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B
ack when it was still called flashing, we sure were
doing a lot of it. As recently as 2011, we were flash-
sterilizing nearly half (44%) of our instruments here
at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai.
Yes, I know that's awfully high, especially for one of
the most prominent otolaryngology and ophthalmology hospitals in
the world, but we were flashing not because we wanted to, but
How We've (Nearly)
Eliminated Flashing
The New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai went from
flashing nearly half of its instruments to hardly any.
Editha Esquieres, RN, MHA, CNOR | New York, N.Y.
• DANGEROUS SHORTCUTS Nurses and techs are likely to cut corners in the cleaning process when they flash-sterilize unwrapped instruments.
