tion to OR nurses and surgical technicians on proper dirty instrument
initial cleaning and preparation for transport.
4
Improved and standardized workflows. We added an addi-
tional sink to create a 3-sink system of soaking, cleaning and
rinsing. This lets techs perform an initial rinse, followed by
hand-washing, and then a final rinse. We improved workstations by
organizing and stocking each station with uniform items needed for
processing. In addition to prioritizing sets to be cleaned, we also
reviewed and revised instrument sets — removing or adding instru-
ments — to reduce unnecessary instrument reprocessing based on
utilization data.
5
Safety checklists. What gets measured gets done, right? We
developed checklists to document sterilization tracking and
environmental safety in SPD. We created a competency check-
list for all elements of the decontamination and sterilization process
for soiled equipment. Staff complete the checklist with each set of
instruments they process.
6
Staffing changes. We changed leadership in SPD, replacing a
surgical tech with an RN to provide administrative support and
to perform professional-level administrative duties. We restruc-
tured shifts to accommodate changes in workload and hired addition-
al staff to support workload increases. We transferred the assistant
director of the OR to SPD to oversee 1 month of comprehensive ster-
ile processing process and procedures training for SPD staff who had
previously not undergone formal training. The goal was to educate
SPD staff on best practices based on AORN and AAMI guidelines.
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