Services - COMTEX Laundry - Central Ohio Medical Textiles

OPERATING ROOM TEXTILES AND STERILE PACKS

During invasive medical procedures protection must be provided for the patient, the physicians, and the staff to prevent any transfer of potential infection or disease. For this reason all textiles, including drapes, wraps, towels, sponges, and gowns used in the operating room must be sterile and totally free of all bacteria and potential infection. COMTEX is one of the only laundry and textile service providers in the country to take extra measures in its disinfection process to ensure quality assurance is up to par with each hospitals’ standards.

COMTEX STERILIZATION PROCESS

During a 45-60 minute cycle in a steam sterilizer that generates pressures of 29 psi, textiles reach temperature of approximately 274 degrees Fahrenheit. This process ensures that sterilization occurs. Packs are then transferred to a sealed cooling down room that is maintained bacteria free. Cleanliness is maintained by a strict disinfection routine, by positive air pressure and the filtering of air through multiple air changes per hour. Access is controlled in this area and all staff is required to wear protective equipment before entering the room.

BENEFITS OF THE O.R. STERILE PACK SYSTEM

COMTEX calculates savings on a cost per use basis with an O.R. reusable textiles program as compared to using disposable products. Some of the key reasons for reduced costs include the following:

The per-use cost of reusable products is less than disposable products.
The most appropriate level of protection (I – IV) can be used for each operation.
Most comfortable and breathable products can be worn by physicians and staff.
Infectious waste is greatly reduced, thereby reducing the cost of waste removal.
Packs can be standardized to minimize waste and O.R. staff set-up time.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES OF REUSABLE LINENS

A list of articles describing the environmental advantages of utilizing a Reusable O.R. Sterile Pack System:

O.R. AND STERILE PACK SERVICE

In our O.R. and Sterile Pack service, operation room linen is processed in the following manner:

Textiles are sorted, washed, dried and further separated by classification. Expensive products have embedded radio frequency chips that identify the sending facility and track the number of processes of each garment.
Textiles are inspected for holes, foreign substances, and excessive stains, and if necessary, repaired using micro-fiber patches.
Individual textiles are folded and stacked in preparation for pack making.
Packs are assembled to include the exact product required for each procedure (i.e., single gown packs, major packs, minor packs).
Packs are stacked on carts that are placed in a pressure/vacuum (PRE-VAC) autoclave chamber for sterilization.
Following sterilization, orders are assembled and packs are sealed in plastic maintenance covers and shipped directly to facilities in closed O.R. carts.

COMTEX IS ENVISIONED TO BE RESPONSIBILE FOR THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:

Textile Specifications

In conjunction with key individuals from each of the facility sites, COMTEX will specify the textiles to be used in the provision of health care. This will include the sizes, materials, styles, and colors of each standard textile item. These items will make up the COMTEX Standard Linen Catalog and be revised and modified on an ongoing basis to improve service, cost and quality.

Textile Purchasing

Every other year COMTEX will issue a request for proposal to multiple suppliers for the provision of textiles included in the Standard Linen Catalog. Careful selection of these items will be made by a Committee comprised of staff from the Laundry, the Facilities and the Vendors. Costs will be calculated on the basis of life cycle of each textile item and COMTEX will be responsible for replacement of these items within it’s per pound charge to Customers.

Textile Inventory

As part of the service COMTEX will inventory key items to ensure that ample quantities are available to its Customer base to deal with patient census spikes. Any item not included in the Standard Linen Catalog can also be processed by COMTEX, however, the replacement of this item, since it is not in the Catalog will be controlled and budgeted for by each facility independently.

Laundry Processing

COMTEX developed its own “secret recipes” to wash, dry, feed, iron and fold each item it processes. Using the latest technology and chemistry geared for each specific item, laundry processing will be conducted carefully in order to maximize the life expectancy and turns of each item since COMTEX is responsible for their ongoing replacement.

On a 364 day per year basis, COMTEX will deliver the textiles in the agreed upon quota to its Customers. The “fill rate” or the achievement of meeting the day-to-day request of each COMTEX Customer will be held to a Board determined level, which is anticipated to be no less than 98%, by item, annually.

OPERATING ROOM TEXTILES AND STERILE PACKS

COMTEX STERILIZATION PROCESS

BENEFITS OF THE O.R. STERILE PACK SYSTEM

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES OF REUSABLE LINENS

O.R. AND STERILE PACK SERVICE

COMTEX IS ENVISIONED TO BE RESPONSIBILE FOR THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:

COMTEX Laundry

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