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Measuring Up: Data-driven solutions

Discover where your sterile processing department isn't measuring up by observing and documenting. Then implement data-driven solutions.

How often do we walk into our units and find trays waiting to be decontaminated? Or Assembled? Or Sterilized? If you are like many departments around the country, far too often. Is your sterile processing department (SPD) measuring up?

 

A typical response might be, “I need more staff.” How do you know? Increases in staffing will not always produce a solution to your backlog; often, it just moves the backlog to another area. Maybe another issue isn’t measuring up? Perhaps what you really need is an additional washer. One key to building a plan to reduce the backlog is to MEASURE.

measuring up

Pick a time to take a measurement.

 

If you are having afternoon backlog in decontamination, take the measurement then. Pick the same time every day, and count the trays waiting to be processed. Complete this same task for a period of 2-4 weeks and find an average for the daily backlog at the time you selected to measure. The time selected may vary, but the important thing is to count. Know what the department is up against.

 

Perhaps there is concern in the Assembly area as well. Again, take a measurement. How many clean trays do you have waiting to be assembled? Do you need more staff? You won’t be able to reliably answer that question until you know what your backlog is. And you won’t know your backlog until you count it.

 

Numbers matter! If you address leadership concerns with data, you will have a much stronger argument for why you need an equipment or staffing increase. Additionally, you will have a baseline for managing improvement and preventing issues.

 

Looking for a solution? Implement measuring and trending! Discover whether your SPD is measuring up, and implement data-driven solutions.

 

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Kyle Abrams, CHL, CRCST, CSPDT – Sr. Professional Consultant

Kyle Abrams has 15 years of hands on experience in sterile processing.  He applies expertise in the field of perioperative logistics and optimization to drive effective and measurable process improvements. Kyle has built a successful track record on fiscal responsibility and purchasing creativity, cross-departmental cooperation and collaboration, and compliance with JCAHO, AORN, AAMI, CDC, FDA, and IAHCSMM standards and regulations.