sterile processing
By Julie E. Williamson
Safety Must Prevail When Elective
Surgeries Resume
T
he ongoing pandemic has initiated a slew of notable
healthcare changes, not the least of which has included
the postponement and cancellation of elective surgical
procedures to allow better prioritization of facility resources,
while also limiting patients’ and healthcare employees’
potential exposure to the virus.
Although COVID-19 is nowhere near in the rearview
mirror, some facilities are already adding some elective
procedures back on the schedule, and others are looking
to ramp up procedural volume very soon. Certainly, drastic
reductions in surgical cases are a blow to the bottom line
and it’s understandable why facilities would like to get back
to a more “business as usual” model; however, some key
factors must be considered well before surgical schedules
start surging again and patients are back on the table. Some
of those factors are directly related to the sterile processing
(SP) discipline and the professionals who comprise it.
When surgical case volume plummeted, SP professionals
were undoubtedly impacted. Some were moved to assist
in other departments, such as materials management,
which saw supply demand soar in light of the pandemic,
and some SP technicians even assisted with patient intake.
Others, however, saw their hours significantly cut or were
furloughed altogether from their positions. Although the
hope is these furloughed employees will return to their
positions and previous schedules once surgeries kick back
into high gear, it’s realistic to assume that some individuals
will have found work elsewhere – perhaps, in other industries
or professions that look nothing like their former roles in the
healthcare setting. Sadly, at the time of this writing, some SP
professionals even lost their lives to the virus, which lends a
far more human and gut-wrenching element to the staffing
challenges initiated and perpetuated by the pandemic.
All this begs the question: will healthcare facilities have
enough skilled SP professionals on hand to safely and
effectively tackle all the steps of instrumentation management
and reprocessing when surgical volume spikes? For some
facilities, the painfully honest answer may very well be “No.”
Without question, safe patient care and quality out-
comes cannot be had without well educated, skilled and
quality-focused SP technicians (and other vital resources that
include adequate instrumentation inventories and proper
processing equipment and supplies). If any of these essential
elements are lacking, processes can be dangerously rushed,
steps can be missed or overlooked, and employees can feel
pressured to turn instruments around more quickly than is
safe or prudent to meet the growing demands of the OR.
www.healthcarehygienemagazine.com • may 2020
Before surgical procedures are increased, it’s wise that OR
directors, SP leaders, infection preventionists, risk managers,
biomedical technicians, and those in the C-suite (and any
other interdisciplinary team members) all have a seat at
the collective table to discuss challenges and limitations
associated with a significantly ramped-up surgical volume.
Now is the time for SP leaders to lay out any staffing
limitations and to partner with the OR to ensure scheduling
does not surpass available instrumentation, equipment and
technician manpower.
If new technicians will need to be hired to meet processing
demands, education and training will be paramount. New
technicians cannot be expected to be immediately brought
up to the speed on the intricacies of instrumentation handling
and equipment operation; therefore, more experienced
technicians will likely need to step in to fill the voids, mentor
new hires and ensure quality doesn’t slip through the cracks
in the face of increased procedural volume. Even if an SPD
maintained all its skilled professionals, advanced planning,
preparation and consideration will be necessary to ensure the
higher caseload doesn’t place undue burden on technicians
and tax their resources – both of which can negatively impact
quality service and patient outcomes.
Now is also the time to remind all interdisciplinary team-
mates of the latest standards, guidelines and best practices,
and to stress just how long it takes to terminally process an
instrument set. Immediate use steam sterilization cannot be
viewed as an acceptable alternative; a patient’s safety can
never be jeopardized for the sake of time and money. SP
leaders must voice their concerns now and give the facility
every opportunity to supply the SPD with enough resources
to manage the function safety, consistently, effectively and
efficiently, across every shift and for each and every patient.
In the meantime, there is no better time for SPD educators
and/or leaders to ensure their technicians are brushing up
on the basics, staying focused on the latest standards, best
practices and instructions for use, maintaining a good grasp
on policies and procedures, and asking questions to ensure
they stay sharp. We cannot lose sight of the fact that when
demand increases, so does the need for quality.
To learn more about the many ways IAHCSMM can help
support SP professionals – from continuing education and
certification to departmental resources and documents,
chapters, news and much more – visit www.iahcsmm.org.
Julie E. Williamson, BA, is IAHCSMM’s communications
director/editor.
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