5 Keys to better infection prevention

There are definitely some key topics for infection control in your office. Sharps injuries, your sterilization area, instrument sterilization, patient safety, and organization are all important in creating a safe and healthy environment for you and your patients. Here are some of the big takeaways to keep in mind as you continue your infection control journey. 

Sharps Injuries 
To prevent these in your facility, transport instruments in a leakproof, sealed container, ensure utility gloves are worn during reprocessing, and eliminate hand scrubbing. 

Sterilization Area 
Ensure your sterilization area is set up so that each of the four steps – receiving, cleaning and decontamination; preparation and packaging; sterilization; and storage – can work efficiently and function properly. 

Instrument Sterilization 
Regularly checking on the performance of your equipment in the sterilization area is critical to making sure your instruments are properly sterilized and safe for use with patients. 

Patient Safety 
In today’s environment, you’re more likely to face questions about your infection prevention procedures. Have proactive conversations with your patients and highlight the steps you take to ensure their safety in your facility. 

Organization 
Pay attention to the signs of disorganization that could be hurting your efficiency – missing instruments, crowded sterilization area, and wasted time sorting and packaging instruments – and then find solutions that work best for you. 
 

There is still a lot more to know on each of these important topics that can help you being at your best. One way to evaluate your facility’s compliance and efficiency is through a sterilization observation with HuFriedyGroup. Our representative will evaluate your instrument reprocessing and infection prevention protocols and provide you with a detailed summary that outlines the results and potential solutions. 

Click here to contact us for a personal consultation to learn how Circle of Protection can prevent the spread of disease and improve the safety of your practice.