The Importance of Medical Device Reprocessing in Healthcare

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of medical device reprocessing, emphasizing its critical role in healthcare and patient safety. It defines the responsibilities of a sterile processing technician, highlighting the importance of meticulous cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of surgical instruments and medical equipment. The essay details the essential qualities required for the job, including attention to detail, adherence to protocols, and an analytical mindset. It also underscores the significance of infection prevention and control within sterile processing, discussing strategies to minimize the risk of microbial contamination. Furthermore, the essay explores the importance of sterile processing in healthcare, its impact on patient outcomes, and the technician's role in promoting patient safety, especially in surgical settings. The author also discusses the future career prospects after completing the sterile storage inventory control and management of resources course, including the opportunity to take the CBSPD exam and work in various healthcare settings. The essay concludes by reiterating the significance of medical device reprocessing in ensuring patient safety and minimizing negative health outcomes.

Running head: MEDICAL DEVICE REPROCESSING 1
Medical Device Reprocessing
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

MEDICAL DEVICE REPROCESSING 2
Introduction
Medical device reprocessing is one of the vital elements of infection prevention and
control. For successful operation of devices and safety of patients, thorough cleaning is essential
before disinfecting or sterilization. The essay explains the work of the sterile processing
technician, the most important aspects of being a sterile processing technician, and the most
important topic regarding sterile processing. Furthermore, it explains the importance of sterile
processing in the field of healthcare and describes the future after completion of the course
regarding sterile processing.
Body
A sterile processing technician is a person who cleans and sterilizes used surgical
instruments along with other clinical supplies so that they can be safely reshuffled and reused on
other patients (Bashaw, 2016). The work of this person is normally incorporated in a specific
department of the medical Centre. Also, they keep records of which equipment has been
sterilized. Although the person does not work directly with patients, he has an important
responsibility in a patient's care. This is because sterilization along with sanitation is of utmost
relevance to medical specialists and the safety of their patients.
For one to be a sterile processing technician he should be careful with strong attention to
detail. Also, he should have a good working understanding of a variety of sterilization methods
and be able to perform his duties with fragile instruments before and after every surgery.
The sterile processing technician has a responsibility in gathering used and contaminated
supplies, instruments and equipment for sorting and decontamination. He manually cleans
supplies of contaminants, removes waste matter and operates along with maintaining
decontamination equipment (Bashaw, 2016). Besides, he prepares and packs the decontaminated

MEDICAL DEVICE REPROCESSING 3
supplies for sterilization and monitors and operates sterilization equipment. He examines the
supplies conscientiously to make sure that they are correctly cleaned and sterilized.
Likewise, the sterile processing technician tests and reports any problems or issues with
the sterilization equipment. He sterilizes, prepares, wraps and organizes the equipment into
instrument trays for use during surgical operations. The sterile processing technician prepares
and delivers all necessary instruments and equipment for operations, examinations, clinical
procedures and medical carts (Bashaw, 2016). Furthermore, he keeps records of sterilized items,
supplies, sterilization procedures, and equipment maintenance. Lastly, the sterile processing
technician reorders supplies and inspects the expiration dates and is in charge of the inventory
control for all sterile items utilized in surgical rooms and normally lays out surgical gowns and
gloves before every operation.
To perform this job perfectly and ensure the safety of all those involved, the job needs
very specific aspects (Swenson, 2017). A sterile processing technician must be cautious every
time he is handling and cleaning operational equipment by preventing contamination or exposure
to blood and bodily fluids. This can be achieved by a sterile processing technician wearing
masks, gowns, shoe covers, face along with two pairs of gloves to shield himself from bodily
fluids and harsh cleansing agents.
Although this job is a routine in nature, the sterile processing technician's role needs the
patience to work through the details and processes which make the job very important in the
healthcare environment (Swenson, 2017). The job needs swiftness and extreme accuracy and
therefore, the sterile processing technician has to spend the whole shift washing, flushing, drying
and sterilizing every tube, crevice, hinge, and screw. After this, he has to reassemble every piece
properly to ensure surgical effectiveness and patients' safety.

MEDICAL DEVICE REPROCESSING 4
Furthermore, the sterile processing technician must be a rule-follower. The job requires
careful reading along with the following instructions. Every medical and ancillary instrument
contains particular instructions regarding how to clean, sanitize and reassemble each piece hence
it is important to follow the instructions. Disassembly of the instruments has to be done precisely
for correct cleaning and sterilization and the procedure has to be achieved effectively and
efficiently (Swenson, 2017).
The job of a sterile processing technician is very hands-on and needs an analytical mind.
This is because all the responsibilities of sterilization, assembly and disassembly process from
the start to the end to ensure the instruments for operations, surgical procedures and exams are
safe for use are on the sterile processing technician (Swenson, 2017). In this job, one has to be
responsible for checking each equipment for potential defects and reporting to staff and after
sterilization one has to deliver them to different hospitals and medical departments hence has to
be analytical and hands-on.
Lastly, as a sterile processing technician one has to pay careful attention to each detail
during the sterilization procedure since the safety of the staff and the patient is on his hands
hence should be detail-oriented. In addition to the sterilization procedure, one has to take
inventory ton to make sure that every equipment is accounted for, order supplies, assemble
instrument trays, distribute supplies and meticulously inspect expiration dates to make sure that
the sterile supplies are safe for use (Swenson, 2017).
The most important topic in sterile processing is the infection prevention and control
topic. Sterile processing can be one of the more challenging settings in which to uphold infection
prevention and control principles. As an illustration, the decontamination area of sterile
processing can pose a significant threat to its technicians due to its several and unknown

