Topic: Sterile Processing
Case Study Scenarios
- Decontamination Principles:
Dr. Sarmiento is a well-known neurosurgeon at Baptist Medical Center. He is known for working on complex cases that involve the spine and other neurological tissues. This past week, his private scrub tech has discovered that dirty neurological instruments have made it into the OR. The technician consults with the patient care manager of surgical services because the incident has been reoccurring over the past few months. With this knowledge, respond to the following questions:
What issue(s) have occurred, and what may be the cause of these errors?
What other special precautions may the sterile processing tech need to take with instruments exposed to neurological tissues?
What might the sterile processing department have to do to resolve this issue?
Thoroughly explain the decontamination process. What extra efforts should be made to ensure that clean instruments are delivered to the surgical suite?
- Sterilization Methods:
Kristine, a technician in the sterile processing department, has noticed that after the sterilization of surgical equipment and supplies that at least two out of every four loads sterilized for the day have been moist. She has consulted with her supervisor on effective ways in which she could troubleshoot the concerns with wet loads, because it has now affected the department’s work efficiency and quality control.
Define a wet pack.
Define a wet load.
Why might the loads be wet?
What solutions can Kristine apply to ensure that the processed instrument sets aren’t moist?
Discuss how this issue can affect both the operating room and the sterile processing department. How should Kristine handle the wet packages to ensure quality control?
- Preparation of Medical Equipment and Supplies:
Over the last month, the operating room has received rigid containers without filters, assembled instrumentation such as Poole suction devices in sterilized sets, and closed versus open packaged and processed instruments on the stringer and within the instrument sets.
Discuss in detail how these occurrences can impact safe and efficient patient care.
Discuss the instrument preparation process. What can the sterile processing technician do to ensure that all items are prepared and packaged correctly?
How does this situation impact the operating room staff?
- Inventory Control and Distribution:
The sterile processing department at Hershey-Chocolate Medical Center has an excessive amount of inventory. Management has decided to restructure the inventory system used in their facility and has asked you to research at minimum four different inventory systems that may help with the safe and efficient distribution of medical supplies and is also cost-effective.
What inventory system may work well for their department? Discuss at least four types of inventory systems and how each could initiate a more controlled environment of inventory for the facility.