TRSA’s Hygienically Clean healthcare certification earns AORN Seal of Recognition

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TRSA, the leading global textile services trade association, today announces its Hygienically Clean Healthcare Certification program standards have received the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Seal of Recognition™ for its certification materials.

The AORN Seal of Recognition confirms the certification program has undergone a thorough quality review by AORN and is consistent with the organization’s Guidelines for Perioperative Practice. According to AORN, this is not a product endorsement but rather a demonstration that the educational and informative material provided about the certification program is sound and reliable. Specifically, the Seal of Recognition recognizes the certification program’s materials on the “Standard for Producing Hygienically Clean Reusable Textiles in the Healthcare Industry.”

“Since the creation of the Hygienically Clean certification in 2012, TRSA has continued its work to raise the bar and standards within the commercial laundry industry through this program,” explained Joseph Ricci, president and CEO of TRSA. “We’re honored to have successfully earned AORN’s Seal of Recognition for our Hygienically Clean program and we’ll continue to work with our membership to ensure the industry is held to the highest possible standards of cleanliness and safety.”

To be considered for Hygienically Clean Certification, facilities handling healthcare linens are inspected for adherence to best practices and quality assurance requirements. This inspection is preceded by two rounds of bacteriological testing of laundered textiles by an independent, TRSA-approved laboratory. Samples must pass a total of three rounds of testing to qualify for certification.

To maintain certification, facilities must regularly repeat the tests: the Replicate Organism Detection and Counting (RODAC) protocol, quarterly, rather than the previous protocol of twice per year; and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 62, for microorganisms most commonly found in healthcare environments, twice yearly. This frequent quantification of performance fosters continuous improvement through adoption of new laundering techniques to deliver a better level of cleanliness.

“Hygienically Clean standards have a very large and positive impact on public health in general because they lower the overall community infectious disease risk burden,” said David F. Goldsmith, MSPH, Ph.D, an occupational and environmental epidemiologist with George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health in Washington, D.C., who recently conducted a third-party review of the certification program. “TRSA Certification offers a serious marketing advantage versus competitor laundries who have not adopted the Hygienically Clean process.”

According to TRSA, by Dec. 31, 2015, it expects approximately 50 percent of commercial laundries exclusively handling linens and other textiles from healthcare facilities will have earned its Hygienically Clean certification. Complete information on the program and its newly revised protocols and best practices can be found on the program’s new website at hygienicallyclean.org.

Kimball Communications welcomes tourism, politico PR professional

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Addition of Mark Ladley adds to Philly agency’s travel and tourism expertise

Kimball Communications (www.kimballpr.com) today announced it has added Mark Ladley to its team of public relations professionals. Ladley joins the agency as public relations manager and is responsible for managing client accounts, including strategic planning, media relations, social media advising and crisis consulting.

Mark Ladley headshotPrior to joining Kimball Communications, Ladley honed his PR expertise in travel and tourism, as well as political communications, at boutique agencies and in state politics. Most recently at En Route Marketing in Philadelphia, he successfully developed relationships with journalists and bloggers to bolster clients’ reputations in the travel and tourism market. Prior to that, Ladley was communications director for Pa. Rep. Brendan Boyle, developing messaging and public relations strategies that led to significant media placements and high-profile press conferences. He began his career in communications working for esteemed pollster and political pundit, Frank Luntz.

“As we continue to grow our agency, Mark’s experience in B2B and travel and tourism PR is a complementary and welcome addition to the work we do,” says Gary Kimball, president of Kimball Communications. “I’m looking forward to the positive results he’ll produce for our clients, both current and future.”

A resident of Lansdale, Pa. in Montgomery County, Ladley is deeply involved in his local community, serving as a member of the Lansdale Communications Commission, the Philadelphia Public Relations Association and The Penn Club. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in politics from The Citadel and the University of Glasgow, respectively.

Ladley is the most recent addition to the Kimball Communications team since the agency’s move to the Philadelphia region earlier this year. The agency is currently celebrating its 20th year in business.

Millennials: saviors of industry?

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Millennials, long believed to dwell only in the land of eternal youth and parental basements, are beginning to emerge, as predicted in 2014, as a major force in the real estate market … at least in Des Moines.

