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/1316512
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 • D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0 cables. Specialized inserts are especially important for containers purchased for eye centers that use delicate and expensive microsurgical instruments. • Ease of use. Make sure OR staff members and sterile processing techs sign off on the designs of the containers you purchase. How easy is it for sur- gical team members to open a container and remove the contents aseptically? Can sterile pro- cessing techs easily disassemble the components, remove filter plates and clean them between uses? Purchases of these containers require input from both the ORs and SPD. • Cleaning requirements. Containers must be disassembled, the filter plates removed and internal components washed before they're used again. Refer to the IFU of each container for information on proper cleaning methods, which typically involves treatment with a neutral pH detergent and water. This can be done manually or in an automat- ic washer, so consider how much workload and time are involved in cleaning each container. • Instrument identification. Facilities with an electronic instrument tracking system can place a barcode label for the instrument set on the outside of a container to track the status of the sets within. Many facilities don't have access to this technology, however, and rely on instrument identification tags placed on internal baskets and on the outside of the containers. Make sure the tags are durable and easy to read and find out how long it takes to get replacements from the container company if the tags become dislodged and lost or damaged. • Sterilization testing. Run containers through cycles with biological vials and chemical indicators in place to verify sterilization parameters are reached. Manufacturers test their containers in a controlled lab setting, but you need to confirm the containers work effectively in your facility. You don't need to test every container, and the test isn't that involved — you can use a protocol called rigid container testing outlined in AAMI ST79. After pur- chase, reperform the test annually. Staff need education on the quality checks a con- tainer manufacturer recommends after each use. Components of the container can become damaged over time, so make sure your staff gets in-serviced on proper upkeep, with competencies verified. • Smart shopping. If you don't get competitive pricing, how do you know you got the best deal? Your facility might not be positioned to put every item you sterilize in rigid containers. If your budget is limited, start with delicate and high-expense items that you need to protect from damage. Of course, remember to ask about payment plans and other ways to bring down the upfront cost of the containers. OSM Ms. Chobin (nancy@spdceus.com) is president of Sterile Processing University in Lebanon, N.J. Aesculap SterilContainer System aesculapusa.com 800-258-1946 Aesculap's rigid container system continues to expand its capabilities to ensure facilities can standardize on one method and brand of containers. The PrimeLine Pro Lid was recently added to the company's SterilContainer JK and JN Series full, three-quarter and half-size containers. This 2 mm aluminum lid features an integrated reusable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filter designed for use in 2,200 steam or immediate-use sterilization cycles before it needs to be replaced. The obvious benefit: Time savings and reduced processing costs because sterile reprocess- ing techs don't need to change the filter after each use.