through sterile process-
ing and to storage. He
also demanded that all
sets of reprocessed
instrument sets were
returned to ORs in perfect condition, meaning all items were present
and properly sterilized. He expected perfection, but surely would have
settled for a 90%-plus success rate, right?
"No," he says. "I meant every single set. If you measure time and
quality, and improve upon both of those elements, costs will
decrease."
The best consultants ultimately end up feeling like valuable mem-
bers of your staff. "They were with us forever," laughs Ms. Riley.
"The full team was here for several months before they slowly
dwindled in numbers as we learned how to implement the process
improvements they suggested. We had direct and indirect contact
with them for at least a year. They took ownership in our success,
which was nice. They truly wanted to make a difference."
OSM
M A Y 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 3 1
If you buy into the process,
it can make a big difference.
— Susan Riley, RN