Figures 3 and 4 show a clearly marked door to the supply areas that has been left open , creating a contamination risk .
Figure 7
Figure 3
Figure 4
In Figures 5 and 6 , supplies are being stored in ways that go against guidelines and best practices — such as corrugated cardboard placed on top of supplies , and external shipping containers and unsterile instrument sets co-located with sterile implant supplies . Additionally , containers are stored on the floor , preventing environmental services from properly cleaning the area .
Figure 8
Figure 5
Figure 6
Finally , Figure 7 shows an overcrowded storage space with boxes stored less than the recommended 18 ” from the ceiling , and Figure 8 shows empty supply boxes left in the supply room .
Once items are sterile , care and extreme caution must be consistently taken to prevent them from becoming contaminated . Sterile packages must be protected by keeping items in a safe environment and ensuring all staff members engage in proper , standards-based practices for handling and storage . 2
David Taylor III , MSN , RN , CNOR , is an independent hospital and ambulatory surgery center consultant and the principal of Resolute Advisory Group LLC , in San Antonio , Texas . He has served as an IAHCSMM contributing author since 2019 .
References :
1 . The Joint Commission . Temperature and Humidity Requirements — Guidance for Storage or Sterile Supplies . 2019 . https :// www . jointcommission . org / standards / standard-faqs / hospital-and-hospitalclinics / environment-of-care-ec / 000001275 /
2 . International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management . 2016 . Central Service Technical Manual . 8th Ed ., pp . 341-356 .
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