SPD Transformation : An Inevitability Long Overdue
Implementing technology can help supplement some of the labor and performing noncritical tasks can increase efficiencies , reduce the potential for errors , standardize processes , and promote patient safety .”
By Mary Olivera , MHA , CRCST , CHL , FCS
Imagine the first day you walked into a sterile processing department ( SPD ) as a brand-new technician . Those who started in the field more than 30 years ago can easily understand the change .
Tasks were a lot simpler but had to be accomplished manually . Reprocessing equipment had a couple of cycles , and the only manufactured sterility test available was a long-term biological test . Departments were responsible for distributing supplies and mobile patient equipment to the nursing units and reprocessing all surgical instrumentation for the operating room ( OR ). In some cases , central supply ( CS ) ( as we used to call it ) was also responsible for distributing the linen throughout the hospital and making OR packs for procedures . Most instruments and various supplies , such as glass syringes and needles , were reusable . CS technicians were responsible for sharpening needles on a diamond sharpening stone , and the most technology available perhaps was a flexible bronchoscope and other power equipment .
Departments were always found in the basement , as is true today , but we are beginning to see new SPDs located near surgical suites . In retrospect , when we started seeing robots in the OR , I wondered if robotic assistance in the sterile processing department would become a reality . Instead , although the rate of change is slow , we see new technology and spacious state-ofthe-art reprocessing departments evolve . Traditionally , the SPD has been the unseen surgical partner trusted to prepare trays for surgery . With the allocation of capital dollars toward hospital improvements , the sterile processing department is often neglected . Yet , at the same time , the OR advancements in technology lead hospitals to build suites resembling a modern spacecraft control panel .
Change is the only sure thing in life , whether it is at work or home , and embracing new technology will help us transform our processes . But is it necessary to rebuild sterile processing departments and incorporate the latest technology ? Can artificial intelligence help us achieve Consistency , Accuracy , Reliability , Efficiency , and Safety ( CARES ) in sterile processing ? First , we need to understand how this technology can be beneficial in reducing errors and non-conformities .
• Consistency – Instrument-tracking technology has been used in the SPD for years . However , many hospitals continue to track and document instrument reprocessing manually .
The most significant disadvantage of manual tracking is inconsistency in documentation , illegible records , and the lack of documentation demonstrating a surgical set went through the appropriate steps in the cleaning process . Recommended practice and accrediting agencies require tracking the instrument process all the way through the patient . Each instrument load must document the details of each item processed , including items in sealable pouches .
Electronic systems using scanning labels provide consistent legible and traceable load content specifics . Following the manufacturer ’ s instructions for use ( IFU ) is essential to consistently follow the steps for cleaning , preparation , and sterilization validated by the manufacturer . However , many IFUs are complex