Trainee Andrew Ghens , CRCST , CIS , a supervisor in the central equipment distribution department of a California hospital , says that the numbers speak for themselves : “ Going from a 100 percent failure rate to a 100 percent passing rate , which held constant for 12 months after the study finished , should be enough for any educator or leader to see the value of this type of training program .” cover story
Trainees gather around to look at a defect found in an ERCP scope . Courtesy of Ofstead & Associates Inc ./ HSPA
Innovative Training Program Improves SPD Technicans ’ Mastery of Complex Skillsets
Hands-on learning has been found to be more effective than mere classroom instruction in many sectors , so it ’ s no surprise that researchers continue to see promising results among students who have the advantage of honing real-world skillsets . But it ’ s not often that a novel model for training sterile processing professionals accomplishes such an impressive success rate for its target learning objectives .
A recent pilot study conducted by Ofstead & Associates Inc . and underwritten by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association ( HSPA ) Foundation documented that trainees ’ test scores , scope-defect identification skills and competencies all improved significantly and confidence in their abilities remained high after training .
Trainee Andrew Ghens , CRCST , CIS , a supervisor in the central equipment distribution department of a California hospital , says that the numbers speak for themselves : “ Going from a 100 percent failure rate to a 100 percent passing rate , which held constant for 12 months after the study finished , should be enough for any educator or leader to see the value of this type of training program .” cover story
By Kelly M . Pyrek
As the healthcare industry evolves in complexity , so do the clinical tools and technology used to deliver lifesaving care . The hospital sterile processing department ( SPD ) — tasked with decontaminating , cleaning , disinfecting , sterilizing and packaging these sophisticated medical and surgical instruments and devices -- is one of the most essential components of safeguarding patient safety and preventing infections . However , this department has also wrestled with underfunding , understaffing and inadequate resourcing , which can severely impact education and training of SPD technicians .
The objective of the HSPA-Ofstead pilot program was to develop and evaluate a new training model that supports mastery and retention of complex key skills . As Ofstead , et al . ( 2023 ) report , their model focused on visual inspection of endoscopes using borescopes to detect minute flaws in equipment or hidden bioburden accumulation that could lead to infections and adverse events . Pre- and post-training tests were administered to enhance learning during a face-to-face workshop that interspersed lectures and hands-on practice , followed
12 • www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com • april 2024