Evaluation of Laundry Units in Teaching Hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Recommendations for Performance Enhancement

Background and purpose: The laundry unit is one of the most critical support services in a hospital. Optimizing processes and implementing effective management strategies in this unit can significantly impact cost management. This study aims to examine various aspects of hospital laundry units. Meth...

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Main Authors: Mohammad Amin Zar Foroush, Zeinab Partovi Shayan, Ghasem Rajabi Vasakolaei
Format: Article
Language:fas
Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2024-05-01
Series:بیمارستان
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Online Access:http://jhosp.tums.ac.ir/article-1-6478-en.pdf
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author Mohammad Amin Zar Foroush
Zeinab Partovi Shayan
Ghasem Rajabi Vasakolaei
author_facet Mohammad Amin Zar Foroush
Zeinab Partovi Shayan
Ghasem Rajabi Vasakolaei
author_sort Mohammad Amin Zar Foroush
collection DOAJ
description Background and purpose: The laundry unit is one of the most critical support services in a hospital. Optimizing processes and implementing effective management strategies in this unit can significantly impact cost management. This study aims to examine various aspects of hospital laundry units. Methods: This research was conducted across the teaching hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The study employed a multi-step approach. First, the most crucial performance criteria for laundry units were identified through a fuzzy Delphi technique, consulting 20 experts in the field. These criteria were then weighted using the Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) method. Finally, hospitals were ranked using the VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method. Results: The analysis of main criteria in the laundry unit revealed the following significance levels: "performance criteria" (56%), "equipment and facilities" (28%), and "cost management" (16%). Among the sub-criteria, "process" emerged as the top priority with a weight of 0.285, followed by "general laundry section regulations" (0.155), "safety and health" (0.139), and "general" (0.081). Conclusion: The findings highlight the paramount importance of the "process" sub-criterion in hospital laundries. Consequently, we recommend updating guidelines for linen collection, washing, maintenance, and distribution. Furthermore, given that "general laundry section regulations" ranked as the second priority, we suggest implementing clear separation of dirty and clean pathways within the laundry unit and establishing a system for continuous recording and weighing of received garments. These measures can significantly enhance overall process management and cost efficiency.
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2228-7450
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series بیمارستان
spelling doaj-art-6ca83aa38a204b1482d5c2ac3faebdf62025-02-09T09:12:35ZfasTehran University of Medical Sciencesبیمارستان2008-19282228-74502024-05-012312334Evaluation of Laundry Units in Teaching Hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Recommendations for Performance EnhancementMohammad Amin Zar Foroush0Zeinab Partovi Shayan1Ghasem Rajabi Vasakolaei2 Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. *Corresponding Author Email: Aminzarforoush@gmail.com Master's in Health Services Management, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. PhD in Health Services Management, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Background and purpose: The laundry unit is one of the most critical support services in a hospital. Optimizing processes and implementing effective management strategies in this unit can significantly impact cost management. This study aims to examine various aspects of hospital laundry units. Methods: This research was conducted across the teaching hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The study employed a multi-step approach. First, the most crucial performance criteria for laundry units were identified through a fuzzy Delphi technique, consulting 20 experts in the field. These criteria were then weighted using the Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) method. Finally, hospitals were ranked using the VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method. Results: The analysis of main criteria in the laundry unit revealed the following significance levels: "performance criteria" (56%), "equipment and facilities" (28%), and "cost management" (16%). Among the sub-criteria, "process" emerged as the top priority with a weight of 0.285, followed by "general laundry section regulations" (0.155), "safety and health" (0.139), and "general" (0.081). Conclusion: The findings highlight the paramount importance of the "process" sub-criterion in hospital laundries. Consequently, we recommend updating guidelines for linen collection, washing, maintenance, and distribution. Furthermore, given that "general laundry section regulations" ranked as the second priority, we suggest implementing clear separation of dirty and clean pathways within the laundry unit and establishing a system for continuous recording and weighing of received garments. These measures can significantly enhance overall process management and cost efficiency.http://jhosp.tums.ac.ir/article-1-6478-en.pdfhospital laundryperformance evaluationhealthcare facilityoperational improvementhospital administration.
spellingShingle Mohammad Amin Zar Foroush
Zeinab Partovi Shayan
Ghasem Rajabi Vasakolaei
Evaluation of Laundry Units in Teaching Hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Recommendations for Performance Enhancement
بیمارستان
hospital laundry
performance evaluation
healthcare facility
operational improvement
hospital administration.
title Evaluation of Laundry Units in Teaching Hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Recommendations for Performance Enhancement
title_full Evaluation of Laundry Units in Teaching Hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Recommendations for Performance Enhancement
title_fullStr Evaluation of Laundry Units in Teaching Hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Recommendations for Performance Enhancement
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Laundry Units in Teaching Hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Recommendations for Performance Enhancement
title_short Evaluation of Laundry Units in Teaching Hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Recommendations for Performance Enhancement
title_sort evaluation of laundry units in teaching hospitals of tehran university of medical sciences and recommendations for performance enhancement
topic hospital laundry
performance evaluation
healthcare facility
operational improvement
hospital administration.
url http://jhosp.tums.ac.ir/article-1-6478-en.pdf
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AT zeinabpartovishayan evaluationoflaundryunitsinteachinghospitalsoftehranuniversityofmedicalsciencesandrecommendationsforperformanceenhancement
AT ghasemrajabivasakolaei evaluationoflaundryunitsinteachinghospitalsoftehranuniversityofmedicalsciencesandrecommendationsforperformanceenhancement