Recently, the Greene County Medical Center contracted with Midwest Healthcare Textile Services (MHTS) in Des Moines for its laundry services.

The medical center will save $20,000 a year in fixed cost reductions.  An additional $100,000 is estimated to be saved on equipment replacements in the next three to five years and $14,000 will be eliminated in yearly utility costs.

Executive Director Christa Simons says that because of reduced costs, that means the medical center can offer high quality linens and services for patients.

CEO Carl Behne explains that only 5% of all the hospitals in Iowa do their own laundry.  MHTS provides services to 18 hospitals and three health systems in the state.  Behne notes that the change will not impact employment of the two full-time and two part-time laundry staff, but that they will take on other responsibilities in the medical center.