Perspectives from a State-wide Device Reprocessing Assessment Service

Session Description: Semi-critical and critical device reprocessing (DR) failures pose a significant risk to patient morbidity and mortality. To mitigate these risks, healthcare facilities must establish robust protocols, adhere to recognized guidelines, provide comprehensive training to staff, and implement auditing programs to provide adequate oversight of systems processes from point-of-use to storage.

This presentation aims to give the audience a background of how a state health department developed a free, consultative, and non-regulatory service line dedicated to assessing infrastructure and operations surrounding DR in inpatient and outpatient settings, from conceptualization to implementation. After informing the audience on the purpose and importance of gap assessment, common findings among completed assessments, including failing to follow manufacturer instructions for use, regulations, and national standards, will be discussed. Recommendations to close common gaps will also be described using an evidential hierarchy.

Session participants will receive content and tools to comprehensively assess semi-critical and critical DR. By spotlighting the crucial role of gap assessments and the benefits they bring to patient care, safety, and facility reputation, this presentation will be relevant to local and state health departments in addition to infection preventionists who oversee semi-critical and critical DR in inpatient and outpatient environments.