A review of our Business Momentum

Environmental Services

Evaluating Process Improvement Tools

Quality and Process Improvement tools are gaining wider acceptance in the health care industry. Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, and TQM are just a few of the most popular tools. Crothall has been studying all of these models in an effort to determine how the benefits can be applied to improve the efficiency and flow of our own processes. Virginia Mason, a prestigious Crothall client, is on the cutting edge and has created the Virginia Mason Production System, which has been in place for 4 years. We have had the privilege of working with them on numerous initiatives to deliver favorable outcomes. Crothall hopes to learn a great deal about how non-traditional applications of support services can lead to zero-defect solutions, benefiting both existing and potential customers.

Laundry & Linen

Developing Formal Linen Utilization Program

Crothall Laundry Services has recently convened a working team to develop a step-by-step manual and integrated series of tools all designed to reduce healthcare linen utilization. Once complete, the company will have a practical, no-nonsense "tool kit" available to all customers desirous of reducing laundry and linen costs in a planned, programmed approach. Completion and release is scheduled for July 2007.

For more information, check out "The Simple Beauty of Linen Utilization."

Patient Transportation

Guest Relations Enhance the Patient Experience

Crothall is delivering unprecedented customer service at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dressed in suit and tie, attendants stationed throughout the hospital-at all entrances, information desks, even the parking lot-facilitate patient and visitor arrivals, inquiries, and much more. Additional services include golf cart shuttles throughout the expansive campus, and a dedicated patient transportation elevator with uniformed operator. In the ICU and Surgery areas, attendants control the flow of visitor traffic, give status updates, and act as the "go to" for all visitor needs. Crothall is extremely proud of the program at UAMS, and is eager to expand these services to other client hospitals.

Facilities Management

Revamped Associate Training System

Maintaining the competency and skill set of our associates is a high priority for the division. The launch of TPC Learning Manager Online will facilitate this task. The old paper based system was time intensive for both associates and managers. With the new web based system, Unit Managers can pretest associates, develop customized training courses per individual, and administer tests conveniently, even after hours in the associates' homes. The centralized reporting system will allow management at all levels to track training throughout the organization. This program will help ensure that Crothall's employees are trained in the most thorough and efficient manner, allowing them to devote more attention to "wrench time."

Business & Industry

Supporting Global Facilities Management Initiative

For the next six months, Crothall will be lending its expertise and talent to assist in the development of a global facilities management program in conjunction with parent company Compass Group, PLC. Crothall specialists Chuck Morton and Rich Feczko will be spending approximately 50% of their time consulting with the global Compass team to create the systems and programs necessary for facilities management services in countries where Compass programs are just starting up. Here at home, the new sales efforts have been fruitful, and healthy growth is expected.