N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 9
S
ometimes you have to think outside
the box, or in this case, the sterile pro-
cessing department. Ideally, you want
to transport dirty instruments in case carts,
but they're expensive. We've found a cheaper
alternative: steam table pans that we pur-
chased from a restaurant supply store. We ini-
tially wanted smaller perforated pans for ster-
ilizing instrument sets, an idea that brought us
to the restaurant depot in the first place. When
we saw larger pans with domed lids, though,
we knew they'd be perfect to transport dirty
instruments. So we bought 6 at less than $50
each.
The pans have been a great success on all
fronts. For starters, they're much sturdier than plastic bins, securely
containing all instruments while sitting on top of our carts so no one
is at risk of exposure in passing. They're also very easy to clean, tak-
ing only 10 minutes in our washer after each use. Plus, they accelerate
instrument removal after a case. Once the instruments are in, we
spray them with an enzymatic foam cleaner and secure the lids, and
the process starts. These pans add great value to our process for a
low cost, and we don't see them being replaced any time soon.
(Editor's note: A biohazardous label should be visible on the outside
of the pans.)
Karen Gabbert, RN
Surgery Center of Kansas
Wichita, Kan.
karengabbert@koc-pa.com
Transport Used Instruments in Restaurant Pans
• CATERING CASE CARTS These stainless steel pans are
sturdy, secure and simple to reprocess.
Karen
Gabbert,
RN
