From upgrades & enhancements to existing equipment, to new hospital department builds, Pure Processing helps medical facilities achieve three key objectives for their equipment investments:
1. Optimal patient safety outcomes
2. Enhanced operational efficiencies
3. Reduced costs associated with worker injuries & ergonomics, instrument damage, and infection risks
By leveraging our expertise and collaborative, partnership-first approach, we can help facilities protect their most important assets: their staff and instrumentation.
To learn about our full project capabilities, expertise, and approach, download our Project Capabilities brochure below to get started on your equipment journey with Pure Processing.
Interested in learning more? We'd love to partner with you!
Read more regarding projects, industry guidelines, and customer insights.
How to Mitigate Productivity Concerns Caused by Inefficient Manual Processes in Decontamination
Decontamination is a vital and labor-intensive stage in sterile processing departments. While it serves as the first step toward sterilization and safe surgical outcomes, the high volume of tasks involved means that inefficiencies can significantly bog down productivity. Managers often pinpoint decontamination as the key area for productivity boosts, but how can they identify and implement effective solutions? In our previous blog, we discussed the productivity pitfalls posed by manual processes in decontamination, including manual cleaning, the manual handling of chemistries, and unassisted visual inspection. These processes contribute to significant productivity drains—slow speeds, inconsistent results, and human error. But what if there were ways to automate and optimize these areas to ensure greater efficiency, consistency, and, ultimately, better patient outcomes? 1.Ergonomics Enhance Technician Comfort with Height-Adjustable Sinks Decontamination sinks that are not height-adjustable force technicians to work in uncomfortable postures, leading to strain and fatigue over long shifts. Height-adjustable sinks allow each technician to customize the sink height to their ergonomic needs, reducing bending and reaching that can cause discomfort or long-term injuries. By investing in adjustable sinks, sterile processing and gastroenterology departments can create a more comfortable work environment that enhances efficiency. When technicians and nurses are less fatigued, they can maintain focus and precision in cleaning, leading to better overall reprocessing outcomes. Reduce Strain with Wrist Rests Long hours of scrubbing and handling of instruments in decontamination can place significant strain on technicians’ wrists, increasing the risk of repetitive motion injuries. Wrist rests provide ergonomic support, reducing pressure on the hands and wrists during extended cleaning sessions. Incorporating wrist rests at decontamination sinks promotes better posture, reduces fatigue, and helps prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). By prioritizing technician well-being, SPDs can maintain productivity while ensuring staff comfort and long-term health. 2. Efficiency Eliminate Syringe Flushing with Automated Flushing Devices Automated flushing systems provide a solution to the slow, manual process of syringe flushing. By integrating an automated system, technicians ensure consistent and thorough flushing with minimal effort. These systems reduce the risk of human error, ensuring each instrument is cleaned to the same standard every time. The automation also speeds up the process, cutting down on the time spent flushing instruments and preventing the need for reprocessing due to inconsistencies in manual flushing. This leads to more efficient manual cleaning, freeing up technicians to focus on other tasks and saving money. Say Goodbye to Manual Chemical Handling: Automated Dosing Pumps Automated dosing pumps eliminate the need for manual measuring and mixing of cleaning chemicals, ensuring that decontamination sinks are consistently supplied with properly concentrated detergents and disinfectants. These systems accurately dispense the exact amount of cleaning solution needed for each task, preventing variations that can occur with manual mixing. By removing the risk of over- or under-concentrated solutions, automated dosing systems help maintain the effectiveness of cleaning agents while reducing chemical waste. This not only improves cleaning consistency but also enhances technician safety by minimizing direct handling of concentrated chemicals. When integrated into decontamination sinks, these systems streamline workflows, reduce errors, and ensure compliance with manufacturer Instructions for Use (IFUs) and industry standards—ultimately supporting a more efficient and effective cleaning process. 3. Lighting Enhance Inspections with Technology: Borescopes and Task Lights Borescopes offer a magnified view of hard-to-reach areas in instruments, enabling technicians to spot debris and contaminants that would otherwise be missed with the naked eye. The high-resolution image provided by borescopes ensures that even the smallest particles are detected, enhancing the thoroughness of inspections and preventing missed contaminants that could lead to reprocessing. Implementing borescope inspections in decontamination rather than assembly provides a key advantage: identifying damage or residual debris before instruments progress further in reprocessing. If an instrument enters a washer with unnoticed damage or contamination, the entire cycle may be wasted—costing valuable time and resources. Additionally, many instrument manufacturers’ Instructions for Use (IFU) require visual inspection during decontamination. For example, some arthroscopy shaver IFUs specify that inspection must occur before further cleaning or sterilization. ANSI/AAMI ST91 also recommends that visual inspection and cleaning verification be completed before instruments move into an Automated Endoscope Reprocessor or sterilization. By integrating borescopes in decontamination, SPDs can align with IFU and industry guidelines while ensuring instruments are thoroughly inspected early in the process, ultimately preventing delays and improving overall efficiency. Additionally, task lighting