'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.

Read the article.