Recently portrayed on Saturday Night Live as text-obsessed navel gazers, millennials are beginning to emerge as drivers of the real estate market in several urban markets. - Photo courtesy of SNL

Recently portrayed on Saturday Night Live as text-obsessed navel gazers, millennials are beginning to emerge as drivers of the real estate market in several urban markets. – Photo courtesy of SNL

According to today’s report on NPR, Des Moines’ strong insurance and financial sectors, coupled with affordable housing and an educated workforce are leading these young, first-time homebuyers to the oft-promised American Dream: homeownership.

While this trend conflicts with the nomadic stereotypes foisted on an entire generation, other assumptions remain consistent. These new homebuyers are selecting homes closer to urban hubs than their parents, primarily to avoid that other American Dream: driving.

If this trend continues, millennials might not only be poised to breathe new life into several U.S. industries, including the housing market, insurance and possibly aiding the revival of America’s great cities.

So what’s the secret recipe for industry leaders, and especially real estate pros, looking for a way to capitalize on the millennials as industry saviors? A strong education base, plenty of affordable urban housing and a growing employment sector seem to be critical to this trend.

Looking out my own window into the world, I’ve got to wonder if Philadelphia‘s time to shine has finally arrived. With its solid university options, ample affordable housing and robust insurance industry poised for dramatic expansion in the next five years, the City of Brotherly Love and papal visits might well be poised for a renaissance of its own thanks to this emerging trend.

Trump organization gets it right on data breach communications

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Gage Skidmore / Foter / CC BY-SA

Donald Trump has jumped to the top of the Republican primary polls with an acerbic style that runs contrary to established political rhetoric. But when Trump International made the announcement yesterday that it was hacked, the PR effort was by the book.

And effective.

The Donald Trump Hotel chain says its payment data system was breached, potentially exposing customers’ credit and debit card information for more than a year. The chain posted a notice on their website and media coverage like this CBS report shows how to communicate a breach:

  • The facts about the breach: malware may have given hackers access to payment information between May 19, 2014 and June 2, 2015
  • The exposure: they have “not found any conclusive evidence that the information was taken or misused.”
  • Steps taken to correct it: they notified the FBI and financial institutions and hired an outside forensic expert to investigate.
  • Recommendations for customers and what it is doing to help: offering a year of complimentary fraud resolution and identity-protection services.

The Donald is in the crosshairs of many, so the New York Daily News and others took their shots, but coverage was once and done. As of now, they appear to have avoided what the IRS, Target and others have done – underestimate the extent of the damage in their initial reports, leading to multiple news reports and keeping the story alive.

Rod discusses thought leadership in the National Law Journal

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Ascent Magazine Atos Thought Leadership Fast

photo via Atos on Flickr

Want to be a thought leader in the legal field? What exactly does it mean to be a thought leader?

Our VP Rod Hughes offers Meg Charendoff some sensible advice for readers of the National Law Journal.

AAMGA calls for action on NARAB in interview with A.M. BestTV

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On the left, John Weber of A.M. BestTV. On the right, Bernie Heinze of AAMGA.

Bernie Heinze of AAMGA speaks with John Weber of A.M. BestTV.

Eight months after the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Act (NARAB II) was signed into law, the federal government still has not appointed board to oversee its provisions.

In a conversation with A.M. BestTV’s John Weber, AAMGA president Bernie Heinze discusses this issue and the steps the AAMGA is taking to address this problem. Watch the interview here.

Rod discusses thought leadership in Legal Intelligencer

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You may know your stuff, but that doesn’t mean you will be recognized as an authority on the topic. How can lawyers become thought leaders and better media sources? Rod answers that question for Meg Charendoff in a recent Legal Intelligencer article.

20-year-old PR agency opens new office in Blue Bell

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Kimball Communications Marks Anniversary with New Montgomery County Location

Marking its 20th anniversary in business this July, public relations firm Kimball Communications announces it is opening a new office at 794 Penllyn Pike, Suite 214 in Blue Bell, Pa. The agency will begin working from its new offices on Aug. 3.

