The importance of having facility-wide standardized systems for instrument processing.
The pandemic highlighted for healthcare organizations that proper preventive measures and safety protocols are imperative to prevent disease transmission. Healthcare practices are increasingly obtaining accreditation for their facilities to establish a standardized and safe workplace environment. When it comes to compliance, there are several key guidelines and regulations that healthcare industry workers should be aware of.
The Joint Commission provides health facility accreditation based on certain best practice recommendations and health standards, or regulations provided by organizations such as The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), The Association of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI, and The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
When looking to gain accreditation for a healthcare facility, it is important to assess the current state of its infection prevention standards. A broad, holistic approach to infection prevention ensures all bases are covered and positions instrument processing spaces to have a successful accreditation survey visit.
“When combined with diligent self-assessments, accreditation gives organizations confidence to know that they are meeting requirements and regulations. This can give both the organization, and the patient population it serves, confidence in the safety and sterility of reusable instruments,” according to Ben Hill, Marketing Manager, Midmark Corporation.
Holistic approach to infection prevention
In both acute and non-acute healthcare centers, infection prevention should be a key focus to keep healthcare workers and patients safe. Increased disease transmission associated with the COVID-19 pandemic reiterated that infection prevention is a crucial priority for healthcare facilities. Healthcare staff have continued to reassess infection prevention methods that were set in place during the pandemic. Now, as the healthcare world moves forward from the pandemic, organizations should consider if more evolved infection prevention tactics are necessary.
A comprehensive approach to infection prevention consists of five components: facility design, equipment design, data analytics, instrument processing areas, and access to sterilizers. Patient-centered workflow designs allow physicians to limit patient interaction and manage the process of work, reducing the potential for transmission.
“It is vital to implement an efficient, repeatable workflow in healthcare settings. Reducing the burden on staff and improving turnaround time for instruments should be top of mind. Monitoring (documentation) is a key aspect of the process and can help staff ensure that the proper workflow is being followed every time,” according to Hill.
According to Midmark, examples of facility design from a holistic approach perspective include the collaborative care model, which centralizes and consolidates the patient visit as much as possible, the self-rooming model that eliminates the need for a waiting room, and the on-stage/off-stage model that provides separate, dedicated corridors for caregivers and patients.
Five-step compliant workflow
There are five critical steps to standardizing instrument processing workflows according to the CDC. The first step includes receiving, cleaning, and decontamination. Reusable instruments should be placed in appropriate containers at the point of use, and then all items should be sorted, cleaned, and decontaminated of both macro and microscopic debris in a dedicated section of the processing area.
Second, cleaned items should be rinsed and dried thoroughly, and then inspected and wrapped, to maintain sterility. Then, in the sterilization area, there should be space for loading, unloading, and cooling of sterilizers. Finally, there should be an area where sterilization data is recorded and documented.
The CDC recommends that for each sterilization cycle, staff should record the type of sterilizer and cycle used, the load identification number, load contents, exposure parameters (such as time and temperature), and the results of mechanical, chemical, and biological monitoring. Storage areas should be covered and contain space for disposable and sterile items.
Organizing an instrument processing workflow through these steps allows staff to easily reproduce the process and ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and patients.
According to Hill, “The five critical steps, as outlined by the CDC, are best practices. These should be followed in conjunction with guidelines laid out by others such as AAMI and FDA. The five steps are critical because they set the foundation for an efficient and effective instrument processing workflow.”
Editor’s note: Repertoire would like to thank Midmark for its contribution to this article. Learn more about instrument processing workflow at midmark.com or call a Midmark representative today.