Keep quality records.
A key element of maintaining proper-
ly cared for scopes and having them safe for use on patients is
keeping excellent quality monitoring records, says Ms. Crnkovich.
Specific and special attention to detail is a key element in following
the guidelines for reprocessing and proper hang time. Each person in
the department should receive training and be competent in endo-
scope reprocessing. This should happen on an annual basis with
records to match paperwork/e-files. If your process gets updated, be
sure to have an addendum to your competencies and a sign off sheet
by all staff, including the date. The following year those updates
would be included in your competencies.
Point-of-use clean before disinfection.
It's critical to
adequately clean flexible endoscopes at the point-of-use before
disinfection. This step ensures that you remove bioburden from the
scope's surfaces and channels before it's able to multiply and form
biofilm, says Arlene Bush, CRCST, supervisor of sterile processing
and high-level disinfection at Parrish Medical Center in Titusvile, Fla.
When considering a point-of-use cleaner, always review the original
equipment manufacturer's instructions for use for each scope in ques-
tion. Cleaning chemistries can differ depending on the specific scope.
Using the wrong point-of-use cleaner could harm your scope. It could
also create a biofilm on the scope, which makes cleaning harder.
Properly transport clean and dirty scopes.
Gone are
the days when GI techs could snatch a scope from the storage
cabinet and carry it right into the room, holding the scope against
their body. Transport bins have now become the norm in GI suites,
and must be big enough so the endoscope can fit without being dam-
aged, says Ms. Bush. When transporting contaminated scopes, be sure
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