STERILE PROCESSING
When she joined Moffi tt Cancer Center as Sterile Processing Manager, she wanted to take the same approach, leveraging Metro’s MetroMax qwikTRAK fl oor track shelving to maximize storage capacity while maintaining wrapped tray integrity by storing trays individually.
When asked how she secured leadership approval and resources to recreate the SPD storage space with Metro and its products, Ramirez stated, “I pitched a good case. The reality is that stacked trays will have holes. That is the consequence. Making them real- ize the ‘why’ behind why we needed single trays on the shelves was key for me. The ratio to the holes in the wrap has gone down signifi cantly just by this work alone. And they see that.” Ramirez’s advice to other sterile processing managers when making the switch in tray storage is “Involve your team. I am a hands-on manager. Involving the technicians and getting their input was critical. We measured every shelf and made it exact to the size of the tray so we wouldn’t lose any space.” Dave Salus, market manager, Healthcare Division, Metro added, “It’s important to consider three aspects of instrument pack stor- age. For wrapped packs, the material of construction or surface must be smooth and free of sharp edges that can snag or tear the wrap material.” Salus continued, “Storage fl exibility is key to achieving the
DSI Modu-Max CTS
units for instrument set storage at UPMC
space-saving, easy to assemble and use, and easy to clean because of their design.
“You want to make sure you have room for growth,” Weir advised other SP teams when renovating storage space and select- ing racks. “That is something most hospitals don’t realize. Most storage rack companies will give you 2% growth, but that capacity is already full by the time of construction, or the trays are reallotted. I told DSI I needed 10-15% growth and we got 20%. By the time we were done we knew we needed that space.” Weir’s advice to other SP teams when selecting vendors for containers and racks is “Customer service is the most important factor. These are capital expenses; therefore, the vendors should be there onsite to support your team. When one hospital converts, all the other hospitals in the system will look at how well the installation went and the quality of customer service provided.” Weir continued, “With the rigid pans, the vendor’s regional manager and local reps unloaded the products, broke them down and helped us get them into circulation. If the vendor didn’t provide this level of support, I would never buy from that company again. The rack conversion was just as smooth. DSI worked alongside our team, and we got the installation done in only three days.” DSI vice president, Ian Loper, said, “The storage equipment
inside the four walls of an SPD is equally as important as the sterile instrumentation being stored in the department. This comparison equates to high importance. Without the right equipment, the people in the department can’t function as safely and effi ciently as they should be, reducing employee morale and increasing costs. Workfl ow bottlenecks, disorganized storage, compliance risks, employee safety, infection control, and wasted space are all directly related to the design and functionality of the storage equipment being used within the room. The storage area often takes up the most space within an SPD so why not do everything possible to optimize and upgrade the space?”
Shelving to eliminate stack at Moffi tt Cancer Center Ramirez made the switch from stacking wrapped trays to indi- vidually shelving wrapped trays at previous facilities and saw the benefi ts in terms of protecting trays from wrap breaches.
32 October 2023 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS •
hpnonline.com
most effi cient use of the storage space available. Longer shelves with adjustable dividers provide the fl exibility to size the storage compartment to the pack size, whereas narrow shelves with fi xed uprights every 15 inches leave much unused space surrounding smaller packs or offer no option for oversized containers. Storage solutions utilizing antimicrobial properties will help keep the storage compartments cleaner between cleanings.”
MetroMax I
antimicrobial shelving
Continuous change drives broadening solutions Change is continuous in both the OR and SP department, whether it is additional instrumentation for a new surgeon or specialty, or a shift where procedures and reprocessing are performed. Here are some ways container and cart suppliers are helping these teams adapt to change.
Addressing space constraints in ASCs During her career, Barbara Ann Harmer, MHA, BSN, RN, vice president of Clinical Services, Innovative Sterilization Technologies (IST), has been involved in the construction of 45 ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) across the U.S. She commented on how most ASCs were designed with very limited instrument
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