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CS CONNECTION Sponsored by


cal and national. Regardless of the type of facility, the science of decontamination and sterilization remains the same and we need to develop education that can reach everyone.”


Enlist an educator


“A key element for improving education and training in the central service and ster- ile processing departments is the presence of an educator,” said Casey Czarnowski, BA, CRCST, CIS, CER, SPD Educator, Fargo, ND “The influence of an educator, whether dedicated or shared with another department, will be most evident in the area of standardization. An educator has the time to study industry stan- dards, track industry


Casey Czarnowski


changes, and communicate with other professionals in the CS/SPD discipline and in the industry at large. The educator has the expertise to organize and effec- tively deliver the message of best practice to the technicians in their department. In this way, standards and changes are communicated to CS/SPD staff from one consistent source, supported by published standards and knowledge from subject matter experts in the field.” According to Czarnowski, one of the best things he and his team have done at their facility is to establish a team of titled and compensated preceptors. Supported by the educator, preceptors carry out the daily training of technicians. These dedicated preceptors ensure that new staff can eas- ily and immediately get answers to their questions, feel supported in the complex work of sterile processing and inventory management, and successfully acclimate to their facility.


“Through constant communication, the educator and preceptors work together to standardize their message to staff, ensur- ing that the work of the department is done in accordance with industry standards and with best practices in mind,” said Czarnowski. Loraine Durigan, CRCST, CHL, CIS, CER, Materials Manager and CS Supervisor, Flor- ida Hospital, believes every healthcare orga- nization should have a dedicated CS/SPD edu- cator on staff. She notes that the educator should be certified as a Certified


Loraine Durigan


Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) or Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Tech (CSPDT), at a mini- mum, and he or she should hold a second certification, such as a Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) or Certified Endoscope Re- processor (CER), to demonstrate his or her dedication to the profession. Furthermore, Durigan says the educator must have the flexibility to attend educational seminars, including the IAHCSMM Annual Confer- ence and Expo.


“You have to have a dedicated CS educa- tor on your payroll because the demands of the day-to-day process in a sterile pro- cessing department doesn’t allow a work- ing supervisor the ability to effectively train staff on any new processes, products and technology,” said Durigan. Franklin (The SPD Network) believes having a dedicated clinical educator specifically for the sterile processing de- partment is an invaluable asset that can significantly improve department com- petency and confidence. He notes how an educator can effectively provide staff with the knowledge needed to success- fully perform their duties in accordance with industry standards and regulations. “Implementing such role can have a last-


ing and profound effect,” said Franklin. “Most importantly, I am a huge advocate for techs to become certified. Not only is mandatory certification gaining traction, but many techs that are certified tend to have a greater sense of pride and are likely to be more engaged in their work. Certification also requires individuals to actively seek out educational opportunities in order to maintain their credentials, this keeps techs on their toes and up to date.”


Engage with vendors “In an ideal world having a sterile pro- cessing educator on staff would be a great way to ensure all SPD employees stay up to date on the latest education and standards. However, many facilities may not have the budget for such a position,” said Mark Duro, Director of Education, Crosstex. “It is still vital to keep staff


Mark Duro


up to date on education and training. If a designated education role is not possible management can rely on vendors and sup- pliers for educational programs pertaining to best practices and current standards.” “In addition, it is important to have in-service education through the manu-


34 August 2018 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • hpnonline.com


facturers of your surgical instruments, quality assurance products, reprocessing equipment, packaging/containment sys- tems and sterility assurance products. A rigorous education schedule will ensure staff is proficient with all aspects of repro- cessing,” Duro added.


As CBSPD Executive Commissioner Gail Law points out, many suppliers offer free continuing education programs for CS/SPD professionals. She states: “Recently I attended a seminar that was of- fered at a local hospital and hosted by a vendor. This seminar provided information on the updates and changes to the AAMI ST79 standards. The seminar also covered several other relevant sterile processing topics. This seminar was free of charge, provided current knowledge and offered continuing education credits. In addition to vendors offering educational seminars, sterile processing certification organizations such as the CBSPD provide web links for continuing education. Find- ing a mentor that is passionate about sterile processing will also present a wealth of information.” Durigan notes that her facility works very closely with its vendors and has taken advantage of any training opportunities they have to provide. Her advice to other CS/SPD professionals: “Work with the those vendors that have free CEs to offer but make sure the content is relevant to your department. Because we have no formal education programs for certification in sterile processing in our area, we work with one of our repair vendors who provides an online schooling program free for our uncertified techni- cians to gain the education and tools needed to sit for the IAHCSMM CRSCT exam.”


Gail Law


Sandra Countley, Marketing Manager, Surgical Asset Management, Aesculap, feels it is imperative that the CS/SPD field partner with their instru- ment vendors in order to improve education and training for its pro- fessionals. “Partnering with vendors on train- ing will not only enable


Sandra Countley


you to standardize your processes, but also customize your care and handling practices to fit the needs of your facility,” said Countley.


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