Business Challenge

With an on premise laundry and 60 linen distribution points, the VA faced considerable challenges ensuring the linen needs of the hospital were met. Costs also were increasing, with annual processing costs at $1.7 million, replacement costs at $537,354, and five full-time employees assigned to linen distribution.

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The alEx Solution

​To solve these problems, the hospital decided to secure approximately 60% of its total linen with the alEx solution. With alEx, the hospital streamlined linen distribution processes, established a more efficient replenishment program and improved staff satisfaction.

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With an overall decrease in utilization after the alEx installation, the VA’s annual processing costs dropped to $1.4 million and linen replacement costs dropped to $394,199. In total, the hospital experienced total annual savings of $427,426, beating the projected savings goal of $392,000.​​

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New efficiencies gained allowed the laundry to reallocate three full-time linen distribution employees to other EMS responsibilities, while at the same time driving laundry pounds per operating hour from 95 to 109*.

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With alEx, linen shortages are minimal since linen distribution staff can view inventory levels with the linen management software and provide proactive service delivery. Additionally, with the automatic closing doors on alEx, Joint Commission violations are no longer a concern since linen is always securely covered.