April 2015 | Business World 141 In 2016, Shared Hospital Services will celebrate 40 years in the healthcare industry. Formed by five hospitals, the non-profit cooperative based in the Tidewater region of Virginia has evolved through the years and maintains its commitment to improving the quality of their products by altering the experience and standards of laundry service. Laundry is serious business for Shared Hospital Services President and CEO, Charles Berge. An industry veteran with 35 years of experience, Berge understands how important it is to keep things fresh. “The reality of today’s healthcare industry, and not just the healthcare laundry industry, is an increasing focus on customer care and satisfaction,” Berge said. “The industry as a whole must move away from the thought process of ‘here’s a sheet, here’s a towel’ - purchase cheapest product out there.” “The Affordable Care Act challenges us to reconsider the care provided and is changing the effect the Laundry has on that customer’s satisfaction.” What was once a customary procedure for hospitals and care centers to maintain their own in-house laundry operation has now shifted. As factors such as maintenance of equipment, staffing and up-keep of regulatory protocols pose obstacles ranging from time and money to the primary function of patient care, Shared Hospital Services has become an innovator whose influence has allowed the healthcare industry the opportunity to place their primary focus on patient
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