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Sterilising Services
The Sterilising Services Unit processes all instrumentation required by the
clinical areas of the hospital and its spoke services.
The unit has undergone significant changes over the past 12 months to ensure
that it is providing a service in line with its consumers needs.
The most significant changes have been in relation to physical layout. On review
of the unit the production area floorspace was found to be insufficient for the
volume of work being performed. To rectify this problem the production areas
were divided into 2 seperate areas. One area was designated as Prevacuum (Steam)
production & processing area, and secondly Sterrad (Gas Plasma) production
& processing. The 2 production areas are housed on opposite sides of the
Decontamination area. This change in layout has meant that more efficient work
practices have been able to be implemented due to increased space and a
reduction in processing errors has been noted due to clearly differentiated work
areas for the different types of processing.
The unit is equipped with 2 modern pass through Prevac Sterilisers utilising
touchscreen technology, 1 Sterrad Gas Plasma (Low Temperature) steriliser, 2
Amsco Reliance 444 pass through batch washers (automated loading & unloading
modules to be installed in 2004/2005), 1 Miele Anaesthetic Equipment
Decontaminator, 2 x ultrasonic baths.
The Sterilising Services Unit adheres to the strictest quality control
regulations and procedures. All equipment is maintained and validated as
mandated by company and national standards (AS4187). The newest quality control
measure will be the implementation of a computerised tracking system. This
system will link each of the operating theatres and Sterilising Services to
"close the loop" in instrument tracking. The computer system will
store all relevant information regarding how instruments have been processed,
the outcomes of each stage of processing, and then the ultimate dispatch and use
of each instrument or tray on individual patients.
The implementation of the computerised tracking system will also provide
valuable information relating to the lifespan of instruments and associated
costs.
The unit comprises of Instrument Technicians Grades 1 to 3. Formal training is
provided by Mayfield Education Centre and it is expected that all staff will
have completed this by the end of 2005.
Staff within the unit are allocated to specific work areas, and are rotated on
regular intervals to ensure that fatigue (physical & mental) does not effect
the production areas. The allocated areas include: Decontamination, Production
prevac, Production Sterrad, Anaesthetics, Set-ups & Dispatch.
Surgical set-ups are completed by utilising surgeons preference sheets stored
electronically and updated by operating theatre staff. The consumable stock is
accessed and replenished automatically via the Pyxis Supply station. External
spoke set-ups are delivered using sensitive freight couriers.
Time-critical processing is currently managed manually, however, the
implementation of the computerised tracking system will facilitate an electronic
system for notification and fast-tracking items through the stages of processing
and the ultimate return of these items to the required area of need.
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