• At the federal level , we need a significant reinvestment in our nation ’ s public health infrastructure , on-going disease surveillance , preparedness measures for timely deployment of mitigation strategies , monitoring of the Strategic
National Stockpile inventory , and enhancement of reserve services to support : staffing , hospital capacity , and equitable resource allocation for crisis prevention . protected with reprocessed N95s . We held the line until the N95 supply chain was restocked and filled . We did this , working through our own fears and insecurities . Throughout the year , through several parts of the country , there were also major floods , fires and hurricanes . During each of these , we stepped up for our communities and our patients . We processed surgical instruments for emergency surgeries , even as our own communities and families struggled with loss from natural disasters and financial disasters . When surgical cases started back up , they [ did so ] with a vengeance . Many people throughout the country have struggled in pain , while their surgical procedures were postponed due to COVID-19 . Nationally , the surgical case backlog has grown at an exponential rate . Fall surgeries are exceeding last year ’ s surgical volumes by 10 percent to 50 percent , with goals of increasing further . SPDs are staffing more , extending hours of operation , and pushing surgical instruments through their doors at an exceedingly high rate . These departments are often short staffed , and technicians are working double shifts , often for multiple days in a row . 2020 has been a challenging year for the world . In the SP field , our industry responded to the challenge . We stepped up , even as our own families and communities struggled . We responded and continue to respond to make sure our patients and our clinical teams are safe .
HHM What lessons were learned in 2020 and what lessons still need to be learned and applied ?
KM : Preparedness is critical from the local community to the federal level . Ongoing preparedness measures are essential and necessary at the community level through expansion of public health education on infection prevention measures . Practice and adoption of community-based infection control measures by the general public mitigates spread and lessens the burden on healthcare facilities , but understanding and ownership of one ’ s role at the community level is necessary for mitigation measures to be effective . It ’ s a ripple effect — community spread surges , hospital capacity decreases , staff shortages expand , and a lack of time and resources increase vulnerability . Preparedness and education are vital now to lower the risk in the future . At the federal level , we need a significant reinvestment in our nation ’ s public health infrastructure , ongoing disease surveillance , preparedness measures for timely deployment of mitigation strategies , monitoring of the Strategic National Stockpile inventory , and enhancement of reserve services to support : staffing , hospital capacity , and equitable resource allocation for crisis prevention .
AMP : The biggest challenge has been the PPE shortage during the first surge . Right now , I am not hearing that same sort of angst . So , in terms of lessons learned , we have had to figure out the logistics and safety of reprocessing and reusing items that we never would have dreamt of before . It was anathema to IPs because it was so contrary to what we were all taught and in turn taught our staff . Having to work our way through that was a huge lesson . We made the best out of a really bad situation .
LG : Focus needs to be maintained and or enhanced on programs that have resulted in success such as the antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antimicrobial stewardship programs while new resources are devoted to the current health crises such as a pandemic . There must be a centralized coordinated governmental plan that included deployment of supplies , medications and vital equipment to cope with a public healthcare crises / emergency . The plan needs to include the well-being and staffing issues of the healthcare workers . There must be increased communication and a vaccine distribution plan from federal agencies leading the response efforts , including the FDA , CDC and NIH related to treatment developments including vaccine approvals and deployment .
DB : Some lessons learned were to go back to the basics – to focus on training and provide return demonstration of some of the basic tasks . I know we are busy , but truly following the IFUs and giving staff the time to complete the task at hand is a vital lesson that still needs to be learned , and we need to get the support to ensure that it happens .
PT : I believe having all your resources tied to one provider creates challenges . I know we have a list of other providers to be sure we aren ’ t only relying on just one source . I think we [ collectively as healthcare providers and as a nation ] have realized we need to provide more of our own products and not depend on other countries for vital supplies .
Susan Klacik ( SK ): We were able to reaffirm the importance of environmental cleaning and disinfection and its impact on infection prevention . Evidence has shown cleaning and disinfecting the environment is a basic infection prevention principle used to reduce the likelihood that exogenous sources will contribute to healthcare-associated infections . Environmental surfaces and equipment can become contaminated with pathogens that cause surgical site infections , particularly if cleaning is suboptimal , and pathogens can then be transmitted to the hands of healthcare workers . Thus , thorough cleaning and disinfection of high-touch objects , as part of a comprehensive environmental cleaning and disinfection program that includes hand hygiene , are essential in preventing the spread of potentially pathogenic microorganisms . Maintaining a clean sterile processing ( SP ) environment for medical device preparation has always been an important aspect medical device processing . It has long been held that maintaining a clean SP environment prevents dust and debris from depositing onto instrumentation . On Jan . 2 , 2020 , AORN released its Guideline for Environmental Cleaning . In this guideline , it is recommended to terminally clean SP areas each day the areas are used . A cleaning schedule should be developed for areas that are not terminally cleaned