In every hospital across the country there are billions of dangerous microorganisms that want to kill you.
But thankfully there is one healthcare team whose burden it is to ensure none of those deadly superbugs ever makes it into your surgical suite – the hospital's Sterile Processing department.
These unknown professionals, almost as invisible as the microbial fire-breathers they make a living removing from surgical instrumentation, are often located in the basement of your local hospital. On a daily basis, they are the teams decontaminating, washing, inspecting, testing, packaging, and sterilizing the very surgical instrumentation used in every procedure from routine C-sections to heart transplants. If you, or a loved one, have undergone surgery, this team had a major part to play in it.
No matter how skilled a surgeon or how experienced a nursing staff, without a high performing Sterile Processing team every single surgical patient could be put at risk for acquiring painful, and many times, deadly surgical site infections. If the Sterile Processing department doesn't do their job, no else can do it for them.
The protocol for ensuring every surgical instrument is functional and sterile, for every procedure, every time is quite the logistical feat. These departments are many times inadequately trained, poorly paid, and under-staffed for the volume of surgeries they must support. And yet, these unsung heroes of healthcare find a way to make it happen – balancing an uncompromising commitment to patient safety with the knowledge that failure here is not an option. Surgeries must go on. Crash victims must be put back together, babies have to be born, and tumors must be removed.
This October 9th-15th, 2016 marks the national "Central Sterile Supply Department Week," as recognized by proclamation of Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, and countless other leaders across the country. Please join me in recognizing these Sterile Processing professionals who daily slay the dragons of healthcare acquired infections and dangerous microbial fire-breathers. While you may not see them during your next hospital stay, they will be there, ensuring the safest possible surgeries by skillfully wielding their disinfecting weapons of mass microbial destruction.
On behalf of patients everywhere, we thank you.
Weston "Hank" Balch, BS, MDiv, CRCST, CIS, CHL President, South Texas Association of Sterile Processing Services (STASPS) System Director of Sterile Processing Operations, University Health System
(210) 743-0418 (Office)
(210) 702-6243 (Fax)
4502 Medical Drive, MS# 24-1
San Antonio, Texas 78229
The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of Becker's Hospital Review/Becker's Healthcare. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.