Persistent Prions: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
The central role of the Sterile Processing Department (SPD) is to decontaminate surgical instruments for patient care procedures. By carefully following cleaning and sterilization protocols for used devices, the SPD plays a critical role in infection prevention. However, not all infectious agents are created equal.
Saving Safer Choice: A Call To Action
According to OSHA, hazardous chemicals are prevalent in Central Sterile Supply (SPD). Examples include concentrated liquids with extreme pH levels, sterilization liquids and gases, plasma vapors, and other disinfecting liquids and aerosols...
Less is Best: Streamlining Instrument Processing
According to OSHA, hazardous chemicals are prevalent in Central Sterile Supply (SPD). Examples include concentrated liquids with extreme pH levels, sterilization liquids and gases, plasma vapors, and other disinfecting liquids and aerosols...
The Three C’s of Supply Chain Management
To synchronize your supply chain, communication, collaboration and coordination are important habits to get used to. I’ve gotten dependent on Amazon to deliver staples like cat and dog food, kitty litter, paper towels and toilet paper. I am sure that many of you use Amazon or other online services as well to maintain control over your supplies...
MUDA: Japanese for Waste or Uselessness
In many ways, the sterile processing department is very similar to a manufacturing facility, like Case Medical. We produce products, follow standard operating procedures, without necessarily taking a hard look at how we can minimize steps and reduce waste...
Kaizen, Continuous Improvement, During Uncertain Times
Kaizen is an approach to creating continuous improvement based on the idea that small, ongoing positive changes can reap significant improvements. Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of analyzing performance, identifying opportunities, making incremental changes and continuing to grow...
The Sky Is Falling…With No One To Fact Check It
We all know the bedtime story about Chicken Little, who was hit on the head with an acorn and went on to create a panic thinking that the sky was falling...
The Dirty Truth About Endoscope Processing and What We Can Do To Fix It
There are 54 billion bacterial cells on a single cubic centimeter of the average kitchen sponge. They are breeding grounds for all types of germs and bacteria. A common sponge’s spatial partitioning – the way it’s divided into different sectors of various sizes with a porous absorbent surface – caters to bacteria that prefer isolated environments and those that prefer to be around other organisms as well, making it the best of both worlds for microbial communities...
Getting rid of the sticky goo residue safely and effectively
Residue is material that remains after cleaning, like grease left over on a frying pan. It can also be a liquid residue that’s left over at the bottom of a bottle, pot, or can, and even moisture remaining at the base of a sterilization container or tray after sterilization. When it comes to removal of moisture in a container or sterilized tray this is easy to fix...
The Recipe for An Easy Audit
Recently, the FDA conducted a surprise audit of Case Medical. The FDA has the right to do this whenever they want, to any FDA regulated facility, and give no notice beforehand. While conducting the audit, the FDA may ask for any information that they want, from whatever date they want, and it is up to the organization being audited to produce that information to show they are in compliance with FDA regulations...
