Take Control of Your Instrument Costs

11.23.2022 • Industry News

One of the many costs to manage in the sterile processing department is instrument repair. It’s challenging and costly to always have instruments out while they are being repaired. Not only does it cost the department money, but it also affects incoming revenue for the facility because procedures can be delayed if instrumentation needed isn’t available. While there are flexible and convenient options to help with this, such as instrument repair companies that can come to your facility and repair onsite, often it can be a great help to simply use protective products for delicate/sharp instruments as a proactive measure.
 
You can protect your instruments by using containment devices (such as trays with fitted brackets or soft silicone mats), tip protectors, or a combination of both. Using instrument tip protectors helps extend the life of your instruments but also provides an added benefit of also protecting wrap and peel packs from rips, tears, and punctures; which reduces the need to potentially reprocess the compromised containment device. Protecting your team against sharps injuries when handling instruments is important too. A tip cap may look small and insignificant but just look at how much it can save you in your department. Sometimes the smallest things can have the biggest impact. To quote Shakespeare, “Though she be but little. She is fierce.”
 
Learn more about the many options of instrument protection from Key Surgical.
 
Industry Update: Revised recommendations in the Sterilization Packaging Systems guideline (AORN) include a new recommendation based on evidence that colored plastic tip protectors be used to reduce the risk for a retained surgical item (RSI). They noted, "We are one of the first professional organizations to recommend this change, which reflects the unique perspective of the nurse’s focus to reduce the risk of RSI.” It’s critical that when assessing new practices and adopting updated guidelines to the current practices and policies in each facility that an interdepartmental team work together and coordinate the appropriate approach to the next steps.
 
Source: https://www.aorn.org/about-aorn/aorn-newsroom/periop-today-newsletter/2019/2019-articles/guideline-revisions-for-2020