STERILE PROCESSING


to the basics and doing what we know works best in our profession. I have also seen more recognition on what Sterile Processing does in healthcare facilities. This is the time to embrace that for posi- tive changes in our pay, education and certification.”


While the roles and responsibilities of CS/SPD professionals have changed over the years, many departments are still operating on outdated policies according to Bonner. Over the past two years, he has worked with 15 sterile processing teams across the country to update their policies and procedures, including salary updates that reflect cost of living and the increasingly advanced skills required to perform reprocessing on today’s complex instrumentation.


“Hospitals are still working off CS/ SPD policies set in the 1990s/early 2000s, including pay structures set decades ago,” said Bonner. “Many have never even thought about updating them because they do not have a CS/SPD educator or manager to guide them, or leaders have been promoted from within and have limited visibility to what is happening to the field outside of their four walls. For those hospitals unwilling to change I ask, ‘If Joint Commission came into your facil- ity today would you be able to tell them your CSSPD policies are up-to-date” Amevor has been a Sterile Technician


Manager been for 11 years and frequently consults with U.S. CS/SPD departments, both remote and on-site, providing coaching, project management and other services.


“You need someone very knowledge- able to update the policies and a good team to help ensure they are passed through,” he said. “Policies must go through review from so many different committees within the hospital and are typically approved by someone not in sterile processing. CS/SPD leaders must be prepared to answer questions from these stakeholders as to why things must be done in a certain way.”


Salaries need to keep pace with tech- nological development, according to Prudent. “As technology of instruments and complexity of cleaning/sterilizing equipment evolves, the amount of knowl- edge and work increases for the Sterile Processing technician,” she said. “Salaries have increased but so have the other [sala- ries] throughout the employment scene. I feel that the increases that happened at the beginning of the pandemic were timely and much needed. The problem is that time has elapsed, and we are now lagging behind again.”


CS/SPD technology and process trends HPN continues to track growing trends in the CS/SPD profession, asking survey respondents if they have implemented new and emerging technologies and pro- cesses aimed at reprocessing effectiveness, efficiency and safety. Here is what those surveyed reported this year: • Big changes in IFU methodology: The most significant reported change was in instructions for use (IFU) methodology, with 16% of those surveyed saying their facilities have made changes, which is


double the number from last year (). Below are some of the reported changes:


o eviewing IFUs prior to purchasing new products


o Referring vendors and physicians to IFUs when discrepancies arise


o IFUs required for all loaner sets


o The addition of new sterilization, extended wash and ultrasonic cycles


o Efforts to convince leadership that other departments beyond the CS/SPD are


also responsible for following IFUs


• Track-and-trace system usage holds steady: The majority of those surveyed


TM


hpnonline.com • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • March 2022 43 2203HPN_CygnusMedical.indd 1 1/25/22 10:34 AM


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60