5 6
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 | M AY 2 0 1 4
sary.
4. Policies for consistency
Reprocessing has always played a key role in a surgical facility's operations.
In recent years, however, after a few high-profile, cross-contamination-
sparked patient outbreaks that drew authorities' attention to infection pre-
vention practices, the people who work in the basement have had a bigger
stake in what's going on.
Take as an example how surveyors have stepped up their game with regard
to sterile processing. They used to drop by to see if there were puddles on
the floor, if the ceiling tiles were clean. Now it's: "Let's see your EtO. Have
you tested your staff's competencies? Are all of your techs certified? Show us
your maintenance records." The questions are more intense now that they've
seen the impact that a less-than-thorough cleaning process can have.
It's incumbent upon you to take responsibility for your process.
Establishing and maintaining policies to govern that process, whether or not
surveyors are watching, is at the foundation of consistent — and consistently
compliant — behavior. The long days and
turnaround pressures of sterile processing
can be an invitation to find a shortcut,
which you need to avoid at all costs.
One situation that tends to cause prob-
lems for central sterile services every-
where is the arrival of loaner instruments
for upcoming cases. You need to reprocess
in your facility anything that comes in on
loan from an external source before it can
be used, which means you need access to those items in a timely manner.
The arrival of a tray the night before the case is not sufficient. That's where a
policy that requires the delivery of loaner instruments 48 hours ahead of time
or for frequently loaned items to remain on site can keep reprocessing on the
R E P R O C E S S I N G
CHECK IT OUT
Reprocessing equipment
should be tested and
logged daily to ensure
proper functioning.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
1405_InfectionControl_Layout 1 5/2/14 11:06 AM Page 56
