Education Nation: Sterile Processing Quality Management Systems

By Sarah B. Cruz CSPDT, CRCST, CHL, CIS

“Quality” appears to be the healthcare industry’s new buzzword. Sitting high amongst other phrases like “let’s take that offline” and “state-of-the-art,” a variety of professions use the word in their own ways. Originating from the craftsmen of the medieval era, guilds would compose strict guidelines that required their products to be inspected for defects. These practices remained present, surviving through the Industrial Revolution,¹ and have evolved into the quality management systems seen in the 21^st century. From medieval craftsmen that created the first quality control program to the first quality assurance program in the 1920s, quality control has been present throughout history.¹ Over time, quality programs began to emerge in industries not necessarily specific to the factory setting. As the healthcare industry incorporates quality systems into daily operations and patient care, professionals face the challenge of defining what it means to provide “quality care” within an organization that serves patients. There is an even greater challenge to professions like Sterile Processing (SP), whose quality management systems are directly linked to an entirely separate profession’s ability to perform their quality of care.

Learning Objectives

1. Define quality in the context of the healthcare industry, particularly in Sterile Processing.
2. Understand the purpose of a Quality Management System and key factors to consider when developing one.
3. Be able to differentiate between Quality Assurance, Quality Control, and Quality Culture, and explain how they contribute to better outcomes in the Sterile Processing department.

About the Author

Sarah B. Cruz, CSPDT, CRCST, CHL, CIS is president and founder of PRETREAT CSS, where she and Sterile Processing professionals work together to create objective-driven goals to advance their professional development. She is an industry speaker, published writer, social media enthusiast, mentor, and CTSPA Chapter President and HSPA Director. Sarah is a Sterile Processing instructor at her local community college and a CS Quality Education Program Development Coordinator in her full-time role.