A new section focused on immediate-use steam sterilization (IUSS) has been added to AAMI’s and the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management’s (IAHCSMM) sterilization benchmarking tool to help subscribers compare their practices and procedures against other healthcare facilities.
“These questions were added to the platform as part of our continuous improvement and feedback loop from our subscribers and the joint AAMI-IAHCSMM task force. We heard that this was a topic that the industry wanted to benchmark, and we listened,” says Damien Berg, manager of sterile processing at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. Berg has played a key role in developing the benchmarking tool.
Benchmarking Solutions-Sterile Processing is a digital platform designed to help sterile processing departments measure their budgets, personnel, practices, and policies against similar departments at other facilities. Many facilities have been working to reduce their use of IUSS to improve patient care and safety; however, reducing IUSS usually involves purchasing more instrumentation. The sterile processing benchmarking tool can provide valuable information to support these purchasing requests.
“Benchmarking of IUSS can help subscribers to justify the expenditures needed to minimize the use of IUSS,” says Donna Swenson, president of Sterile Processing Quality Services, Inc., and a member of AAMI sterilization standards committees. “When administrators see that reduction of IUSS is a goal of most healthcare facilities, it is easier to justify the expenditure that is needed to make that happen.”
The tool now contains 195 questions that cover: Clinical relationships and compliance The scope of the sterile processing department Current sterilization procedures and practices Staffing Productivity analysis Financial, space, and computer resources To become a benchmarking subscriber or for additional information, visit www.aami.org/benchmarking.
Source: AAMI
New UV-C Disinfection Technology for Ultrasound Probes Earns FDA Clearance
September 4th 2024Chronos, a chemical-free UV-C disinfection device for ultrasound probes, received FDA clearance. It offers health care professionals a fast, automated solution to reduce cross-contamination and improve infection prevention.
Addressing Sterile Processing Instrument Errors With Advanced Technology and Data Insights
September 3rd 2024Surgical instrument errors, often linked to visualization failures during sterile processing, pose significant risks to patient safety and OR efficiency. Advanced technologies, including AI, are essential for reducing these errors and improving overall outcomes in sterile processing departments.
Implementing FDA 21 CFR Part 820 & ISO 13485 on Quality System Regulation
August 30th 2024The FDA's 21 CFR Part 820 and ISO 13485 are crucial in regulating medical device quality systems. Harmonizing these standards by 2026 will streamline compliance, improve patient access to devices, and align US regulations with global practices.