MEDICAL DEVICE REPROCESSING 5
microbes that pass through. Besides, there is the possibility of sharp injuries because of the sharp
items handled in this area like towel clips which could pose a threat to infection.
The main role of this topic is to develop strategies, procedures, and practices to minimize
the peril of contraction of microbial bacteria causing diseases to protect the staff members along
with the patients (Seavey, 2015). The prevention of operation site infections depends majorly on
effective procedures within the sterile processing as they strive to keep patients undergoing
operations safe and free of disease. In sterile processing, the sterile processing technicians clean,
sterilize and decontaminate the used instruments so that they can ensure patient safety which is
the main goal of this topic. It aims to prevent the spread of infection by making sure that all
equipment is infection-free.
Adherence to best procedures and practices is dependent upon the individuals and their
training for effective outcomes. In this topic, the health institution along with the staff members
needs to ensure the implementation of thorough hand hygiene measures and the availability of
personal protective equipment like gloves and face masks. Moreover, they ensure the correct
types of cleaning chemistries are available grounded upon water quality for manual and
automated cleaning (Seavey, 2015). The sterile department also ensures that the equipment is
available and functioning according to manufacturers' specifications. Furthermore, they ensure
procedures and strategies are followed and updated based on medical practice guidelines per
regulatory accreditation bodies.
However, compliance with infection prevention and control principles in sterile
processing remains an ongoing challenge, specifically when it comes to technicians following
manufacturer’s directives for use.

MEDICAL DEVICE REPROCESSING 6
Sterile processing can be described as the area accountable for reprocessing
instrumentation along with other reusable clinical devices. In the field of health care, sterile
processing is important as it sterilizes surgical instruments and medical equipment which help in
minimizing negative patient outcomes like lengthy hospital stays, increased health care costs and
elevated rates of mortality. Sterile processing has an important responsibility in the promotion of
patient safety more so in the surgical rooms in health care facilities (Brooks, Williams &
Gorbenko, 2019). Charged with the responsibility of making sure that every medical device,
equipment, and consumables needed by medical specialists to carry out procedures in the
surgical room are sterile, sterile processing is critical in the achievement of patient safety.
Furthermore, incorporating the reprocessing of reusable devices in a health care setting
helps in ensuring uniform standards of practice whilst providing enhanced workflow. Sterile
processing also enhances the education along with training of proficient technicians who should
be well informed on standards, risks, challenges, complexities along with approaches affiliated
with sterile processing function (Brooks et al., 2019).
In hospitals, sterile processing maintains a record of efficacy of cleaning, disinfection
and sterilization procedures and helps in monitoring and enforcing controls needed to prevent
cross-infection as per the infection control policies. It also develops and maintains sterile
processing and distribution standards along with operating efficiently to minimize overhead
expenses (Brooks et al., 2019). Besides, sterile processing helps in staying abreast of
developments in the realm of healthcare and implements changes necessary to remain current
with new regulations and recommended practices.
After completing the sterile storage inventory control and management of resources
course my future career will be promoted since after this I will be entitled to take the

MEDICAL DEVICE REPROCESSING 7
Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) exam. After being certified
my education of healthcare sterile processing and distribution personnel via the certification will
be promoted to guarantee effective and safe levels of practice to safeguard the public.
I will grasp sterilization operations which will equip me to become a Certified Sterile
Processing and Distribution Technician. Moreover, I will have the opportunity to work in a
sterile processing department and central service department and get employment in hospitals,
laboratories, dental or eye care practices, surgery centers, and plastic surgery settings. Through
this, my career will have developed and will get satisfaction in my work. Moreover, as I continue
to promote my education with other certifications my pay will also be increased and better my
life.
Conclusion
In medical device reprocessing, all equipment and instruments used for surgery are
cleaned, disinfected and sterilized before used to other patients. Sterile processing technicians
have a role in washing, sterilizing and decontaminating the used instruments so that they can
ensure patient safety. Moreover, to successfully do their job, sterile processing technician have to
be cautious, patient, rule-follower, detail-oriented and analytical and hands-on. Sterile processing
is important in health care as it minimizes negative patient outcomes like lengthy hospital stays,
increased health care costs and elevated rates of mortality.

MEDICAL DEVICE REPROCESSING 8
References
Bashaw, M. A. (2016). Guideline implementation: processing flexible endoscopes. AORN
Journal, 104(3), 225-236.
Brooks, J. V., Williams, J. A., & Gorbenko, K. (2019). The work of sterile processing
departments: An exploratory study using qualitative interviews and a quantitative process
database. American journal of infection control, 47(7). 816-821
Seavey, R. E. (2015). Sterile processing accreditation surveys: risk reduction and process
improvement. AORN Journal, 102(4), 358-368.
Swenson, D. (2017). What Needs to Happen to Elevate and Improve Sterilization. Biomedical
instrumentation & technology, 51(3), 218.