Training
for many years. With the focus on the circular economy, the first ‘quick win’ of this is not breaking devices in the first place. With the Green Surgery Report putting emphasis on repair, the timing is right to support greater education on surgical instruments. Launched in January 2024, the Surgical Holdings Academy aims to deliver vital education year-round on how medical devices fit into the equation, equipping healthcare professionals and operating teams with solid understanding and insight into what goes into manufacturing, materials, function and performance of common and complex surgical instrumentation that are used daily to save lives. This is particularly important as the feedback we get is that a lot of the basic training information around instruments in theatres and sterile services is often overlooked, as ‘fast tracking’ of new staff is commonplace. Hospitals are struggling to find the budget to let staff attend in-person conferences. Therefore, we aim to open the doors to education that is inclusive and accessible.
Dispelling common myths With a shifting focus on greater sustainability in healthcare, Surgical Holdings is dedicated to supporting the sector to take proactive steps to decarbonise through a circular economy approach focused on instrument reuse and repair. By helping staff learn about the basics of instruments and repairs, we are aiming to equip hospitals with the knowledge and skill to make the right decisions and understand what is key for quality with new devices and repairs. Evaluating the quality of repairs for surgical instruments involves several key steps to ensure that the instruments are restored to a condition that meets high standards of performance, safety and durability. Understanding when repairs are necessary is crucial, but ensuring the quality of those repairs is equally important. So, where do you begin? A common misconception is that repair of
devices is always a positive thing, in light of the NHS striving for Circular Economy. However, sustainability should never prevail at the
detriment of patient safety. In line with this principle, we have devised a straightforward three-step ‘ICE’ concept as part of our training for evaluating repair work: l Inspection: Scrutinise the quality of workmanship and the extent of repairs performed. It’s essential to enquire and understand the specifics from your service provider.
l Challenge: Question your repair company about their credentials. Who conducted the repairs? What training do they possess, and what protocols were followed?
l Evaluate: Collaborate with clinical colleagues to check that they’re happy with the repair and that it makes fiscal sense for the hospital). If the repair work is poor, or the new instrument quality not up to scratch, then the device may end up being quickly replaced.
Maintenance and management: key challenges One of the primary challenges faced by
Understanding what to look for during device checks demands a level of proficiency and familiarity with the equipment’s functionality, maintenance requirements, and potential issues. Therefore, staff must be properly trained and knowledgeable so they can effectively identify any problems or abnormalities.
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healthcare staff is often time and knowing what to look for when checking medical devices. Education has a critical role in addressing this challenge.
Understanding what to look for during device
checks demands a level of proficiency and familiarity with the equipment’s functionality, maintenance requirements, and potential issues. Therefore, staff must be properly trained and knowledgeable so they can effectively identify any problems or abnormalities. In response to this need, our training
programme is devised to gradually introduce updated practices specifically to help those in busy clinical settings to develop good habits and knowledge. The goal is to ensure they can understand more about the devices they are using daily and to recognise signs of wear, damage, or contamination that may require repairs or replacement. While not every single instrument can
be covered, much of what we teach can be applied to different instruments. For example, we emphasise simple steps like checking the surface of instruments for signs of damage like corrosion.
Rigid endoscopes require specialised
knowledge to operate effectively, for instance, and training helps healthcare professionals develop the skills and expertise needed to maximise the performance of these devices. For Rigid Endoscope Training, we have devised a clear step-by-step guide. This can easily fit into the quality control system of hospitals that follow ISO 13485 standards. We like to focus on memorable acronyms
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