SPECIAL FOCUS


goals and developed closer relationships with the Clinical Engineering team to maximize equipment uptime and to com- municate with clarity and transparency when potential bottlenecks emerged due to downtime. McVaugh hails the “well- trained CE technicians that understand the importance of SPD work.” Last year, throughout the rise of the


COVID-19 pandemic, SPD worked with Perioperative Services to fully eliminate immediate-use steam sterilization (IUSS a.k.a. flashing.


“This was a joint decision,” McVaugh admitted. “Perioperative Services Direc- tor was all about it! Collaboration and communication are key. We still have occasions where these issues bubble up, but we always find a way through it. The biggest thing is everyone recognizes that IUSS was not a good practice and accepts when delays happen. They may not be


happy about it, but they know that best practice should be followed.” How did SPD and Perioperative Services make this happen?


“This was accomplished by removing autoclaves in the OR cores, implement- ing the use of OneTray, implementing a data-driven approach to increasing inven- tory and improving communication with Perioperative Services regarding inventory versus scheduling,” she responded.


Empowering SPD


Prior to 2019, SPD professional develop- ment emerged from a simple process: On- the-job training. The COO set a lofty goal for the new leaders: Achieve 100% staff certification of technicians.


Right before COVID-19 surfaced in March 2020, SPD leaders had set up a three- hour study group to meet every Sunday for 16 weeks. The pandemic interrupted the


Bayhealth Kent Campus


schedule until the organization allowed small groups to meet. Today, Bayhealth’s SD team is fully certified.


Meanwhile, McVaugh and Dolan are


working on a career progression ladder to link pay increases as a reflection of cer- tification, and theyre also working with IAHCSMM to create an advocacy group that develops a national standard business case for compensation ties to certification, according to McVaugh. Grunderson Jean-Philippe, Manager of


Bayhealth’s Kent Campus SPD depart- ment, opened a sterile processing training academy called BE INSTRUMENTAL LLC, where he provides sterile process- ing, infection control and instrumentation education for students from Delaware, New Jersey and the nearby Philadelphia metropolitan area. Jean-Philippe has been teaching sterile processing for more than six years to students seeking a career in the


Tech II Shellie Pearsall (left) and Tech II Michele Ginn (right) load sterile instrumentation in sterility maintenance covers.


Tech II Michele Ginn places sterile instrumentation in sterility maintenance covers.


Tech II Daniel Robb restocks a work station.


Tech II Shellie Pearsall (left) and Instrument Coordinator Thomas Haley prepare a tray for sterilization.


Tech II Daniel Robb preps and packages surgical instrumentation to undergo high-temperature sterilization.


Tech II Charles Jones places a sterile tray inside of the sterile storage area.


Tech I Naiome Jean Philippe prepares to start cart washer.


Tech II Michele Ginn checks in prep-and-pack work area.


14 May 2021 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • hpnonline.com


Tech I Season Whiting prepares sinks to begin decontamination process.


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