Sterile Processing Case Studies Project
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the case study is to allow the student to analyze information retained over the duration of the sterile processing program and apply that knowledge obtained to provide specific solutions to common issues that may occur within the sterile processing department.
CASE STUDY INSTRUCTIONS
Choose two of the four topics as listed below: Decontamination Principles, Sterilization Methods, Preparation of Medical Equipment and Supplies, and Inventory Control and Distribution Systems. Once the two case studies are chosen, answer the questions using your own vocabulary and address the conflicts or issues with solutions specific to your topics of choice. To fulfill the requirements of this case studies project, you must employ research techniques. You can utilize your text or other credible sources from the internet to build a thorough paper that contains at least six main ideas with supporting details regarding the topic chosen and a minimum of three credible references. The paper must be written in APA format with an extensive introduction, body, and concluding statement per case study. Minimum of four pages, double-spaced excluding title and reference pages per case study. Please refer to the rubric regarding specific grading criteria.
Now that you understand the basic goals of this project, let’s get started.
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.
- How can distribution be affected by excessive inventory?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: The case study project in sterile processing aims to allow the students to apply their knowledge obtained during the program to provide specific solutions to common issues that may occur within the sterile processing department. This project requires the students to choose two topics from Decontamination Principles, Sterilization Methods, Preparation of Medical Equipment and Supplies, and Inventory Control and Distribution Systems, conduct research, and write a thorough paper in APA format.
1. What issue(s) have occurred, and what may be the cause of these errors?
The issue of dirty neurological instruments making it into the OR has occurred, and it has been happening repeatedly over the past few months. The cause of these errors could be the inadequacy or failure of proper decontamination processes.
2. What other special precautions may the sterile processing tech need to take with instruments exposed to neurological tissues?
The sterile processing tech should take particular precautions while processing instruments exposed to neurological tissues by ensuring proper cleaning, decontamination, and sterilization procedures to eliminate any risk of infection or contamination.
3. What might the sterile processing department have to do to resolve this issue?
The sterile processing department would need to investigate the root cause of the issue, review current decontamination, and sterilization procedures and implement corrective measures such as retraining of staff, developing specific processes, or using alternative sterilization methods as necessary.
4. Thoroughly explain the decontamination process. What extra efforts should be made to ensure that clean instruments are delivered to the surgical suite?
The decontamination process is a series of steps used to remove or reduce microbial contamination on medical equipment. The process includes cleaning, rinse, dry, and package. To ensure that clean instruments are delivered to the surgical suite, extra efforts such as several quality checks, documentation, and inspection procedures, need to be implemented throughout the decontamination, sterilization processes, and before delivery to the OR.
5. Define a wet pack.
A wet pack refers to moisture or water-vapor deposits inside the sterilization package after sterilization.
6. Define a wet load.
A wet load is a term used to describe a batch of surgical instruments or supplies sterilized in a cycle that exhibit visible evidence of moisture, irrespective of the number of packs involved.
7. Why might the loads be wet?
The loads might be wet due to incomplete drying of the equipment or insufficient or incorrect operation of the steam sterilizer.
8. What solutions can Kristine apply to ensure that the processed instrument sets aren’t moist?
Kristine can apply solutions such as revising the drying program, checking the cleanliness of the instrument, preventing overloading of the sterilizer, or validating the sterilization process, and testing the effectiveness of the sterilization process.
9. 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?
The issue can affect the operating room and the sterile processing department by compromising the safety and quality of the equipment, leading to re-sterilization of equipment and increased operating room turnovers. Kristine should handle the wet packages with gloved hands, isolate them from other packages, and assign a re-sterilization sticker with documentation.
10. Discuss in detail how these occurrences can impact safe and efficient patient care.
The occurrences can impact the safety and efficiency of patient care by increasing the risks of infections, delaying the operation schedule, and leading to invasive procedures. The sterilization processes and instrument preparation procedures should be thoroughly executed to prevent the occurrence of such problems.
11. Discuss the instrument preparation process. What can the sterile processing technician do to ensure that all items are prepared and packaged correctly?
The instrument preparation process involves a series of steps such as receiving, cleaning, inspecting, and assembling the instruments in preparation for sterilization. The sterile processing technician should ensure that all items are prepared and packaged correctly by organizing and labeling the trays, assembling all elements correctly, inspecting for damages or missing components, and properly wrapping and organizing all bundles.
12. How does this situation impact the operating room staff?
This situation might impact the operating room staff by causing delays in the operation schedule, affecting patient outcomes, and increasing the workload of the operating room staff.
13. 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.
The inventory system that may work well for the department is the Just-In-Time (JIT) inventory system, which reduces carrying cost, storage space, and the risk of obsolete inventory. Other inventory systems include periodic review system, vendor-managed inventory system, and Automated Inventory Management System, which enable effective tracking and monitoring of inventory.
14. How can distribution be affected by excessive inventory?
Excessive inventory can affect distribution by consuming storage space, increasing carrying cost, leading to obsolete inventory, and altering inventory-related processes such as stock-taking, packing, or ordering, leading to lower efficiency in the system.
