. George Huber, RLLD; David C. Ness; and Carl R. Rau.

Huber is manager of laundry and linen services for Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, WI, where he led a team through the HLAC-accreditation process. He received his Registered Laundry and Linen Director (RLLD) designation from the Association of Linen Management (ALM), American Laundry and Linen College, Eastern Kentucky University, in 2007. He is a 2015 recipient of the founder's award from ALM for his outstanding leadership, community service, dedication and devotion to ALM and the textile care service industry.

Ness is a 30-year-plus veteran of the laundry and textile industry and currently director of sales and service for Sterile Surgical Systems, Tumwater, WA, where he took part in two HLAC accreditations. He was with Ecolab for 24 years and has considerable experience working with on-premise healthcare laundries as well as large industrial facilities. He holds a Certified Linen and Laundry Management designation from ALM.

Rau is a 40-year veteran of the industry with varied experience across several fields, including improving efficiencies, financial performances and sales. His most recent experience was with Standard Textile, Cincinnati, OH, where he was manager of North American laundry markets for eight years. Prior to Standard Textile he held positions with Sodexo spanning more than 25 years where he managed laundries in Houston; Rockford, IL; and Minneapolis before assuming his business development responsibilities.

Huber, Ness and Rau join HLAC's team of inspectors that includes Thomas J. Fitzgerald III, BBA CHESP; Brett Higgins CHESP; Donald Pedder; and Richard Phelon.

An HLAC inspector is an independent contractor -- a laundry and textile professional with wide-ranging experience - whose sole responsibility is to conduct an on-sight inspection of a healthcare laundry seeking HLAC accreditation. The inspection is conducted according to predetermined Standards and involves a thorough review of the applicant laundry's processes -- its systems and procedures for ensuring that product being shipped from the laundry is free of contamination and adheres to professionally recognized infection prevention and control policies.

Inspectors receive in-depth training of HLAC standards and inspection guidelines before they begin their work, according to John Scherberger, president of HLAC's board of directors. "The inspection is an important first step in the process to HLAC accreditation," Scherberger said. "While the inspectors don't have the authority to grant accreditation, it's their submitted inspection evaluations that affect the ultimate decisions of HLAC's authoritative body granting accreditation." 

Source: Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC)