New Course Grid

Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (CJD) is one of several transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), which are characterized by the accumulation of abnormal forms of the prion protein.

The performance and demands of the OR equally influence the effectiveness of SP. This symbiotic partnership underscores the mutual dependency, with each department playing a crucial role in the other's success.

Flexible endoscopes are among the most complex and indispensable medical devices used in healthcare. And yet, despite mounting evidence identifying cross contamination opportunities during endoscope processing, many sterile processing and endoscopy departments dedicate little space to the proper cleaning, rinsing, and disinfection or sterilization of these lumened scopes. At the same time, regulatory and guidance organizations are taking a hard look at the details of this process and are updating best-practice recommendations. This is likely to lead to changes in processes, equipment and workflow space to enable compliant flexible endoscope processing.

The process of conducting competency assessments within the Sterile Processing Department.

The tone and attitude that we use within our department reflects our standard operating procedures (SOPs). SOPs allow for the department and its professionals to work together because everyone knows what goals they are working towards.

Training comes with its own considerations like learning style, retention ability of the participant, and ease of performing the process. When SOPs are haphazardly created due to poor, rushed, and/or reactive development, the frontline SP professional’s ability to retain key information can feel like a constant battle.

The influence of planning sessions on creating an effective plan through necessary actions for anticipated or needed outcomes.

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.