2 1
M AY 2 0 1 4 | S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
I N S T R U M E N T R E P R O C E S S I N G
figure, try to decrease that number, and document your progress over time.
But don't focus on specific rates. What's most important are the steps you're tak-
ing to limit immediate-use sterilization, which is why it's essential to document why
your staff resorted to the fast-tracking option. Are the same service lines running
the same instruments through immediate-use cycles during the same procedures? Is
immediate use often used during a particular surgeon's cases or during a particular
day of the week? Review those reasons routinely to identify trends that need cor-
recting, and work on decreasing those factors during documented risk assessments.
OSM
Ms. Seavey (
rose@sea veyhea lthca reconsulting .com
) is the president and CEO of
Seavey Healthcare Consulting in Arvada, Colo.
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