STERILE PROCESSING
Navigating case carts, kits and trays in the surgical services setting
by Kara Nadeau
Photo courtesy Turbett Surgical C
ase carts, kits, and trays are fundamental to supporting surgical services. Because they fl ow between the sterile processing department (SPD) and the operating room (OR), both teams play a role in their effective and safe use. SPD and OR professionals, along with product and service suppliers, comment on why case carts, kits, and trays should be a focus area of improvement in today’s healthcare environment, and how SPD and OR teams can work together to enhance the design and workfl ow of stocking and transporting this trio of tools between the two departments.
A focus on effi ciency and waste reduction Managing surgical instruments and supplies can be a time- and labor-intensive process – from storage, picking and packing, transport to the OR, and back to the SP department – but as Ian Loper, Vice President, DSI pointed out, it is usually not a target area for improvement. “The internal workfl ow within both the SPD and OR is one of the most underappreciated aspects of the hospital,” said Loper. “The workfl ow for a patient seems to always be the focus for the hospital but not so much for these two departments.” Loper and other experts say there is signifi cant opportunity to optimize these processes for greater effi ciency and less waste. “There is an urgent need to address today’s operational challenges in healthcare,” said Chris Chrzanowski, Manager, Healthcare Consulting Services, Asset Management, Aesculap. “Many other industries have already adopted lean processes to tackle similar issues. By adopting manufacturing practices similar to a factory concept, we could enhance many processes, including retrieval from the OR, decontamination, automated washing, instrument inspection, and delivery to the OR. This approach could automate certain operations, aiding in managing previously uncontrolled variables, such as staffi ng issues and procedural ineffi ciencies. It can contribute signifi cantly to achieving greater effi ciency while reducing costs and waste – a crucial focus area in today’s demanding healthcare environment.”
22 August 2023 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS •
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“Healthcare facilities have a tremendous need to become more
effi cient,” said Robert Turbett, co-founder, Turbett Surgical. “The pressures of operating costs rising put a signifi cant strain on hospital and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) budgets. If a healthcare facility is going to thrive in today’s market, it needs to examine its daily operating processes. Steps need to be taken to not only reduce operating costs but explore how to best utilize its operating room to generate revenue. Utilizing the employees in the most effi cient manner is a critical component, as staff is often the largest expense. Looking at ways to work smarter, not harder, is a key component to team satisfaction and retention.” “Having a complete procedural supply pick (kits, trays, single
sterile supplies, etc.) that is properly and safely delivered to the OR from the SPD will improve workfl ow, effi ciency and utili- zation of staffi ng resources,” said Cory Ezell, North America Sales Director for Belintra, partnering with O&M Halyard. “If this became a focus area in today’s healthcare environment, we’d see undeniable results – such as a decreased amount of time that the OR nurse has to pick additional supplies; reduced number of times the OR nurse has to go in and out of the OR suite for product picking; improved OR turnover time; and reduced product waste.” “Recognizing the need for more effi ciency in healthcare settings,
it is important to look at the process and ensure that the needs are clearly defi ned,” said Marcia Frieze, CEO Case Medical. “At Case Medical, we look to reduce inventory by avoiding unnecessary SKUs and standardizing products that can be used for multiple purposes. Our containers are universal, durable and designed for all current sterilization modalities. Our component parts are interchangeable, and our instrument chemistries are highly concentrated to reduce stock, avoid waste, and go safely into the wastewater stream.”
Six tips for SP/OR supply success
George Daetz, Director of Sales, Blickman Industries, Turbett, Ezell, Chrzanowski, Frieze and Loper offered the following tips
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