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6 Reasons Rochester Hospitals Rely on Professional Healthcare Linen Services

• November 20, 2025
• Recent News
• Century Linen Services

Linens don’t make headlines, but they can make or break a shift. Run short during surgery, fail an infection audit, or watch your staff spend an hour searching for clean bedding when they should be with patients.

We’ve worked with Rochester hospitals for over a century. That’s enough time to see what actually matters when it comes to healthcare linens. Here are a few reasons facilities across Central New York work with professional providers.

1. Meeting CDC and OSHA Standards for Infection Control

Clean linens in healthcare aren’t just about appearance. They’re about keeping patients safe. The CDC has specific requirements for washing and handling medical textiles, and there’s good reason for that.

At our Gloversville healthcare facility, every load is processed under those requirements. We use:

• Wash temperatures and formulas that eliminate harmful bacteria.
• Controlled separation between soiled and clean items.
• Secure packaging to keep linens protected until delivery.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also protects laundry staff from exposure to infectious materials. Our employees follow those same safety measures every day. This ensures that every person and every patient stays protected from the moment linens are picked up to when they’re returned.

2. Third-Party Certifications That Prove Quality

Hospitals can’t just take a vendor’s word that linens are clean. They need documentation they can show to inspectors and infection control teams.

That’s where TRSA Healthcare Certification comes in. TRSA (Textile Rental Services Association) sends independent inspectors to audit laundry facilities and verify everything meets healthcare standards.

They check:

• Facility layout and air handling systems
• Staff training on infection control protocols
• Quality control measures at every processing stage

When your facility gets audited or when infection control committees have questions, TRSA certification gives you documented proof that your linen partner meets national safety standards.

It’s not just about having clean linens. It’s about being able to prove it.

3. Cost Savings That Go Beyond Laundry

Every hospital watches costs carefully. Running an in-house laundry takes space, utilities, and staff…all of which add up quickly. By outsourcing, you remove those overhead expenses entirely.

Professional services like ours also help control unseen costs. For example:

• RFID tracking helps prevent linen loss and theft.
• Regular audits reveal where supplies are being wasted.
• Shared savings programs reward facilities for efficiency.

The healthcare industry loses millions each year due to misplaced or discarded linens. With better monitoring and management, most facilities see noticeable savings within months.

4. Products Designed for Every Department

Every unit in a hospital has different needs. We maintain specialized inventories so each area gets the right type of linen.

Some examples include:

• Surgical areas that require lint-free gowns and sterile drapes.
• Behavioral health units that use tear-resistant fabrics for safety.
• Hyperbaric therapy rooms that only allow 100% cotton materials.
• Sleep centers that rely on comfortable, hotel-quality bedding.

5. More Time for What Matters Most

Your clinical staff shouldn’t spend time counting sheets or tracking down missing carts. We handle the entire healthcare linen services process, from pickup to delivery, so your employees can focus on their patients.

Our account managers oversee inventory, quality control, and reporting. When adjustments are needed, we handle them directly. That saves hours each week and reduces stress for your environmental services or materials management teams.

The result is smoother operations and a better care environment for everyone.

6. Processing That Protects the Planet

Modern healthcare laundry isn’t just cleaner, it’s smarter. Our facilities use high-efficiency systems that reduce water, gas, and electricity use. By optimizing every wash cycle, we cut waste without sacrificing cleanliness.

We also repair or replace worn items before they fail, keeping quality high and reducing textile waste. Hospitals that partner with us benefit from sustainability practices that align with their environmental goals while lowering long-term costs.

Building Stronger Healthcare Partnerships Across Central New York

For more than a century, our team has worked alongside hospitals, nursing homes, and surgery centers throughout Central New York. At Century Linen, we continue to move healthcare forward by innovating with technology and delivering with care.

Contact our team to learn how we can strengthen your Rochester facility with reliable, high-quality healthcare linen services.