'Process-driven' design and planning during the renovation of a multi-specialty ambulatory surgical center can reduce risks, lower costs and improve quality of care, according to an article on the Medical Construction & Design website.
As the workflow of instrument processing was studied, it was discovered that a vast majority of instruments required very similar paths. The workflow diagram highlighted several potential risks in the sterile processing approach that could be addressed. These included:
• Lack of physical separation between intraocular and non-ophthalmologic surgical instruments
• Splashing of water during manual cleaning process poses the greatest risk of contamination
• Instruments unnecessarily cross paths in the decontamination area
With a clear understanding of this department’s detailed workflow, the team was able to create a diagram to illustrate how a limited separation and careful positioning of cleanup sinks in decontamination can create an effective and safe workflow, the article said.
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