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ing you an easy way to build this part of your sterility assurance documentation. Some tracking systems also include guided


sterilizer load building worflows, which lead staff through the process of building a load much like online retailers lead a cus- tomer through the steps needed to purchase an item (first enter your contact informa- tion, then your credit card, etc.). uided worflows allow staff to see what they have completed and what they have left to do, which can eliminate guesswork.


Testing, weight and compatibility compliance These types of systems also allow the user to create testing schedules so that staff are reminded and required to include biological tests and chemical indicator tests at certain times of the day. n the S, the software is designed to also require a biological test in every load containing implants. Some systems give you the ability to document tray weights for each set in your database, and the maximum weight for each sterilizer cycle. his feature gives you an easy way to tell if your sterilizer load is overweight.


Sterilizer compatibility checks can be


added in, to alert staff if they are about to add a set to a load with a cycle or sterilization method that’s incompatible with that tray. his helps assure that every tray is processed appropriately. ore advanced tracing systems include configurable or customizable workflows. These can be programmed to create a work- flow for the requirements of specific sets and endoscopes. They can guide staff through more complex procedures lie flexible endo- scope reprocessing or intricate and detailed decontamination procedures for specific types of sets. Steps are configurable so that SPD and scope processing professionals can design worflows that conform to industry standards and facility-specific guidelines. Some systems also allow you to configure each computer in your department for the work that is typically done at that computer. This workstation configuration allows a manager to specialize a computer for certain documentation, maing the process of find- ing the appropriate documentation screen much more efficient. As staff perform their guided work and progress through the screens, they are creat- ing your sterility assurance documentation. When technicians build sterilizer loads, document loaner orders, and complete guided worflows, tracing systems are also capturing who is doing the wor, the steps completed, test results and more. racing systems can help make the sterility assurance


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documentation process, which was histori- cally a separate activity, into an integrated part of the completed work.


Quality assurance tools Many of the same features of tracking sys- tems that help to create conforming work and documentation also help with quality assurance. uided worflows, features that document non-conforming quality, staff competency data, and sterility assurance documentation data provided by sterile processing systems all support continuous quality improvement efforts.


When a quality issue arises in your de-


partment, some sterile processing tracing systems allow you to identify the inferior event and which sets were affected. he program’s guided workflows contain pieces of information about the event such as potentially affected cases, the ability to associate an image portraying the issue, and the ability to notify managers or IP professionals if needed. Managers can use these quality features to document follow-up tasks and support root cause investigations.


Some systems also include staff compe- tency features that help ensure that only staff who are trained and competent to do work in certain areas of the software are able to complete that wor. hese features give managers the ability to create competency checlists they can use to review technician wor. racing systems can require that, based on competency, a staff member is a) not allowed to perform the task (in the case of new staff still in training), b) supervised for a particular tas, or c) free to perform that tas without supervision. Competency features can help support the work requirements for quality outcomes.


Other quality assurance features include the ability to document a department’s ambient temperature and humidity and to record the results of cleaning verification. Temperature and humidity monitoring provide environmental conditions data from various locations in the department. anag- ers can easily create reports of those readings to observe trends and perform corrective action before conditions move out of range. f readings are already out of range, some worflow software can help users identify which items in sterile storage are impacted and what actions to tae. For example, if there is a humidity spie, your system might be able to tell you which trays might need to be processed again according to your VAC and risk assessment requirements. Cleaning verification testing, such as A tests and residual soil tests for instruments and endoscopes, can be documented in trac- ing systems as verification of the quality of cleaning processes. These types of tests could be added to a configurable worflow or be scanned into the database.


Resource management efficiency and effectiveness Along with the quality of your processes and outcomes, sterile processing tracing systems can also help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your staffing function. Departments are dealing with increasingly complex instrumentation, the demands of surgical case schedules, and maintaining ef- ficient staffing, so its important that sterile processing technicians be focused on the most urgently needed items. This can help prevent delays in the OR. As discussed in the Healthcare Purchasing News article, Ready, set go: Staying on track with OR scheduling, turnover,2


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hpnonline.com • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • May 2020 27


Self-Study Test Answers: 1. D, 2. D, 3. B, 4. A, 5. D, 6. B, 7. A, 8. D, 9. B, 10. D


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