designed specifically for inspection areas ensures optimal illumination, reducing shadows and improving visibility. With adjustable, bright lighting, technicians can more adequately see contaminants in every corner, making visual inspections more accurate and efficient. Maximize Visibility with Light Hood & In-Basin Lighting Proper illumination in decontamination sinks is critical for ensuring thorough cleaning and inspection. Light hoods provide broad, overhead illumination, reducing shadows and glare in key work areas. In-basin lighting enhances visibility during critical decontamination tasks, such as leak testing for flexible endoscopes. Proper illumination within the basin allows technicians to clearly observe air bubbles that indicate leaks, ensuring accurate testing results. Without adequate lighting, small leaks may go unnoticed, potentially compromising patient safety and requiring costly repairs. By integrating in-basin lighting, SPD and GI can improve the precision of leak testing, reduce the risk of missed damage, and enhance overall instrument quality assurance. By incorporating both overhead and in-basin lighting, sterile processing and GI can create a more ergonomic, efficient workspace that supports thorough cleaning, reduces strain on technicians, and improves overall instrument quality before the next stage of reprocessing. Manual processes in decontamination create inefficiencies that slow down workflows and strain sterile processing teams. The key to overcoming these challenges may lie in technology. By implementing automated solutions for syringe flushing, chemical dispensing, and visual inspection, GI and SPD can eliminate common bottlenecks, reduce errors, and enhance overall efficiency. These improvements not only help departments keep pace with rising reprocessing demands but also contribute to higher-quality outcomes and a safer, more ergonomic work environment. Investing in smarter, more efficient processes ensures that productivity concerns become a thing of the past. Ready to optimize your SPD? Contact us
2024 Sterile Processing State of the Industry Report – Actionable Insights
The annual State of the Industry Report delivers unique, interesting insights for SPD professionals across the country. The survey often affirms known challenges, while simultaneously shedding light on new and emerging ones. What can leaders and managers do with all this information? Here are some actionable insights from the 2024 Sterile Processing State of the Industry Report. Finding great people People are entering the sterile processing industry in a variety of ways. Interestingly, the largest group of respondents indicated they had no knowledge of sterile processing before taking their first role. Found open position without prior knowledge of SPD: 37.43% Referred by a friend or colleague: 18.63% Moved from another department in the hospital/facility: 31.11% Pursued education at a university/college with the intent of starting a career in SPD: 12.83% Actionable insight: 62.57% of participants entered the sterile processing industry from within the healthcare field, via referral, or because of personal aspirations. Leveraging your professional and personal networks is a great way to find your next teammate. Building a great team around what SPD techs enjoy about their work We asked participants to identify the aspects of working in sterile processing that they enjoy the most. Participants submitted free responses, with some incorporating more than one aspect of the job they enjoy. Impact on Patient Safety: 45% Continuous Learning & Variety of Work: 30% Sense of Accomplishment & Importance of Work: 19.78% Problem Solving & Challenging Work: 11.74% Teamwork & Collaboration: 10.43% Playing a Behind-the-Scenes Role: 10% Actionable insight: Technicians that love working in sterile processing have and share many similar traits. When hiring for open spots on your team, it may be a good idea to look for candidates with the following qualities: Caring Curious Open to learning Team-oriented Stands behind their work Interested in the well-being of others Turning common problems into opportunities We asked 2024 Sterile Processing State of the Industry Survey participants to identify the most common problems they see in SPD. Participants were able to select three choices. Space: 52.17% Equipment: 38.37% Management: 27.98% Work Culture: 33.27% Pay & Benefits: 72.97% Training & Education: 45.37% Compliance: 16.64% Ergonomics: 13.23% Actionable insight: Issues regarding space, equipment, and compliance could be the source of workarounds and shortcuts being taken in sterile processing departments. If you’re seeing shortcuts being taken or an increased lack of compliance, assessing your space, how it’s utilized, and whether the equipment your team has at its disposal will likely serve as a good starting point toward addressing compliance concerns. Listen to your team We asked participants, “What is a problem that should be easy for sterile processing departments to resolve today?” and gave them a text box for free responses. Several themes emerged from the free responses, with some participants mentioning more than one problem in their replies. Training & Education: 66.96% Equipment & Technology: 10.49% Staffing & Workload: 9.15% Compliance & Standards: 6.92% Communication & Coordination: 6.92% Process Efficiencies: 3.35% Quality Control: 1.12% Safety: <1% Resource Allocation <1% Culture <1% Actionable insight: Many participants cited training & education as an easy problem to solve in the SPD. Asking your team what kind of training or education they’d like to see offered then leveraging free training provided by industry resources can help fill education gaps and let your team feel heard. Developing a consistent training schedule will help teams feel supported and well-trained, helping to build & maintain their industry knowledge and confidence. Ready to turn even more insights into action items for your department? These actionable insights are just the tip of the iceberg; to maximize what was learned in the 2024 Sterile Processing State of the Industry Report for your department, check out our other blog posts detailing findings and takeaways ahead of the 10.1.24 publishing of the report: Interested in using pre-built assessment tools in your department right now? Scan or click the QR codes below for access to free tools that can help you assess your department: SPD Ergonomic Checklist Luminosity Compliance Checklist
