Basics of Sterile Processing
This department is responsible for cleaning, decontaminating, assembling, disinfecting, and sterilizing resuable medical and surgical devices for safe and effective care.
What is the sterile processing department (SPD)?
This area is where soiled items are received and cleaned.
What is the Decontamination Area?
This discipline deals with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation.
What is Ethics?
This federal agency regulates environmental disinfectants and controls air and water emissions.
What is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?
This board offers accredited SPD Technician, Management, and Flexible Endoscope certification programs.
What is the Certification Board for Sterile Processing & Distribution, Inc. (CBSPD)?
The process in SPD always begins in this area and progresses through preparation, sterilization, and storage.
What is the Decontamination Area?
This area is where cleaned items are inspected, assembled, and packaged.
What is the Preparation and Packaging Area?
SPD workers should never disclose this type of information about a patient.
What is confidential information?
This agency promotes and protects public health by regulating medical devices and drugs.
What is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)?
This association offers an accredited certified Technician program and Healthcare Leadership certification.
What is the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM) OR HSPA?
The workflow in SPD should always move in this direction and never be circumvented.
What is DIRTY to CLEAN?
This area is used for terminal sterilization and may have a separate room for ethylene oxide sterilization.
What is the Sterilization Area?
This act provides for the confidentiality and security of health information in healthcare facilities.
What is HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act)?
This administration affects SPD through its regulation of occupational exposure to airborne contaminants and bloodborne pathogens.
What is the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)?
Compliance with these is mandatory and required by law, and they are issued by agencies such as OSHA, EPA, and FDA.
What are regulations?
This organization sets the minimum standards for emergency eyewash stations in healthcare facilities.
What is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)?
This area is used for storing sterile items until they are needed for patient care.
What is the Sterile Storage Area?
This organization requires healthcare facilities to be prepared for both internal and external disasters.
What is The Joint Commission?
This is required by OSHA and is not optional when handling sharps or bloodborne pathogens.
What is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
These are established norms determined by opinion, authority, research, or theory, and are recognized as the primary measure of good practice, but are not legally required.
What are standards?
The water temperature for emergency eyewash stations should be in this range to prevent eye tissue damage.
What is 60°F to 100°F (15.5°C to 37.7°C)?
The final step in the SPD workflow, where processed items are sent out for use in patient care.
What is Distribution?
SPD Technicians must know their role in this facility plan to respond effectively during emergencies.
What is the disaster preparedness plan?
All sharps should be placed in this type of container to prevent injury and exposure.
What is a puncture-proof, leak-proof container?
This agency regulates the manufacturer and sale of ethylene oxide (EO) gas and its emissions into the atmosphere.
What is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?