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7. Consider service contracts. We have our big-ticket items,
such as phacoemulsification handpieces, under service contracts. If
we have a problem with anything, the handpiece can be changed out
and we can usually get a replacement within a day or two. It's com-
forting, because we have a lot of handpieces to take care of, and we
know if one goes down, we can not only get it replaced very quickly,
but also at reasonable cost.
8. Keep references handy. Be sure to have manufacturers'
handbooks that accompany all instrumentation and have directions
for use and cleaning near the reprocessing area. I also recommend
that you have on hand the guidebook Care and Handling of
Ophthalmic Microsurgical Instruments (
tinyurl.com/lmvczo2
). When
there's staff turnover, new people have to understand why they're
reprocessing instruments certain ways and what can happen if they
do things improperly or cut corners. They need to understand why it's
important to repetitively do the same things on every single case and
on all of the instruments that they take care of. OSM
Ms. Beltramba (
eb eltra mb a@g mail.com
) is center director at the Eye
Surgery and Laser Center in Winter Haven, Fla.
O P H T H A L M O L O G Y
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