Coming Clean
Dustin Patterson | Regional Sales Manager, LogiQuip LLC.
Keeping the sterile storage environment clean is as important as keeping the decontamination, assembly, and sterile processing areas clean. The type of storage you use, cleaning schedules, and industry standards all play a role in maintaining sterility. Here are some points to consider when managing the maintenance of your sterile storage:
- When choosing your storage type, select fine mesh wire basket shelving and bins vs. plastic bins. Fine mesh wire shelving requires less maintenance because dust and debris fall through the openings, instead of becoming trapped inside the bin. In addition, racks should be on casters so that they are easy to move when it is time to clean the floor.
- Ensuring that your sterile storage is set up appropriately (see our Beyond Clean February post “Set Up for Success”) is imperative. Following ANSI-AAMI ST97 2017 and ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2017 will help in building a strong, clean foundation for your sterile storage area.
- Follow your facilities standard operating procedures, including an Environmental Requirements Checklists, to help with compliance.
The checklists will make sure that you are looking for breaks in the standards you may not notice on any given day, including:
- Inspect shelving for discoloration and rust
- Making sure there is adequate space around sterile products to create proper airflow
- Check to make sure nothing is stored in direct sunlight orunder sinks
- Look for discolored ceiling tiles that can lead to water damage of the items being stored below
- No corrugated cardboard boxes are in sterile storage (more to come on this in May)
Lasty, make sure you have a person on each shift responsible for making sure your facility’s standards are followed and the checklists are being completed. Implementing change is easy. Sustaining change is not.
Dustin Patterson is currently the Mid-West Regional Sales Manager with Logiquip Healthcare Storage Solutions, a leading provider of high- quality, future focused storage systems designed exclusively for use in the healthcare environment. Logiquip is based out of Kalamazoo, MI and has served healthcare organizations across the US for 30 years. Dustin brings over 12 years of experience in space planning and healthcare storage. He has acted on behalf of LogiQuip as the vendor liaison to the AHRMM Wisconsin Chapter, a leading membership group for healthcare supply chain professionals. Working closely with many hospitals and surgery centers, Dustin has developed tailored solutions using a mix of best practices, Lean principles, and industry-leading storage equipment. He has also worked with many Sterile Processing Departments to maximize storage spaces, balancing trade-offs between high-capacity storage layouts and workflow efficiencies.
