Need help with new policy.

[pixieduster]

I remember recently a discussion regarding sending instruments through the washer/decontaminator on racks, or stringers rather than just opened and "tossed" into the baskets.

I think most agreed that it sounded like a good idea. My co-worker and I have been trying this for a few weeks and we think its working great. I feel as far as decontamination of instruments go, the manual cleaning beforehand has really been stepped up.

It's time for the Dept. of Health to come around again, and I was explaining to our supervisor about our experiment. He suggested that if it is working out for us and we want to make this change permanent, could we find something in writing (AAMI Standards?) that we could add to our policy and procedure manual.

Does anyone have a policy similar to this that I could use as a sample? I would appreciate any and all suggestions! Thanks so much!!

[cpdguy]

please contact me off line

[davidds91]

Pixiedust,
I believe it was me who brought up the subject of using stringers in decon. I have scoured every source I could find on the subject up to and including our central office in Washington DC and there is no law, rule, or regulation for or against using stringers in this manner. This is the way I was taught as stringing the instruments before running them in the washer keeps them open, untangled, and in some kind of order so that when they come out of the washer, they are easier to handle and is safer as the tech is less likely to be stuck or poked by tangled up instruments. I'm glad I could help. :D

[SHIRLEEN VANOCKER]

Pixiedust, I found a statement in the Instrument Specialist Certification book that said stringers may be used to hold instruments going thru the decontaminator process. I don't have the book with me to give you a direct quote, but would be glad to do so if you need it.

[pixieduster]

That would be great! I was curious to see if it might recommend a certain kind of stringer made specifically for use in washers? I would appreciate anything that you could tell me.

Thanks so very much for taking the time!

[cpdguy]

Please contactme off line on this topic for information. thank you

[SHIRLEEN VANOCKER]

pixieduster: no there was no specific info as to type of stringer or anything like that; just a statement that stringers may be used. Other than that, I have never seen anything for or against this practice.