quickly and safely as possible. That could cause problems for getting
the instruments back to sterile processing without damaging them. To
prevent that from happening, you can use a handoff sheet like the one
they designed at UConn Health Center in Farmington, Conn.
It's a quick, 1-minute document where the OR tech lists the surgeon,
the room, the time, the technician and what instrument is damaged.
The 8 line-item handoff sheet asks questions like:
• Did you separate your delicates?
• Did you separate your sharps?
• Did you spray down with enzymatics?
• Are there any instruments that have to go out for repair, or that
have to be turned over?
"We get the sheets with the case cart and if there is a problem, we
have that information to refer to," says Peter Daigle, supervisor of
sterile processing at UConn Health Center. "We know who did what,
so we can correct the problem if it happens again. Doing this helps
the instruments not get damaged in transport. It's a preventive
approach to saving money and it's worked out good for us."
You can also use a tagging system to note if an instrument has been
damaged and needs to go out for repair. At UConn Health Center, the
OR tech writes things like "This item is damaged" or "Send out for
repair" on the tags — providing as much detail as possible for sterile
processing — then attaches them to the instrument in question.
Sterile processing then writes up the specifics of the problem before
sending the instruments out for repair.
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