Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Special Edition: Surgical Construction - February 2020 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

Issue link: http://outpatientsurgery.uberflip.com/i/1208628

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 33 of 80

1. Mapping out workflow An efficient SPD essentially comes down to two things: process flow and ease of use — how easily staff can get to and operate all of the critical equipment like sterilizers, autoclaves and decontamination workstations. When designing the space, find an open area where you can strategically arrange card- board boxes that represent pieces of equipment, creating a makeshift space for you and your team to walk through. This is the only time you have the ability to determine exactly how the department's process flow is going to work and the physical act of a walk-through can be invaluable in spotting potential issues and inefficiencies that you'd never uncover from a 2D drawing or blueprint. For example, staff members who are moving instrument trays from a decontamina- tion sink to the instrument washer shouldn't have to walk a long dis- tance to do so. Why? First, that adds inefficiencies to the reprocessing process. Second, the trays tend to be wet and can drip on the floor, creating a potential staff safety issue. Another pre-planning best practice: Bring in SPD managers and techs from other facilities to give you some fresh ideas. The thinking of staff and management who have worked at your location for many years may be too localized, and some outside perspective could prove valuable. 3 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0 • GO WITH THE FLOW An efficient sterile processing depart- ment comes down to how easily staff can get to and operate critical pieces of equipment. Pamela Bevelhymer, RN, BSN, CNOR

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Outpatient Surgery Magazine - Special Edition: Surgical Construction - February 2020 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine