Because the OR is a key revenue generator for hospitals, an emphasis is placed on efficiency, communication, throughput, volume, and the like. However, the sterile processing department (SPD) plays an enormous role in the success of the OR as well as patient safety. This is particularly true when it comes to Ortho/Neuro/Spinal (ONS) surgeries, because nearly half (42%) of sterile processing errors impact these procedures.
Sterile Processing Challenges for ONS Surgeries
ONS surgeries require a high number of instruments, an average of eight trays per procedure. Today’s sterile processing departments are dealing with an increasing volume of instruments — for example, a 480-bed hospital may process an estimated 1.6 million instruments per year, which translates to roughly 4,400 per day. With the rise in instrument complexity, many instruments are becoming more difficult to clean — and this is especially true for ONS instruments. Additionally, SPDs are notorious for staff turnover, with factors like burnout and a lack of appropriate training contributing to decreased retention.
At best, these problems translate into costly delays for the OR, and at worst, they put patients at risk of injury or infection. The most common SPD errors include the following:
- Bioburden, debris, or foreign material found on instrument.
- Missing instrument, part, or accessory.
- Damaged wrap or peel pack.
- Wrong instrument in tray.
- Sterilization indicator missing.
Sterile processing errors are often poorly tracked and not consistently reported, leading to unacknowledged cost drains, friction between the OR and SPD, decreased morale, and staff retention issues. Beyond that, SSIs, suboptimal outcomes, and lawsuits may accrue. ONS surgeries are a critical revenue line that can be far too easily disrupted by preventable SPD errors.
Our ONS Program Drives Real Results
At SpecialtyCare, we are experts in SPD management, error tracking, and optimization. We use a Lean Six Sigma approach to evaluate SPD processes and structure them for success, leveraging our extensive expertise and placing technicians as needed. We have a specific program for ONS surgeries because it’s an area that drives key revenue but also presents unique challenges related to sterilization and efficiency.
When we partner with hospitals through our ONS Program, our goal is to achieve equal to, or more than, 98% tray availability, instrument functionality, and safety. We work with vendor parties on instrument intake, preparing instruments for sterilization, and SPD and OR coordination both pre- and post-operation.
In one client case study, our involvement resulted in an 85% reduction in SPD-related events, decreasing from 9.3% to 1.3% of procedures performed. This protected over $600,000 in revenue for the client over six months. With no intervention, the additional cost of SPD-related OR events would have been greater than $2.8M.
Support Your OR with an Optimized SPD
At SpecialtyCare, our experts have more than 30 years of collective experience in sterile processing optimization. We can identify the root causes of SPD inefficiency and quality issues, then implement sustainable corrective actions, salvaging significant time and revenue. From consulting to training, educating, and managing your technicians — or placing technicians as needed — our team can optimize processes while creating a more robust in-house hiring and training capacity.
If you need complex instrument specialists or even inventory management services, we can supply them, allowing you to improve safety and eliminate wasteful practices. We’re trusted by over 1,200 hospitals across our service lines with a 97% retention rate, and you can rely on our expertise. If you would like to support your OR with an optimized SPD that increases efficiency and safety, contact us today.
