TRSA, the association for linen, uniform and facility services, recently held its 12th Annual Healthcare Conference and Exchange on Nov. 15–16 in Memphis, TN. The event brought together industry leaders and experts to share insights and best practices on serving the healthcare market sector.
The conference featured a keynote session by Nathan Bays, a healthcare M&A specialist at Citi, who discussed the latest trends and opportunities in the healthcare economy. Bays also shared insights on how healthcare operators can optimize their performance and deliver more value to their customers.
Following the keynote, a panel of technology experts from LinenMaster, Ecotex Healthcare Linen Services and NOVO Health Services shared their experiences and tips on using technology to enhance customer satisfaction and retention. The panel was moderated by Daniel Sanchez, the vice president of sales and marketing at Emerald Textiles.
The conference also included a presentation by Dr. Katie Laird, the head of infectious disease research at De Montfort University. She explained the current and emerging methods of microbiological testing in the commercial laundry industry. Kevin Schwalb, the vice president of government relations at TRSA, provided an update on the organization’s advocacy efforts and the key regulatory issues affecting the industry.
Chuck Rossmiller, the senior director of national field sales at Medline, presented the findings of the TRSA Healthcare Committee’s healthcare trends survey, which revealed the latest data and trends in the healthcare linen market. Rossmiller also engaged the audience with interactive live polling to get their feedback on the survey results.
The attendees had the opportunity to choose from two breakout sessions, one focusing on linen-loss prevention in the acute-healthcare sector, and the other on employee- engagement strategies in the nonacute healthcare sector.
The first day of the conference concluded with two more panel discussions. The first featured executives from Crothall, Ecotex
Healthcare Linen Services, HHA-FMA Laundry and HandCraft Services. These company leaders shared their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of serving the healthcare market, both acute and nonacute. The panel was moderated by Liz Remillong, vice president of strategic alliances at Crothall. Alsco Uniforms’ Healthcare Marketing Manager, Sara Oser, found the panel to be the most-engaging session. “It was like a crystal ball into the future of laundering. Navigating through this insightful session not only gave us a sneak peek into where the industry is headed but also served as a compass on how to best target our market.” Oser added, “Exciting times are ahead for those who dare to follow the trends.”
The second panel featured investment bankers from CIBC U.S. Middle Market Investment Banking, Stephens Inc. and Piper Sandler, who spoke on the role and impact of private equity in the healthcare linen industry. The panel was moderated by Andy Kratky, CEO of Emerald Textiles.
Healthcare conference attendees got a benefit by participating in the Exchange, TRSA’s online planner tool which allows attendees to efficiently schedule 15-minute, customized in-person meetings between TRSA Operator Members and Supplier Partners. The Exchange earned positive reviews from attendees such as Dan Flaherty, senior energy consultant, APPI Energy. He described the Exchange as, “a highly valuable and unique tool for members to connect with service providers.”
The conference concluded with a tour of Medline Industries’ facility in Southhaven, MS. There the attendees saw a 1.2-million-square-foot, medical-grade distribution center that serves over 1,000 healthcare facilities in the region. Next year’s TRSA Healthcare Conference will be held at the Westin Buckhead in Atlanta on Nov. 13-14, 2024.
