RESUMO
Hundreds of thousands of dollars are invested in surgical instruments in hospitals. Materiel management and central service professionals should focus attention on managing this asset, just as we have done for supply and linen inventories. However, there are no performance standards against which to measure performance in this area; in fact, there are not even any commonly accepted indicators of surgical instrument inventories. The purpose of this article is to stimulate interest in the issue of surgical instrument inventory, so that materiel management and central service professionals will begin collecting data that will eventually allow definition of performance standards. Indicators of performance are suggested, specifically: 1. The number of "pars" of instruments in inventory, where one par equals the average amount of instruments used in one day. 2. The average of the value of instruments used per surgical procedure. Management of surgical instrument inventories could become a new source of both one-time savings (by reducing purchasing as inventories decrease) and ongoing annual savings (by decreasing the size of instrument trays in use).
Assuntos
Almoxarifado Central Hospitalar/métodos , Custos e Análise de Custo , Inventários Hospitalares/economia , Administração de Materiais no Hospital/economia , Administração de Materiais no Hospital/métodos , Instrumentos Cirúrgicos/provisão & distribuição , Número de Leitos em Hospital , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Consistent use of proper wrapping techniques is an important part of the responsibilities of materiel management employees. Sterility of supplies is dependent upon using the correct procedure for each part of the sterilization process. In order for materiel management to meet the objective of providing sterile products for patient care, attention to detail must include appropriate wrapping techniques.
Assuntos
Almoxarifado Central Hospitalar/métodos , Equipamentos e Provisões Hospitalares/normas , Capacitação em Serviço , Esterilização/normas , Estados UnidosRESUMO
The development of medical equipment that cannot adequately be sterilised or disinfected has caused growing concern in recent years. Areas of concern are equipment that is likely to be damaged by normal autoclaving temperatures, and is therefore heat labile, or is so complicated in structure that adequate penetration of chemical disinfectants is unlikely. The need has led to the search for a method that would give adequate penetration of a bacteriocide without the use of excessive temperatures. The penetrative power of gaseous sterilant/disinfectants appears to be the area most likely to fulfill these considerations. Ethylene oxide (Phillips 1949) and Low Temperature Steam, with or without Formaldehyde, have been investigated by various workers.
Assuntos
Almoxarifado Central Hospitalar/métodos , Esterilização/tendências , Óxido de Etileno , Previsões , Formaldeído , Vapor , Esterilização/métodos , Reino UnidoRESUMO
Ultrasonic cleaning can prolong the life of expensive instruments. In the past, many fine instruments were discarded due to stiffening hinges and box locks, or sticking plungers. Hand scrubbing and spray washing could not thoroughly clean these areas. Ultrasonic cleaners effectively remove dried and baked blood, serums and medications from these instruments. Also, hinged instruments and syringes operate more smoothly during use in surgery when cleaned using ultrasonics. In addition, the use of ultrasonics alleviates the necessity for hand scrubbing of contaminated surgical instruments and laboratory apparatus, a procedure which could lead to injury or infection. The superb cleaning powers of ultrasonic cleaners, their speed and simplicity of operation, and their ability to remove blood, tissue, bacteria and microorganisms within minutes, makes them a valuable addition to any operating room suite, central service department, or emergency room. Their cost-effectiveness is considerable for the small hospital, and compelling for the large hospital.
