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• 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 • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 1
R
eprocessing techs in our hospital who
prepare instrument sets for sterilization
use a seven-point checklist to ensure
trays have been properly assembled. The check-
list helps techs ensure instrument sets are loaded
properly, organized and chemical indicators are
in place. A tech who assembles a tray signs their
initials to the form. A second tech reviews the
conditions of the tray and signs their name on the
"quality check" line if all the elements on the
checklist have been completed. The sheet is sent
with the instrument set to the OR, so members of
the surgical team can jot down their feedback —
both good and bad — about the condition of the
instruments, which is then shared with members
of the reprocessing staff. It's sterile processing's
version of the time out surgical teams perform
before every procedure and has improved the
accuracy and condition of the instrument sets our
sterile processing department sends to the ORs.
The completed checklists and feedback collected
from the OR also serve as documentation of our
reprocessing staff's performance that can be
compiled into quality reports.
Steve Johnson
Rogue Regional Medical Center
Medford, Ore.
steven.johnson@asante.org
STERILE PROCESSING
Double-Check Instrument Trays
Ideas Work
P r a c t i c a l p e a r l s f r o m y o u r c o l l e a g u e s
That
QUALITY REVIEW The form's checkboxes are based on commonly reported errors, and can be customized to address individual challenges or facility-specific initiatives.
Steve
Johnson
