The sterile processing department (SPD) and the OR work hand in hand, but communication between the two can be disjointed and incomplete, resulting in unnecessary waste and preventable errors. Both departments must perform at optimal levels to ensure positive outcomes and patient safety, which means systematic collaboration isn’t just nice to have — it’s absolutely essential. Here are six ways to improve communication between the SPD and the OR in a way that reduces both costs and risks:
#1 – Educational Tours. According to OR Manager, SPD staff need to visit the OR — and vice versa — so that there’s a better understanding of the practical workings and challenges present in each department. SPD staff will have a greater appreciation for the accuracy of their work (and what’s at stake when there are errors made), and OR staff will see the complexity and volume of work that SPD techs handle each day, helping them to become more thoughtful about reducing instrument load.
#2 – SPD Certification. Professional development for SPD techs can reduce turnover rates and the incidence of errors. SpecialtyCare conducted a 17-month analysis of a hospital system with over 3,000 employees, which revealed that errors are more frequently caused by less experienced technicians. As OR technology advances, instruments become more complicated to clean, which can cause delays and increase the risk of infection from inaccurately sterilized equipment. Staff certification can help solve these problems.
#3 – Joint Committees. Having a committee of both SPD and OR staff that can assess problems and work together to solve them is a significant way to increase communication between the two departments. OR Manager recommends a committee specifically to handle challenges such as when to use immediate-use steam sterilization.
#4 – Lean Six Sigma Methodology. A study in Scientific Reports reveals that the use of Lean Six Sigma methodology to optimize surgical instrument sterilization processes is cost-effective. In an assessment of over 300,000 instruments and 22 OR processes, the study showed a savings of over $19,000 and increased satisfaction among staff.
#5 – Collaboration with Surgical Technologists. OR Manager says that surgical technologists can make a key difference in the accuracy of instrument trays that end up in the OR. If surgical technologists are more involved with the SPD, they can help reduce waste in instrument sets, making both the OR and SPD more efficient.
#6 – Regular Meetings and Checklists. Routine briefings and debriefings can go a long way in keeping SPD and OR staff members aligned on priorities and processes. According to The Journal of the American College of Surgeons, these meetings as well as checklists and conflict resolution procedures are fundamental to an optimal working relationship between teams.
Start Improving SPD and OR Communication Today
SpecialtyCare is trusted by more than 1,200 hospitals and 13,500 physicians around the US to help make surgery safer, which includes improving efficiency in the SPD and OR. We have hundreds of SPD professionals who integrate seamlessly with teams to reduce risks and improve collaboration. We use Lean Six Sigma principles to assess SPD inefficiency and reduce waste, increasing quality and satisfaction. In addition to placing experienced techs, we provide SPD consulting, inventory management, and tray optimization. If you want to improve processes and communication in your SPD and OR, contact us today to learn more about how we can help!
