Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/381883
74 Executive Briefing: GI reprocessing in ASCs 2. Manual documentation. For years, ASCs have gotten by with manual documentation — often checking off boxes on a slip of paper — leaving room for significant human error. More ASCs are adopting automated technology or software programs to remind them about the different steps, but that still leaves room for staff members to check-off a task without completing it properly. One of the best new solutions is automated tracking systems — including the ENDORA Endoscope Tracking System — that docu- ments the endoscope workflow from the procedure through repro- cessing and storage. The system can tell if an unclean endoscope goes through reprocessing and alerts managers to the issue. Au- tomated documentation is great for quick and easy reporting in the event of an infection caused by a procedure. Automated systems can also timestamp each procedure step so the center complies with reprocessing time requirements. 3. Attempting to disinfect blocked endoscopes. The disinfec- tion process is useless if the endoscope is blocked. However, the AJIC journal article noted several instances where "researchers identified debris in lumened instruments, including endoscopes, as a result of inadequate reprocessing." In one report, protein residue and water was noted in the endoscope despite thorough cleaning. Automated endoscope reprocessors with channel moni- toring like Medivators Advantage Plus Reprocessor can detect blockages in an endoscope channel. There have been some instances where patient infections and viruses were tracked directly to lapses in reprocessing. Negative outcomes hurt the ASC's reputation among physicians as well as patients and a careful quality study any time there's an issue could identify new opportunities to close gaps in the reprocessing protocol and make sure staff members are cleaning appropriately each time. 4. Less-effective cleaning brush use. Some cleaning brushes are more effective than others at clearing up blockages. Conduct research to evaluate which brushes and methods work best and then invest in equipment to adequately clean the endoscope ev- ery time. Pull-through cleaning devices, such as the Pull Thru® from Medivators, are proven superior to normal channel brushes. They can significantly reduce the time required to manually clean the lumen and improve overall efficiency. 5. Inappropriate endoscope storage. Storage is a huge issue for endoscopes, especially if staff members store contaminated scopes with clean scopes. The AJIC study noted an instance where a colonoscopy was hung in a cabinet, despite being un- labeled, with clean endoscopes. Another issue highlighted was improper staff training and documentation in the storage area. Contaminating a whole cabinet of endoscopes is hazardous. However, new technology tracking reprocessing can also track storage methods and prevent contamination. The ENDORA sys- tem has already averted at least one potential disaster when a staff member attempted to hang a dirty scope in storage. n "Because of the increasing volume of procedures and complexity of endoscope design and reprocessing, utilizing a system that provides reliable reprocessing management is critical to patient safety." – Don Byrne, president of Medivators Endoscopy Business Group MEDIVATORS Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cantel Medical Corp. (NYSE:CMN), is a leading provider of endoscopy disease detection and infection prevention products and services to physicians, nurses and technicians. MEDIVATORS offers a comprehensive range of procedural disposables including pre-cancerous polyp detection products, and medical device reprocessing systems, disinfectants, detergents and other supplies for endoscopy. MEDIVATORS products improve patient outcomes and safely increase department productivity.