The CSSD (Central Sterilisation Services Department) could probably be considered the ‘heartbeat’ hub of your hospital or healthcare facility. Pre-cleaning and sterile storage – as well as the management of stocks and sets – are not only vital in the sterilisation process but also in the streamlining and efficient running of the daily or weekly theatre roster. A well-stocked CSSD is, without a doubt, an essential part of providing quality patient care and adhering to proper standards of patient safety.
Beyond the cleaning, disinfecting, maintenance, packing and sterilisation of reusable surgical supplies and medical devices, the correct and specific surgical instruments required for any medical procedure are the responsibility of a capable and qualified CSSD team. One misstep could cause time-consuming delays, frustrate theatre staff and compromise patient care.
Ensuring that the right supplies and instruments are readily available to your CSSD is where Instrumental Healthcare becomes your efficiency partner.
To make sure your hospital or clinic is running at its optimum, the following potential CSSD issues need critical attention:
#1 Overloading of surgical sets
Depending on the scope of procedures offered, some surgical sets could contain over 100 instruments, but only half of them may actually be required or used during an operation.
These overloaded (and sometimes non-standard) sets are problematic for the following reasons:
- They are heavy and difficult to handle by CSSD staff and theatre nurses.
- They also mean unnecessary and time-consuming processing of unused surgical instruments.
#2 Insufficient backup of surgical supplies
One of the basic expectations of your CSSD staff is the accurate assessment of inventory supplies as well as specialised knowledge of what surgical instruments are required for various surgical procedures. This is essential to a well-run hospital and theatre rota.
Instrumental Healthcare is your reliable partner in supplying the right tools at the right time and at the right price to keep your hospital running at the level of excellence you expect.
The nursing sisters on our team have specialised hands-on experience in the fields of theatre, CSSD and wound care, so we understand all that goes into running these units.
#3 Incorrectly packed surgical sets
Mistakes happen: an incorrectly packed set, a set with broken supplies or even an incomplete set of medical instruments. (e.g. Gynaecological instruments could be packed onto a tray for orthopaedic or general surgery).
These mishaps often occur when a CSSD is understaffed, the staff are underqualified or not properly briefed, or the post-surgery audit protocol of taking inventory and restocking the sets or sending broken supplies in for repairs/replacement is not followed. This workflow interruption will not only affect your patient care but is likely to have serious consequences for your hospital’s reputation and credibility within the medical community and among the public.
For peace of mind and high-quality, professional surgical and theatre services, Instrumental Healthcare is your ready partner when it comes to our certified technicians and in-house servicing and instrument maintenance or repairs of medical equipment and surgical supplies.
#4 Lack of communication
Clear and regular communication between theatre staff and the CSSD team is an absolute priority in the daily ‘operations’ of a hospital. In the case of an emergency surgery, the CSSD team should be informed about any specialised instruments that are needed for the procedure. CSSD staff should also be in timely communication with the Finance and Procurement departments when it comes to the budgeting and ordering of supplies.
Instrumental Healthcare – Your trusted surgical instrument supplier
Good patient care and outcomes require a holistic approach to how your hospital is managed. The CSSD – although an often underestimated department – is a quintessential supporting cog in the efficient running of any medical facility.
Instrumental Healthcare – trusted by leading hospital groups – offers you the tools and support you need to provide your patients with the best care possible. Our wide range of products, high stock levels, competitive pricing and national coverage mean your CSSD and hospital will operate smoothly and efficiently.
