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D
oes your sterile processing
department skimp on or skip
any steps when they're repro-
cessing flexible endoscopes? Last month we surveyed
GI facility leaders to find out how their endoscopy
reprocessing practices compare with national guidelines
(osmag.net/VjYKe9). Overall, the results were reassuring — most, if
not all, of our 122 respondents take pride in following the basic tenets
of endoscope care — but our survey also revealed some interesting
and potentially concerning practices in the following areas:
How Does Your Endoscopy
Reprocessing Compare?
• WASH, RINSE, REPEAT Endoscope cleaning requires meticulous attention to detail and constant focus on a standardized series of steps.
Our reader survey shows most GI facilities are following
national standards, but it also uncovered some worrisome trends.
Daniel Cook
Executive Editor
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN