can, so there's no temptation, or excuse, to cut corners.
Armored approach
I'm also a big believer that rigid containers do a better job of preserv-
ing and protecting instruments than blue wrap. Rigid containers are
like armor. They protect what's inside them much better. On top of
that, if the wrap tears, whatever's inside is considered contaminated.
We did some analysis when we started switching over and found
that on top of providing better protection, the containers pay for
themselves in a year and a half or 2. So we're gradually building our
inventory, trying to containerize everything.
In the meantime — and this points to another weakness with wrap
— we've put edge guards on our shelves. We've found that people in a
hurry sometimes drag instruments off shelves, instead of lifting them.
That can cause tears if instruments aren't in rigid containers.
Naturally, there's a tradeoff in all of these measures. It takes a little
more time and a little more money to care for instruments in a way
that maximizes their performance and life expectancy. But training is
the key, and manufacturers provide in-services free of charge. You
can bring them in as often as you want, to make sure your sterile
processors are up to speed and know what they're looking for.
And while it's true that an ASC, or any facility that doesn't have an
internal preventive maintenance department, would need a larger
backup inventory if it wants to be as strict as we are about taking
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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 O N L I N E | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5
TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT
Use Tip Protectors on Sharp Tools
We use tip protectors on all sharp tools, both to protect them and to keep the ends
open where appropriate. They're inexpensive, and since they come with little holes,
steam sterilization is just as effective. — Mark Lunz
