SELF-STUDY SERIES


ensure that your decontamination area is up to code in terms of physical param- eters like negative air pressure, ambi- ent temperature, and a dirty-to-clean workfl ow. Next, have the appropriate personal protective equipment available and confi rm that all staff can properly put on and remove the PPE. Ensure that task lighting is appropriate and work sur- faces and equipment provide ergonomic support. It may also be worthwhile to consider a pass-through window so that manually cleaned and rinsed items can be passed directly through to the prep and pack area.


Follow instructions


Once the physical parameters are met, all IFU should be reviewed to ensure that surgical instruments are being effectively cleaned according to their respective instructions. IFU for all the instruments in the department’s inventory should be eas- ily available and accessible to technicians, whether in paper form or electronically. Next, ensure that all cleaning tools, like brushes, are appropriate and available, and review the tools’ IFU. Be sure that all instructions for cleaning and disinfecting each tool are being followed. Also, review the IFU for the cleaning chemistries being used in the department. Check to make sure technicians are meeting temperature, material compatibility and application requirements.


To assure that instructions are followed completely and consistently, they must be fully understood. If a device’s instruc- tions are not being followed, a tutorial may be called for to refresh everyone on the IFU. And whenever new instru- ments or manufacturers are introduced to the sterile processing department, an


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in-service should be provided on the instructions to assure proper processing of the new items.


Train staff well In many departments, change is constant. SPD staff may change, and when techni- cians leave, their reprocessing knowledge specifi c to your department leaves with them. New people will have to learn your way of doing things. Instruments may change or be replaced with newer versions. When surgeons request new devices, everyone needs to learn how to reprocess them. To address ongoing changes, it’s critical to ensure that you have a robust competency-based educa- tion and training program in place, and that you regularly audit or inspect for compliance. Your competency program should be based on your department and facility policies and procedures and each specifi c device’s IFU. It’s also helpful to have a record-keeping method in place to verify competency and document completed training and education. This can be recorded in your tray tracking system or on paper. Competencies should be performed


on an annual basis by a department educator or leader. If your department and team are large, it can be helpful to perform competency reviews on each employee’s date-of-hire anniversary to avoid having to evaluate a large group all at one time. Competency checklists must also be reviewed and revised/updated periodically to keep up with changing instrumentation and IFU.


Engage your stakeholders Actively engaging other departments that depend, in part, on your success can also


prove to be extremely benefi cial. Their knowledge, expertise and feedback can add value and help the SPD align with infection control standards and guide- lines. Experts to collaborate with include representatives from infection control/ prevention, facilities, surgical services, and patientstaff safety.


Manual cleaning matters Improving patient safety is everybody’s responsibility in a healthcare facility. However, reprocessing teams charged with disinfecting reusable surgical and diagnostic devices used on numerous patients are even more accountable for protecting those patients by doing their jobs extremely well. Because the health and safety of patients and staff are at stake, manual cleaning cannot be taken lightly. It’s the first and most critical step in the decontamination/sterilization cycle, and if it’s not performed well, every step that follows is at risk of failing to achieve a device that’s safe for reuse. Hospital leaders who invest in SPD education, people and resources will help ensure a successful patient outcome and a healthy bottom line for the hospital. But never forget that optimal patient safety also rests in each technician’s two hands. HPN


References:


1. Chobin, N. (2019). Chapter 5/Introduction. In N. Chobin (Ed.), The Basics of Sterile Processing (7th ed., pp. 106–106). Sterile Processing University LLC.


2. Baker, N. (2019, September 30). Sterile Processing Prob- lems: Hai & SSI rates caused by dirty Instruments. Specialty- Care. Retrieved January 3, 2022, from https://specialtycareus. com/sterile-processing-problems-hai-ssi-rates-caused-by-dirty- instruments/


3. Marketing, E., Marketing, E., & Author: (2018, July 11). Financial impact of surgical site infections (SSIS). Eloquest Healthcare, Inc. Retrieved December 30, 2021, from https:// eloquesthealthcare.com/2018/07/11/financial-impact-of- surgical-site-infections-ssis/


4. Rettner, R. (2019, June 20) Dirty Surgical Instruments Tied to Hundreds of Infections at Colorado Hospital, Law- suit Alleges Retrieved January 25, 0022 from https://www. livescience.com/65762-dirty-surgical-instruments-infections- lawsuit.html


Cody McElroy is the man- ager of sterile processing and high-level disinfection at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, a Level One trauma center with over 500 beds. Cody has a BBA from Kent State


Figure 2: Staff must be competent in all aspects of cleaning and inspection of surgical instrumentation.


48 March 2022 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • hpnonline.com


University and an MBA from Cleveland State University. He also holds CSPDT and CSPM certifications from CBSPD. Cody also teaches the sterile processing program at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio.


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