October 23, 2020
EDMONTON – Alberta Health Services (AHS) has issued a request for proposal (RFP) seeking responses from third party providers interested in assuming responsibility for the provision of high-quality and sustainable laundry services across Alberta.
“AHS is working hard to find efficiencies and savings within the health system to fund growth and improve service delivery to Albertans. Alberta’s government fully supports these efforts,” says Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health. “By reinvesting savings from initiatives such as contracting out laundry services into the health system, we can improve patient care and ensure Albertans are provided with the best possible health care.”
“Quality and safety are the core of our healthcare system,” says Dr. Verna Yiu, President and CEO, AHS. “A contracted model will enable a sustainable service, while eliminating risk that our current outdated laundry infrastructure poses.”
AHS anticipates this RFP process will take approximately four months, including a full review of all proposals received. The timeline for implementation will depend on the successful third party vendor(s) selected.
“Through this RFP process, AHS is providing all potential vendors with a fair and transparent process to share proposals for the provision of laundry services,” said Mauro Chies, Vice President, Cancer Care Alberta and Clinical Support Services. “This process will result in a contract for high-quality laundry services, now and in the future, and that value will directly benefit patient care.”
More than two-thirds of laundry services are already provided by a third party in Alberta, including all laundry services in both Calgary (urban) and Edmonton. This full transition to a third party provider will allow for the reinvestment of healthcare dollars into direct patient care, eliminating the need to spend more than $38 million in upgrades that would otherwise be immediately necessary to laundry infrastructure.
“Laundry Services plays an important role in the delivery of effective patient care,” says Dr. Yiu. “This RFP will allow for much-needed investment in this area, while ensuring AHS can focus on high priority areas.”
This transition will impact approximately 428 fulltime, part time and casual employees and AHS is committed to working with them and their unions throughout this process. AHS anticipates there will be some opportunities for employment with the new vendor(s).
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.
