CS CONNECTION


Berg says manufacturers must engage with CS/SPD professionals when devel- oping new devices to ensure they can be effectively processed under real-world conditions. He states: “I am engaging with pretty much all of the major manufactur- ers advising them that before they make a product, during the product design and development phase, they must listen to the voice of the sterile processing profession. They are making the product for a clinician and patient, and that’s great. But they need to look at the sterile processing side of the cleaning and disinfection/sterilization of that product not just the clinical need.”


Hospital support of the CS/SPD In addition to manufacturer support, hospitals and their leadership must also support the CS/SPD through investments in technology, human capital and training, said Berg, stating: “Manufacturer IFUs are confusing enough, combined with the surgery/procedure schedule and the increasing needs of patients, they are only becoming more of a challenge for the reprocessing department. Technology, whether it is a scope or anything else we need to process, is getting more complex yet hospitals are struggling to keep up with the investment in the people, giving the time and resources necessary to effec- tively do their jobs.”


“All methods of microbial inactivation have some risk to them so it is imperative that staff be thoroughly trained with com- petencies verified initially and annually, on the use of any chemicals or sterilization methods in use,” said Chobin. “Steriliza- tion is not a given, there are multiple steps and if even one step is not performed cor- rectly, the entire process can be negated.” Another way that hospitals must sup- port their CS/SPDs is to include them in the product evaluation process. That way, the hospital will not procure a device that the CS/SPD does not have the resources to safely and effectively process. “I am operational manager of two large


facilities in Colorado and I have had a product hit my department that I can’t process or I can but it would have a major negative impact on CSSP workow,” said Berg. “That’s why it is important to have relationships with clinical and pur- chasing counterparts so when someone is buying something then we (CS/SPD) will have the opportunity to research the pro- cessing requirements prior to purchase.” Berg adds that manufacturers can play a role in this as well through a willingness to re-validate their products if a hospital does not have the HLD or sterilization modality specified in their IU.


hpnonline.com • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • December 2019 33 “I had an ER surgeon once request a


product that required EtO sterilization and we did not have that method,” said Berg. “I responded by saying that I was more than happy to process the device but this manufacturer doesn’t want me to do it with what I have here. So the surgeon called the company and asked if it would revalidate the product with the modality we had, or else he would select a different manufacturer’s product. The manufacturer agreed to revalidate and the surgeon was able to use this specific product.


“We don’t ever want to say no to a


product that could save a life, but we also don’t want to hurt a life by agreeing to a product that is too challenging to clean or for which we don’t have the necessary technology to process.” HPN


Reference


1. Multisociety guideline on reprocessing flexible GI endoscopes: 2016 update: https://www.asge.org/docs/default-source/ importfiles/publications_and_products/practice_guidelines/ doc-multisociety-guideline-on-reprocessing-flexible-gastroin- testinal.pdf


TM


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54