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INSTRUMENTAL NEWS CS CONNECTION


Loaner tray solutions The central sterile/sterile processing department (CS/SPD) at Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Fort Gordon, GA. found the storage of loaner instrument trays to be the greatest challenge to their space constraints. They had been steril- izing these trays using sterilization wrap, and then stacking the wrapped trays on top of one another because there was simply no room to store them otherwise. Two years ago, they switched from using wrap


to rigid containers for loaner tray sterilization. According to the facility’s Operating Room/ Sterile Processing Supply Chain Manager, Chuck DePreker, this change has allowed them to work within their space constraints without jeopardiz- ing the sterile integrity of the instruments. “When you stack wrapped trays it com-


promises the micro barrier and can lead to perforations,” said DePreker. “Rigid containers you can stack one on top of the other without compromising anything. This has enabled us to work effectively and safely within our current space, and supports industry best practices.” The CS/SPD at Eisenhower Army Medical Cen-


ter has also put into place an improved process for managing loaner trays. Whereas before the vendor representatives would have to search around for their trays following use, today the facility has in place a designated area where they store loaner trays following decontamination. “Loaner trays are staged in a single, user-


friendly location so vendors know exactly where to find them,” said DePreker. “It is a simple solu- tion but one that has helped tremendously with process efficiency.” In addition, DePreker and his team have been


carefully analyzing surgical instrument inventory to determine which instruments are no longer in use and therefore taking up valuable space.


ST79:2017 is reorganized and easier to use The new ST79:2017 was developed by steriliza- tion and manufacturing professionals and is designed to help: •Ensure safety at every step of the sterilization process for medical devices; •Assure continuous maintenance and proper sterilization practices of processed items across multiple facility departments (i.e., OR, ER); •Substantiate the need for equipment upgrades to meet federal guidelines that reduce potential citations; •Stay in compliance with the latest industry standards and regulatory bodies; •Support the delivery of properly processed medical devices critical to optimizing patients’ health; and, •Guide personnel toward desirable performance objectives. The new ST79:2017 is easier to reference and has been reorganized into topical groupings. Order from the AAMI store at www.aami.org.


Getting a handle on instrument storage


by Kara Nadeau


ffectively processing surgical in- struments is itself a tremendous challenge where central sterile/ sterile processing department (CS/SPD) professionals must employ a variety of skills (e.g., science, manufacturing prin- ciples, operations, customer relations, etc.) to get the job done. And the responsibility doesn’t end when a product is sterilized — CS/SPD staff members have to ensure that instruments are stored and then transported to the operating room (OR) in a way that protects them from damage and maintains their sterility, often within the limitations of tight, outdated spaces. Another important consideration is protecting staff members from harm. For example, while the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumenta- tion’s (AAMI) guidelines state that no loaded tray should be heavier than 25 pounds, it’s not uncommon for CS/SPD professionals to handle orthopedic trays that are far heavier.


E


To keep instruments protected and free of contaminates during storage and transport, and protect CS/SPD technicians from on-the-job injuries, there are many options available.


Take holistic approach to storage and transport According to Case Medical CEO Marcia Frieze, because CS/SPD staff face many challenges when containing and storing surgical instruments — instrument dam- age, sterility maintenance, turnaround, identification of contents, transport, staff and patient safety — they must take a “360-degree approach” that addresses all of these issues.


“At Case Medical, we take a holistic ap- proach to containers and storage solutions by considering how products are used and to ensure that information is readily avail- able to address any concern,” said Frieze. “What is critical is proper reprocessing of items and maintaining the sterility of these items until they are used for patient care.” Case Medical offers a complete set of solutions that support sterility main- tenance during storage and transport. This includes:


32 October 2017 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • hpnonline.com


• Containers that are universal, corrosion resistant and compatible with all steriliz- ers and devices based on manufacturers’ instructions for use (IFU).


• Case carts that are designed for containers and supplies to fit properly, and have perforated, smooth shelves (no wire). This design feature avoids tears when wrapped sets are pulled or placed in storage.


• Disposition monitor with locking feature that differentiates “clean” and “biohaz- ard” or used sets placed in closed case carts.


• Tamper evident seals that not only secure the container contents, but can also identify processed sets that are ready to go and a biohazard seal to identify those that are soiled and must be reprocessed.


• CaseTrak360 software program, which provides tracking, tracing and instruc- tions throughout the reprocessing cycle. Sets are identified and labeled and then tracked via 2D barcodes using the CaseTrak360 solution.


Case Medical instrument storage & sterilization products


Maximize your space Many CS/SPD professionals said their greatest challenge is a lack of space needed to contain and store insrtuments properly. Spaces built years or decades ago often cannot accommodate the growing num- ber of surgical instruments required by today’s ORs. “When a department is loaded with


instrument sets and sterile supplies it impacts the workflow within the depart- ment,” said Ian Loper, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for DSI. “Blue wraps are then stacked on top of one another mak-


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