Healthcare providers are urging facilities to update and adjust their endoscope reprocessing protocols — and standardizing these efforts whenever possible to accommodate new information and integrate input from personnel and specialists.

That’s according to a recent article in Outpatient Surgery Magazine, which is produced by AORN, a leading perioperative nursing organization devoted to defining evidence-based standards that keep patients and healthcare workers safe.

This kind of standardization can result in a better line of defense against patient safety and efficiency issues brought on by factors such as out of date instructions for use (IFUs), poor training and lack of certifications.

Challenges persist, however. Damien Berg, the vice president of strategic initiatives at the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA), pointed out one frequent misstep: Leaders tend to function in a “firefighting mode,” a reactive stance that prioritizes solving immediate issues over proactively standardizing procedures.

"If the leader is constantly on the defensive with the clinical team or hospital leadership team, whether it's damaged scopes or quality issues, then you're living in that world where you're not allowed to have the freedom to standardize those processes," Berg told the magazine.

That's crucial because you have to understand what's being done incorrectly — and why it is occurring — to put new processes in place to prevent these kinds of problems and effectively perform your facility’s protocols.

Transitioning from Reprocessing to Single-Use Endoscopes

The starting point when reprocessing endoscopes, according to Berg, are the latest guidelines in tandem with manufacturer's IFUs. This is crucial until a universal checklist for reprocessing endoscopes is established to eliminate any confusion.

Other standardization efforts should cover:

• The reprocessing chain of command, and potential breaks in that chain
• Utilizing technology to streamline processes and make life easier for technicians
• Conducting regular procedure and process reviews
• Creating a robust training and education curriculum

Another variable, though not covered by the magazine, is transitioning to single-use endoscopes, which don’t need to be reprocessed because they are used once. While the risk of device-related infection is considered to be rare, regulators have focused attention on possible scope contamination issues and have recommended transitioning to innovative single-use designs.

Related Stories 

What is the Most Overlooked Aspect of Endoscope Reprocessing

Experts: How Do We Prove Clean is Clean? 

5 Tools for One of Reprocessings' Most Important Steps