Your Hands Matter: The Art of Assembly and Inspection in Sterile Processing
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Cliff Russell from SterisIMS takes us through the "Y" in our CYCLE mini-series, focusing on "Your Hands Matter" - the critical assembly and inspection phase where precision becomes patient protection.
• Assembly and inspection as the last checkpoint before instruments reach surgery
• The hidden complexity behind "just putting trays together"
• Real consequences of missed defects, including instrument failures during procedures
• Using appropriate testing materials for different instrument types
• Balancing time pressure with thorough inspection
• Scissors as the most commonly undertested instrument in SPD
• Creating standardized workstations with proper testing tools
• The importance of checking box locks and inspecting for cracks
• Using vendor partners for education, audits, and competency validation
• Making IFUs accessible through daily huddles, trivia, and interactive learning
• Building confidence through peer mentorship and creating a culture where mistakes can be discussed
• Pro tips including proper instrument placement, matching correct components, and using magnification
• The role of technology in transforming instrument inspection
Use your vendors as resources for education and audits - they're here to partner with you in creating the safest patient outcomes possible.
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Chapters
1. Introducing the Y in CYCLE (00:00:00)
2. Why Assembly and Inspection Are Critical (00:01:19)
3. How Errors Impact Patient Safety (00:03:06)
4. Tools and Habits for Thorough Inspection (00:08:42)
5. Breaking the Time Pressure vs Safety Tension (00:19:41)
6. Building Confidence and Creating Ownership (00:27:49)
7. Pro Tips for Instrument Assembly (00:31:47)
8. Technology and Future of Assembly (00:43:34)
25 episodes