INFECTION PREVENTION “Not only do both teams have the shared
goal of preventing surgical-site infections and healthcare-associated infections, their knowledge and experience complement each other in a collaborative team setting,” he said.” Infection prevention can help advo- cate for the sterile processing department in implementing new equipment, policies and processes to align with infection prevention best practices. Oftentimes, the infection pre- vention team has strong relationships among the key stakeholders and decision makers in the facility and can help sterile processing leaders escalate issues and opportunities to the appropriate contacts, while providing additional support for the sterile process- ing team.”
Ruhof’s Pate identifies an “enormous advantage” when IP and SPD work together and share common customer service goals. “A team approach often is more power- ful and respected when there is a common front presented to the customers,” Pate told HPN. “It doesn’t offer the opportunity for the customers to go to the other department to change the processes that are presented. This partnership demonstrates to the customers that the departments stand firm together to ensure the quality and patient care standards and guidelines are met. Infection Prevention can be a valuable resource to SPD through knowledge of standards/guidelines, their close working relationship with organiza- tional leadership, and through support of any changes that SPD may be presenting. In many institutions, physician leadership works closely with Quality and Infection Pre- vention departments, and this may enhance support from the surgeons. The nurses in the OR may also have increased communica- tion with the Infection Prevention nurses, enhancing communication.”
An IP-SPD alliance eliminates any silo mentality circulating through department heads, according to Tru-D’s Brewer. “By working with IP, SPD can show that they are collaborating beyond their depart- ment to improve patient safety, which enhances their credibility with physicians and other clinical staff,” Brewer said. “IP can share insights that may impact or influence best practices in SPD and vice versa. Prevent- ing infections should not be restricted to a single department and should be a collab- orative effort between multiple departments and disciplines.”
“Ultimately, the IP/SPD relationship
can pay huge dividends and have a posi- tive impact on everyone who relies on the departments for service,” contends Resolute Advisory Group’s Taylor. “If you deliver a product that is guaranteed, everyone wins,” he indicated. “Patients have better outcomes – less surgical site infections (SSIs) – so
surgeons and the surgical teams can rely on the services they receive and reduce their liability. When the IP/SPD relationship blossoms, it can be used not only to help IP with other units within the hospital but also through shared respect others will hear of the work being done, and it is always better to lead the way than it is to follow.” Image matters, according to oneSource’s Jagrosse.
“When the healthcare system sees Infec- tion Prevention with SPD, it will raise both
areas’ reputations,” he surmised. “SPD will be seen as a valuable, trusted expert depart- ment by users that typically may have never had contact with the department before. Infection Prevention will be seen in a higher profile for bringing the true experts to bear in the areas that may not have had professional scrutiny in the past.”HPN
Related content: “How might Infection Prevention aid SPD and vice versa?” at
https://hpnonline.com/21213940
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