mally used once or twice a day will be used more
than that, make sure to schedule other types of
cases in between so there is time to effectively
reprocess them.
• Training and role assignments. If you do
decide to add scopes, make sure your staff is
trained on how to handle and
reprocess new or unfamiliar mod-
els. For example, make sure you
have the properly sized brushes
on hand to perform proper manu-
al cleaning. Even if you buy a
new scope that is the same model
as the ones you currently have,
the IFUs for the newer model
could be different, and might
require additional cleaning equip-
ment or steps. You should desig-
nate a staff member to keep up
with any new developments that
the reprocessing staff needs to
know about, whether it's updated
IFUs, new professional society
guidelines and or general indus-
try publications.
Ready for what's next
No one can predict what the next
year will bring and how COVID-
19 will impact colonoscopy
screening volumes. The virus
could be contained, and we'll
face packed schedules as we deal
with scheduling new cases and
continuing to work through the
backlog of postponed procedures
due to the pandemic's first wave.
Whatever happens, you shouldn't
respond by ramping up too fast
or committing to too high of a
case volume. Keep doing what
you've always done: relying on
sound practices to make sure
your patients are treated effec-
tively and safely. As long as you
don't stray from that focus, you'll
be able to handle an influx of patients, even as the
pandemic surges on.
OSM
F
E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 1 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T • 5 9
Mr. Czarnowski (cczarnowski@standfordhealth.edu) is
the interventional platform educator for sterile processing
at Stanford (Calif.) Health Care. He is also an associate
professor of central service technologies at Skyline College
in San Bruno, Calif., and serves on the board of directors
for the California Central Service Association (IAHCSMM).
