Many misunderstandings aren’t planned or purposeful but are the result of intersecting plot lines that cause miscommunication and misalignment of purposes. When watching a soap opera, you are the viewer with 360° knowledge of the building conflict, but in our daily lives we’re often missing critical information we need to efficiently resolve issues. And that leads to confusion.

It often begins with the assumption, “The instruments aren’t clean when they come out of the washer. Help!” It may seem logical to increase the amount of detergent dispensed, and you may even clear the wash indicator which recently failed. However, you didn’t get to the root cause of the problem. You can see the cascade in action—maybe you’re advised to increase the amount enzymatic cleaner too, or add a disinfectant, a sheeting agent, a lubricant, a neutralizer, a descaler. When the service technician came in, did they come and go without discussion? If the cycle settings were adjusted, it may affect everything downstream. Skip the rinse. A one-minute rinse is pre-set, better yet saves some time with the 15 second rinse. And even better lower the temperature settings now and you do not have to wait for the water to heat up. Reduce the dry time. Dry the instruments on the clean side. After all, we need these washers for quick turn-around. Does this sound familiar?

When you see scale, residue, or discoloration on your equipment or your devices, the last thing you want is to jump to conclusions. There may be a simple solution to the Soap Opera drama that may not be in the IFU but can lead to resolution. Use fewer and less chemicals. Design your process from the bottom up by selecting validated cleaners that are free rinsing and using the right concentration as stated on the label. Rinse more frequently and thoroughly after each step with high purity water. Utilize thermal disinfection for the final rinse and ensure that your devices look clean and go to the clean side dry.

The final resolution we are all looking for is instruments that are safe for patient care. If you need education, an assessment, or help solving a problem in your department, contact us at [email protected]. We are here to help.

Visit us anytime at www.casemed.com to learn more about our products and services. We are here to help. Case Medical is a U.S. EPA SAFER CHOICE Partner or the Year for Manufacturer Formulator and recognized in NJ as Innovative Manufacturer of the Year.

Kindest Regards,