Remaining linen and laundry services at Alberta Health Services (AHS) will transition to K-Bro starting in September 2021. The transition will begin in rural Calgary zone in September, followed by South Zone, Central Zone and finally North Zone.
“K-Bro Linen Systems has a proven track record of providing high-quality laundry services,” says Dr. Verna Yiu, President and CEO, AHS. “AHS is looking forward to working with them to ensure the long-term sustainability of laundry service in our province.”
Following an extensive RFP process, in April 2021, AHS awarded a contract to K-Bro Linen Systems for the provision of linen services in the remaining part of the province where they are currently provided in-house. More than two-thirds of linen services are already provided by K-Bro Linen Systems in Alberta, including all linen services in both Calgary (urban), Edmonton, Hinton and Edson.
AHS and K-Bro have been working together to determine a transition plan for the provision of linen services that will begin in a phased approach starting in September 2021, in the Calgary Zone, followed by South Zone, Central Zone and finally North Zone. Transition will take approximately 34 weeks to complete and AHS expects K-Bro Linen Systems to be providing linen services throughout the province by April 1, 2022.
This transition will impact approximately 334 fulltime, part time and casual employees and AHS is committed to working with them and their union throughout this process to explore potential options in accordance with the collective agreement.
If AHS were to try to maintain the existing in-house services, more than $38 million in upgrades would be required to ensure both safety and quality of services. Alternatively, AHS would need to invest more than $100 million to build new modern linen systems across the province.
Linen Services plays an important role in the delivery of effective patient care. The contract with K-Bro Linen Systems will allow for much-needed investment in this area, while ensuring AHS can focus on other high priority areas, including initiatives focused on reducing wait times and enhancing accessibility of healthcare services across all Zones within AHS.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
- Submitted by Alberta Health Services