CA Title 22 Rules Relaxed in Advance of Modernization

TRSA’s efforts to reform California’s Title 22 regulation that regulates the laundering of healthcare linen took another step forward recently when it passed in a unanimous vote out of the California State Senate Committee on Health. Even better, the bill was amended to allow TRSA operators flexibility in processing healthcare linens until the California Department of Health (CDH) updates the regulation. AB 2679, authored by Assembly Member Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), directs CDH to reform the outdated prescriptive method of laundering healthcare linens to include more modern, effective and efficient methods.

As amended by the California Senate Committee on Health, the legislation allows for the use of low-temperature detergents and decreased wash times, while CDH updates the current regulation.

“This bill is getting better; as amended, operators will have flexibility in laundering healthcare linens until the Department of Health develops the new regulations,” said Kevin Schwalb, TRSA’s vice president of government relations.  “The unanimous vote shows the recognition of the linen, uniform and facility services industry on public policy.”

Title 22, specifically Sub-Section 70825 part (a) number (4) of Title 22 offers a prescribed method of laundry processing to be:

(4) Hospital linens shall be washed according to the following method:

All Linens shall be washed using an effective soap or detergent and thoroughly rinsed to remove soap or detergent and soil.  Linens shall be exposed to water at a minimum temperature of 71 degrees C (160 degrees F) for at least 24 minutes during the washing process.

While Title 22 regulates healthcare facilities, number (8) of part (a) goes on to include commercial laundries that process linens for healthcare facilities:

(8) If the hospital does not maintain a laundry service, the commercial laundry utilized shall meet the standards of this section.

The laundering process described above, while effective in hygienically cleaning laundry, is no longer the most efficient method of processing laundry. Advances in technologies in the commercial laundry process have created alternative means to the same end. These include extensively researched and documented improvements in the way washing machines perform mechanical action, the effect of heat in dryers and ironers and the evolution of wash chemicals to be more effective at lower temperatures.

TRSA looks forward to seeing the process through to the signature of Gov. Jerry Brown (D).