Michigan health systems join forces to build $48 million laundry facility
Henry Ford Health System, Michigan Medicine and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System are collaborating to develop a state-of-the-art healthcare laundry service facility in Detroit worth $48 million. Henry Ford’s current facility, which processes close to 11 million pounds of laundry annually, has become unsustainable as it faces limited capacity and aging equipment and infrastructure.
The new project is being built at a vacant, light industrial complex that, when finished, will be one of the largest shared medical laundry facilities in square footage in the country, according to a Henry Ford news release. All three health systems expect the collaboration will yield them significant savings by operating more efficiently.
The 105,000 square-foot facility should be ready for business by next spring and will operate using the highest standards in infection prevention and control practices with added sustainability initiatives that will reduce usage of water and gas, and curb emissions.
Some of the initiatives planned include:
· incorporating recycled materials used into the design
· cleaning with environmentally friendly products
· using automated technology and high-efficiency equipment
· installing a waste-water heat reclamation system to reduce natural gas consumption
Some 78 million pounds of healthcare linens between the three health systems will be serviced by current laundry service employees along with 100-plus more new hires.
"This kind of collaboration among health systems is a great example of how sharing services can reduce the cost of healthcare while improving the patient experience with high quality service, " says Rob Casalou, president and chief executive officer, Trinity Health Michigan Region, in a statement.