Kimball Communications provides a full array of public relations services, including branded content and social media. It has also developed a specialty in crisis communications. The agency serves organizations in a wide array of industries with specialties in insurance and financial services, trade association, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate and sustainable energy.

“After 20 years in business, most of our client work is national and international rather than regional,” says Gary Kimball, president of Kimball Communications. “However we have a number of clients in the Philadelphia region that make it advantageous for us to be in Montgomery County. We’re looking forward to moving into the new space.”

Over the last two decades, Kimball says one constant has been the need for businesses to tell compelling stories. “As we developed expertise in social media, video and branded content for our clients over the years, the fundamentals of public relations haven’t changed. We just have new tools, better tools, to tell those stories.”

Kimball says moving closer to Philadelphia will provide the space needed to recruit more regional clients as well as better accessibility for clients flying to the region from around the U.S.

The agency previously was located in Easton, Pa.

Sustainable Energy Fund issues 20 grants to Pennsylvania students

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Travel grants will allow students to attend Energypath 2015 in July

Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF), a nonprofit non-governmental organization dedicated to educating, supporting and financing energy users seeking sustainable energy options, today announces it has issued all of its 20 available travel grants to students planning to attend Energypath 2015 at the University of Scranton beginning next week. The travel grants are sponsored by West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Foundation (WPPSEF).

Recipients include:

  • Matthew T. Brockett, Edinboro University
  • Sydney M. Bynum, Washington & Jefferson College
  • Devin Clark, Robert Morris University
  • Marysol Frost, Lock Haven University
  • Kelli Gohn, Penn State University
  • Benjamin Holmes, Ambridge High School
  • Kealeb Hyde, Washington & Jefferson College
  • Kayla Griffith Kalinoski, Penn State University
  • Abigail Katsos, Washington & Jefferson College
  • Nick Kolesar, Penn State University
  • Nick Lehmann, Penn State University
  • Zachary Phillips, Shippensburg University
  • Mike Reichart, Penn State University
  • Allen Rutter, Penn State University
  • Rebecca Schmitt, Gettysburg College
  • Michael Sell, Saint Francis University
  • Corry Shaffer, Shippensburg University
  • Alaria Sun, Quiet Creek Herb Farm and School
  • Sue Tran, Washington & Jefferson College
  • David Samuel Zuckerman, Wilson College

“Working with our partner WPPSEF, these travel grants ensure tomorrow’s leaders in the sustainable energy space are able to attend the leading conference on these issues in the region” said John Costlow, president and CEO of SEF which hosts Energypath annually.

The travel grants are part of larger $10,000 grant WPPSEF made to SEF in April to fund additional programming for Energypath, as well as to provide travel funding. Students living in or attending school in the WPPSEF region are eligible for the grants. The Energypath events begin July 20 with a series of energy camps ahead of the July 23 opening of the conference.

Energypath is dedicated to increasing the knowledge and passion for sustainable energy among industry professionals, policymakers and academia. This year’s event will be held at the University of Scranton, July 23 & 24.

Pando International launches with innovative embossed paper coffee cups

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Distinctive hot cups offer superior insulation and ample branding opportunities

Today, Pando International, a Lehigh Valley-based producer of single-use, takeout paper containers, announces the introduction of its Embossed paper hot cup family of products to the U.S. market. The visually striking product line offers a unique, economical and safe hot beverage container for restaurants and other food and beverage businesses.

New to the U.S. market, this style of coffee cup has been adopted successfully in Europe and Asia, where it is currently in use by a global fast food brand.

The Embossed cups offer a distinctive and affordable alternative to paper cup sleeves or double-walled hot beverage cups. The outer, textured paper layer provides users with insulation and a tactile, slip-free grip. For businesses, the built-in insulation translates to savings and inventory reduction as they need only purchase one SKU instead of the usual pair—one for the cups and one for the accompanying insulating sleeves.

The texture of the Embossed product line also provides branding opportunities traditional paper cups cannot offer. The embossed patterns are customizable. With the help of Pando’s proprietary manufacturing process, custom printing is quick and easy to change as needed. A host of basic styles are available.

The cups come in all standard coffee cup sizes: 8, 10, 12, 16 and 20 ounces. They are made of paper coated in polyethylene, but can be coated in PLA to make them 100 percent compostable.