HEALTHCAREPURCHASING EWS
December 2022 The self-study lesson on this central service topic was developed by 3M Health Care. The lessons are administered by Endeavor Healthcare Media.
Earn CEUs After careful study of the lesson, complete the examination at the end of this section. Mail the completed test and scoring fee to Healthcare Purchasing News for grading. We will notify you if you have a passing score of 70% or higher, and you will receive a certifi cate of completion within 30 days. Previous lessons are available at
www.hpnonline.com.
Certifi cation The CBSPD (Certifi cation Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution) has pre-approved this in-service for one (1) contact hour for a period of fi ve (5) years from the date of original publication. Successful
completion of the lesson and post-test must be documented by facility management and those records maintained by the individual until recertifi cation is required. DO NOT SEND LES- SON OR TEST TO CBSPD. For additional infor- mation regarding certifi cation, contact CBSPD - 148 Main Street, Suite C-1, Lebanon, NJ 08833 •
www.cbspd.net.
HSPA (Healthcare Sterile Processing Associa- tion,
https://myhspa.org) ) has pre-approved this in-service for 1.0 Continuing Education Credits for a period of three years, until November 4, 2025. The approval number for this lesson is 3M-HPN 220411.
For more information, direct any questions to Healthcare Purchasing News (941) 259-0832.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1.) Determine the foundations for sound quality management systems.
2.) Understand the relationship between quality assurance and effi ciency.
3.) Execute effective quality management strategy planning sessions.
Sponsored by:
N Education nation: Creating Sterile Processing Department SOPs
SELF-STUDY SERIES Sponsored by Sarah B. Cruz, CSPDT, CRCST, CHL T
he Sterile Processing (SP) department has its own soundtrack. The sound of the cart washer door opening, the
rumblings of a full autoclave truck being pulled, and even the phone ringing are con- tributors to the Sterile Processing album. Even if we aren’t in the department while we read this, some of us may think we hear the sterilizer beeping now. The hustle and bustle of the department professionals are a part of this chorus. Banter about weekend plans, discussion about a possible wet load, and conversations between the SP and the Operating Room (OR) happen regularly. The tone and attitude that we use within
our department refl ects our standard operat ing procedures (SOPs). SOPs allow for the department and its professionals to work together because everyone knows what goals they are working towards. They are the difference between a reactive situation that has an outcome and a high-pressure moment with a proactive solution. As a vital part of a Sterile Processing department’s quality management system (QMS), SOPs encour age everyone to move towards a solution together via clear expectations. The actions of the department rely upon SOPs to create harmony and fl ow towards positive patient safety outcomes.
The FAQ of SOPs Standard operating procedures are the instructions that outline how to perform a certain process. The idea is that if the SOP is performed the same way, every time, then the same outcome can be expected. Therefore, they are an integral part of any effective quality management system. While the QMS addresses the needs of the orga nization (in this case the department), the SOPs outline the factors that contribute to the overall success of the department. SOPs have a direct impact on patient safety
because they are designed to guide the pro- fessionals towards a singular outcome. SOPs are a high-level overview of a process, which is why they should not be confused with exact or instructional step-by-step processes or “how-tos”. The main objective of an SOP
36 December 2022 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS •
hpnonline.com
is that all parties involved are made privy to the information necessary to perform said task effectively.
Standard operating procedures are designed to help break down the most com- plex processes so that even new technicians know the desired outcome of their task². There is no limit as to the number of SOPs that can be assigned in a Sterile Processing department. However, this does not neces- sarily mean that a department with hun- dreds of SOPs will operate more effectively than a department with fi fty. In the case of an SOP, “effectiveness” is determined by the ability to perform a task consistently. An SOP is effective when the end results are achieved consistently within range and when there is an increase in: ● Staff confi dence in process application ● Quality products ● Productivity ● Department safety These factors must be considered when determining the realistic outcome of an SOP. If even one area is lacking at the expense of another area to thrive, the SOP cannot be considered effective. For example, if a Sterile Processing pro- fessional can check ten instrument sets per hour on assembly, but the quality of each set decreases over time, the SOP is not effec- tive. This may call for the SOP creators to reevaluate how they are defi ning the term “productive” and to address what physical indicators they are using to indicate that one is being such. The SOP does not suggest that one area of the process is more impor- tant than another; rather it demonstrates why all areas must be considered equally important when building out the processes to achieve it.
This ushers in the evident reminder that
Sterile Processing professionals are humans, not machines. Machines don’t require con- fi dence or reassurance in their work perfor mance to maintain focus on their end goal. The parameters of what is or isn’t acceptable must provide a range that Sterile Processing professionals can work within and still be successful.
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