Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Dontaye Jones

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, part of the Saint Barnabas Health system Central Sterile Processing Department, identified a quality improvement initiative a couple of years back by their Department leader Anita Cassell who is now a system Vice President over the entire health system. The quality improvement initiative identified as a key component of RWJ's new Central Sterile Processing Department was the automation of processes. Following this further, Cassell and the rest of her leaders would spend time over the next couple of years planning, designing, and currently operating within the new system of automation of processes. Cassell and her leaders worked closely with Steelco, a European base company manufacturing cleaning and sterilization systems and equipment. During the construction period of the new CSP department for the RWJ group, Cassell flew out to Italy to work with the engineers and design team to develop the blueprint for what our automatic department looks like today.

Steelco Automation is a fully automated system that is designed to be used in CSPs and SPDs. It works by automating some of the mundane tasks in the decontamination and prep and pack area, which helps to reduce the risk of human error, which can lead to a number of patient safety issues and concerns.

One of the main benefits of Steelco Automation is that it can significantly reduce the time it takes to sterilize medical device trays. Traditional Central Sterile Processing manual tasks can add countless hours to the workday, but Steelco Automation can shave off a lot of those hours; therefore, increasing productivity that translate to improved patient outcomes. Additionally, this means that CSPS and SPDs can process more instruments in a shorter period, increasing overall departmental efficiency.

Listed below are some of the qualities and automated initiatives developed at RWJ:

Decontamination:

1. Continuous workflow capability from the automated transfer system (ATS). Washer carts  automatically move each wash cart into place, load each cart, and select the appropriate wash cycle for medical device trays, increasing efficiency and eliminating bottlenecks.

2. Workflow optimization because the equipment is extremely ergonomic and user-friendly, along with reducing the chances of workplace injuries because staff eliminates the loading and unloading of medical device trays.

3. Ultrasonic utilization is improved because the automation's first phase is ultrasonic cleaning before moving to the washer and disinfector phase. Most facilities can only sonicate a small volume of medical device trays; however, our industrial-size large chamber ultrasonics can sonicate up to six medium-large depending on the type of medical device sets.

4. Bypass capability is a separate option that can bypass ultrasonic processing to straight washing and disinfecting for various programmed cycles through the large chamber washer disinfectors that process up to six medium-large medical device trays.

Prep and pack:

1. Productivity - medical device tray assembly is improved dramatically because the automated transfer systems (ATSs) deliver the trays to each technician's workstation. Priority  trays are programmed in decontamination to designated workstations on the clean side.

2. Organization - Medical device trays are more organized coming from decontamination because we have specific workstations for medical device sets, i.e., (floor trays, loaners, etc.).