A recent online workshop held by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NAS) drove home some important points about the economic, safety and environmental benefits associated with the use of reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) in healthcare settings. But short of a regulatory or legislative mandate, laundry operators question whether healthcare officials will move away from disposable PPE.

Liz Remillong, a vice president of Core Linen Services (formerly Crothall Laundry Services), Phoenix, was one of several TRSA members who testified on reusable vs. disposable PPE during the March 4-5 online workshop. The event aired live following a grassroots ...