Reprocessing Stories: Resolving Ergonomic Challenges in Henry Ford’s GI Department
Over the past 37 years, Kate Jahnke has served her patients and staff at the Henry Ford Health System across multiple departments, 20 in GI. Jahnke’s journey into the position was somewhat serendipitous. She transitioned into GI after an initial role in the ER and since 2020, she’s been working at Henry Ford Health System, Columbus, first as a contingent and then full-time. When her long-time supervisor left, she was encouraged to step into the role. Jahnke is also accompanied by longtime team member April Helton, who has worked alongside Jahnke as a medical assistant for 16 years. Henry Ford & Jahnke’s Super Star Team Jahnke’s department operates in a freestanding ambulatory site; a three-story building that is part of the Henry Ford Health System. This system includes their main campus downtown and several ambulatory sites across the area, as well as a larger department in West Bloomfield Hospital. Her site operates five days a week, reprocessing approximately 150 procedures a week or around 30-38 procedures daily. Jahnke is proud to say her team is staffed with the highest quality endoscopy techs. As Jahnke states: “Our loyalties I think are rare… and the camaraderie is rare. Anytime we get a big group of people, especially women, we support each other in many aspects of our [personal] and our work lives.” This mutual support creates an enjoyable and fulfilling workplace. The Henry Ford team takes pride in the quality of their care, and their patients can sense that positive environment. It’s part of the secret that inspires Jahnke and her team. Ergonomic Concerns in Decontamination While Jahnke and Helton had the superstar team, their department struggled with ergonomic challenges. Their fixed-height sinks were leading to back pain and poor working postures for a team of people with varying heights. Helton shares: “Our biggest issue was that we have varying heights among our technicians. So, our sink was kind of low. And that was a problem for a lot of our taller technicians, who had to bend over to work at them.” In addition to including height-adjustability into their new sink’s design, Jahnke’s goal was also to update and improve functionality, workflow, and durability compared with the old sinks. According to Jahnke: “We were looking for something that was updated, down to the fact that our sink had been used since 2012. There was some wear and tear on it, old plumbing, and leaks. They weren’t functioning any longer.” The department needed a solution that addressed these concerns and provided an ergonomic space for the team. Consultation Process with Pure Processing Jahnke first learned of Pure Processing through other ambulatory sites within Henry Ford System, which had recently opened and implemented PureSteel™ Healthcare Reprocessing Sinks. The success of these projects, and the satisfaction of the facilities, led to Pure Processing being brought in to help with this project. While the consultation and design process was standardized and streamlined due to previous collaborations, Pure Processing representatives, were “really helpful and easy to talk to”, to according to Jahnke. Having worked on similar projects at other sites, they brought valuable experience and familiarity to the table. However, they faced unique challenges due to the age and size of the building; the decontamination space was limited compared newer buildings on campus. Installation Hurdles Logistics presented significant challenges regarding installation of the sink. The older building wasn’t equipped with a loading dock, which created unique challenges associated with delivering the sink. Additionally, the layout of the building made navigation to the reprocessing space difficult, requiring partial disassembly of some components. Their representative was onsite for the install and helped remedy challenges as they arose. Despite these challenges, Jahnke explained “Anytime we had one of these hurdles and we reached out, my representative was very receptive and made things right. And any issues that had occurred during that time were outweighed by the benefits now from the sink. While the installation was not smooth, it was corrected, and everything worked out.” A New Sink’s Impact on Morale Since implementation of the new PureSteel™ Healthcare Reprocessing Sink in Jahnke’s department, overall satisfaction has been high. “The new sink has been a lot better than our old sink. I hear a lot less complaints about having to be in [decontamination], and it’s a lot more comfortable. It’s so much nicer having the freedom to position our tools and materials where we need them. It’s definitely an improvement for us”, stated Helton. Additionally, the ability to place shelves and necessary items in more convenient locations has had a substantial impact in terms of improved workflow and overall functionality. Helton also stated that there have been some unexpected benefits stemming from the new sink, such as improved lighting, organization, and ergonomics. “Having that overhead lighting definitely made it easier to see into the water to detect leaks. And the pegboard back has been very helpful with all of the different attachments and adjustability. We can move things where we wanted them, we can attach everything to a bin, and put it on the pegboard. So all of that is very helpful, and it’s easy to clean.” Departments come in all shapes and sizes. In the case of Jahnke and Helton’s GI department at Henry Ford Health System Columbus, the age and design of the building created unique constraints that posed challenges to implementation that could have derailed the project. It was the ability to partner with a vendor that could accommodate unique installation challenges and improve not only ergonomics, but functionality, workflow and compliance, that secured Henry Ford a successful new sink installation. Looking to solve some unique problems in your department? We’d love to help!