Becker's Clinical Quality & Infection Control

9 'Quality doesn't cost, it pays' — 2 insulated device experts weigh in on patient burn prevention By Rachel Popa O ver 3 million laparoscopic proce- dures are performed annually in the U.S., and 5.4 percent of those operations will result in an unintentional tis- sue burn, according to Cheron Rojo, a clinical education coordinator for Healthmark. Fur- thermore, one out of five reusable laparoscop- ic instruments have insulation failure, which can cause patient burns. During a May 16 webinar hosted by Becker's Hospital Review and sponsored by Healthmark, Mr. Rojo and Seth Hendee, clinical education coordinators for Healthmark, discussed how to properly test insulated devices to prevent patient burns, how to select an insulation tester and what professional organization recommen- dations are for insulation testing. Recommended insulation testing Even though device instructions for use say damage to laparoscopic instruments can cause electrical shocks and burns, many of these instruments don't explicitly recommend that clinicians use a device to inspect them. "Visually inspecting with the naked eye and by feel for cracks is a little subjective," Mr. Hendee said. "I may not believe that a crack or a dent is something that can cause an electrical stray, but there are totally objective ways to go about it. Machines are great because they have more than one way of showing you objectively that [a device] is working properly." e Association of periOperative Registered Nurses recommends that instruments should be checked by a device designed to detect damage. How to properly test insulated devices Unintentional surgical burns may not be seen by the surgical team and don't oen cause symptoms in the patient for several days following the pro- cedure, Mr. Hendee said. However, complications from these types of burns include life-threatening organ perforations and peritonitis. When it comes to testing devices, clinicians should visually inspect the insulation prior to the cleaning process, according to the Asso- ciation of Surgical Technologists. If damage is found, the insulation should be removed from service and sent for re-insulation repair. Insula- tion should be cleaned with a so brush and a nonabrasive cleaning agent and rinsed. A microscope should be used to check the integ- rity of the insulation of each device. What to look for in an insulation tester e factors to consider when purchasing an insulation tester include tester sensitivity, if it's portable, plug in or battery operated and the type of insulation it will be testing. Another important factor to keep in mind when purchasing an insulation tester is that insulated instruments are not just laparo- scopic; they can be robotic, bipolar scissors, bipolar forceps and bipolar cords. Mr. Rojo recommended asking what accessories the tester comes with to ensure the tester will be able to test a wide variety of instruments. "Quality doesn't cost, it pays," Mr. Rojo said. "Don't let low-priced or free devices override quality." Conclusion Inspecting instruments beyond just sight and touch can not only save money, it can save a life. Additionally, the sterile processing professionals testing the instruments should engage in their environment through certification and con- tinuing education to keep up in the fast-paced healthcare environment. "Taking the time to [properly inspect instru- ments] and making the investment in the equip- ment is well worth it," Mr. Hendee said. n Since 1969, Healthmark Industries Company, Inc. has developed and marketed innovative solutions to aid healthcare facilities in their delivery of surgical instruments and other lifesaving medical devices to patients. Healthmark Industries mission is to continue to innovate, continue to support and continue to serve the healthcare provider industry and support services that make it possible to deliver quality healthcare. Visit www.hmark.com for more information. "Quality doesn't cost, it pays ... Don't let low- priced or free devices override quality." — Cheron Rojo, Cinical Education Coordinator, Healthmark Sponsored by:

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