search.noResults

search.searching

dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
INSTRUMENTAL NEWS by Kara Nadeau I


n the fast-paced, demanding and often under-resourced central sterile/sterile processing department (CS/SPD) en- vironment, it can be extremely challenging to ensure process quality and the delivery of effective, safe and sterilized instruments and devices to clinical care areas. This article explores the spectrum of quality/ sterility assurance best practices – from the easiest and most expedient to implement to the most difficult but highly valuable – and presents some new products and ser- vice offerings designed to help enhance the quality and safety of CS/SPD operations.


IFUs and Industry Standards Manufacturer instructions for use (IFU) and industry standards are there to guide CS/SPD professionals at each stage of the process. Ryan Lewis, MD, MHA, MPH, Senior Director Medical Affairs and Medical Safety at ASP, explains how, for hydrogen peroxide sterilization, a combination of validation testing documented in IFUs and routine monitoring to verify quality/ sterility assurance are generally part of a quality assurance program.1


He references


the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Association for the Advance- ment of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) ST58:2013 (R) 2018, “Chemical sterilization and high-level disinfection in health care facilities.”


“Best practices strive to achieve the high- est standard of care,” said Lewis. Jeremy Yarwood, PhD Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Pathology, Vice President of R&D at ASP, references AAMI ST58 section 9.5, which recommends a combination of parametric monitoring, chemical indicators and biological indica- tors/process challenge devices. “This combination provides the most


complete picture for process monitoring of sterilizers,” said Yarwood. “Of these moni- tors, a process challenge device (PCD) provides the best indication of sterility assurance by providing a challenge greater than or equal to the most difficult items routinely processed (AAMI ST58, section 9.5.4.1). As such, we reference the AAMI ST58, section 9.5.4.3 recommendation to use a PCD at least daily, but preferably in every sterilization cycle.”1


Focus on the people


When asked for best practices related to quality/sterility assurance in the CS/SPD, many of those interviewed for this article cited factors related to the CS/SPD profes- sionals themselves, including the need for executive-level recognition and training, and the team’s ability to communicate and collaborate with other healthcare organiza- tion stakeholders.


Barbara Ann Harmer, MHA, BSN, RN, Vice President of Clinical Services, In-


Supervisor engagement


“The most value-added quality assurance best practice I recommend is both the easi- est and the hardest – supervisor engage- ment in employee performance,” said John Kimsey, National Director, Professional Services, STERIS. “We readily use the term ‘Leadership Routines’ to describe the routine tasks and activities an SPD leader should do on a regular basis to ensure quality products and services are being


novative Sterilization Technologies (IST), describes how a CS/SPD staff member becomes a best performer in his or her department: “From a best practice model, person- nel who work in a CS/SPD should be oriented to their department’s policies/ procedures and processes,” said Harmer. “Each staff member should be competent to perform the tasks that he/she is asked to carry out. Competency can be observed and witnessed in many different ways but one of the best methods to use is unan- nounced direct observation. Inservicing should be ongoing with staff having the ability to review the material and then ask questions after they have had an opportu- nity to digest the material. And lastly, the performance evaluation is used as a tool to assist with recognizing achievements and areas for improvement while setting future goals and targets.”


CS CONNECTION Sponsored by The quandary of assuring quality


Examples of dirty/damaged instruments 28 January 2020 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • hpnonline.com


Photos courtesy: SpecialtyCare Page 30


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  |  Page 55  |  Page 56