Submitted by Kate
Stephens, CPMC
At Cabinet Peaks Medical Center the Sterile Processing Department knows just how critical it is to provide sterilized equipment, on time, for every patient and every procedure.
Recently, the Cabinet Peaks Medical Center Sterile Processing Department made the important decision to implement 3M’s Every Load Monitoring program, which requires a biological indicator in every steam sterilization load.
Working to ensure the highest possible level of sterilization assurance for instruments and implantable devices that are used in the Operating Room is one of the best ways the Sterile Processing Department can do their part to help contribute to reducing the risk of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs).
Sandy Morse, Surgery Manager explains: “We want to be leaders in sterilization practice. With Every Load Monitoring, we are confident that we’re doing everything possible to provide properly sterilized instruments for every patient.”
Patients, Staff and Facility Benefits:
n A reduction in risk of infections.
n A reduction in risk overall.
n Fewer Disruptions.
“This is a big commitment for us, but one we’re excited to make,” said Morse. “At the end of the day, we’re raising our standards and reducing risks – both critical elements to the success of our healthcare facility.”
The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) is the primary source of consensus standards for the medical device industry. They publish the ANSI/AAMI ST79, Comprehensive guide to steam sterilization and sterility assurance for health care facilities and other standards that drive practices in sterile processing. AAMI ST79 states that, “Biological monitoring provides the only direct measure of the lethality of a sterilization cycle.”
T his biological indicator is a self-contained device including highly resistant spores that, when exposed to the proper sterilization conditions are killed. This process demonstrates the effectiveness of the cycle. 3M Health Care, a world leader in sterilization assurance products for more than 50 years, is the developer and manufacturer of 3M™ Attest™ Biological Indicators used at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center.
The most recent AAMI guidelines require the use of Biological Indicators weekly, preferably daily and in all loads that contain implantable devices. Cabinet Peaks Medical Center has committed to a higher standard of monitoring in order to provide for better patient safety.
“Our entire team, from the most experienced to the newest technicians, feels very proud of the work we do and how it contributes to patient safety. Every Load Monitoring takes ‘recommended practice’ to ‘Best Practice’ and is simply the right thing to do for our patients,” concluded Morse
For more information on this process, call the CPMC Surgery Department at 283-7110.