Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.
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reprocessing areas comes back to improper testing and documentation of the AER's minimum recom- mended concentration (MRC) of disinfectant. This is one of the few manual steps still common in uti- lizing an AER for endoscope reprocessing work- flows. AERs that cue reprocessing techs to com- plete this testing step or enable automatic testing of the MRC prior to initiating a load provide a critical defense against user errors. Even if the MRC is test- ed and passes, these results still must be document- ed, so AERs that provide an automated or digital means to record these tests further protect against potential citations and patient safety risks. • Chemical utilization. While not part of the AER unit itself, the disinfectants used in the device will play a major role in your total cost per cycle, impacting your return on investment in ways that may be less apparent than reprocessing speed or cycle time. Gain a thorough understanding of the type of disinfectant recommended by the AER man- ufacturer, find out whether alternative brands carry it and examine price trends associated with the chemical itself. All of this information can save you a lot of money in the long run. If you don't keep this factor in mind, an unanticipated impact to your budget could result. AERs are amazing devices that have revolution- ized and improved the manual cleaning and disin- fection of flexible endoscopes. However, you must understand the substantive differences between the various models currently on the market. There's likely not a one-size-fits-all answer for your facility. When making a purchasing decision, be sure to assess the usability of the device and determine how much it automates the manual steps of scope reprocessing in order to maximize benefits of the investment. OSM Mr. Balch (hank@beyondclean.net) is founder and president of Beyond Clean, and author of the book The Front Line, a CE- approved resource for sterile processing professionals. Thinking of Buying … TB 7 2 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0 Custom Ultrasonics System 83 Plus 2 customultrasonics.com 215-364-1477 Custom Ultrasonics positions this AER as a cost-effec- tive alternative to the competition for a couple reasons. For one, users are free to source the brand of Ortho- Phthalaldehyde disinfectant validated for use in the AER and, in a nod to cost and time savings for high-vol- ume facilities, the chemicals can be reused — accord- ing to the labeling — for up to 14 days. Another differ- entiator is its ability to simultaneously high-level disin- fect (HLD) two endoscopes in its 19-inch chamber as opposed to just one. Custom Ultrasonics claims this both increases throughput and makes for a more effi- cient footprint for space-challenged facilities. To ensure all scope channels and internal surfaces are contacted during cleaning and HLD, the device adapts to each channel individually. This feature makes it easi- er for techs to verify fluid and air flows throughout all internal areas of a scope's tubing.