CHC Planning Guide - 2019 - 27

Fundamentals
The next area is for removal of debris from instruments and trays.
A space for an ultrasonic cleaner or an under-counter instrument
washer (when instruments are organized in cassettes) can increase
safety by reducing handling during the processing of contaminants.
Next, a sink is required for rinsing instruments and other dirty items,
and for washing hands. It is also a suitable place to locate an eyewash
station. Some sterilization centers can be equipped with suction to
clean water from surfaces or to empty out containers with ease.
The next area is for packaging of instruments or wrapping of instrument
cassettes. Proper organization requires space for wrapping of cassettes
or bagging of instruments with ready access to the necessary tools.
The actual sterilization space requires separation in such a way that contaminants will not splatter on to cleaned
and sterilized items during early processing. This means that a physical barrier between the dirty intake area of
sterilization and the packaging area, and a separation between packaging and sterile, to help assure compliance.
Your office may need a place for cold-sterilization of items that are reusable but which will not tolerate heat
or steam sterilization and disinfecting of the procedure trays and lids. Key to this area is placement of one or
two sterilizers with easy and safe access not just to the sterilization chamber but the reservoirs and areas that
require maintenance. Some sterilization centers come with a built-in vacuum for cleaning of water reservoirs
and spills around the sterilizers. They can also come with slide-out shelves to hold sterilizers and refill hoses
with distilled water for filling sterilizer reservoirs. These features improve access and safety during sterilizer
maintenance and use.
The last component of the actual sterilization process is the storage of sterilized items where they will not be
subject to contamination from processing activities.

EXPERT
ADVICE

Your sterilization bay may also benefit from additional counter space for restocking
procedure trays, procedure tubs, and bur holders with items necessary for the categories of
procedures you will provide. The space must be adequate for the volume of work it receives.
Drawers and cabinetry to organize materials and items by function or procedure can greatly
enhance speed and productivity. For instance, many offices benefit from a column of
drawers organized to hold surgical instruments.

Instruments should be divided by order of use and category starting with surgical curettes, then elevators
(grouped by type), forceps (grouped by type), scissors, hemostats, and so on. The same organization process is
effective for organizing other types of procedures such as endodontics, crown and bridge, and dentures.
To assist with efficient and effective sterilization spaces that comply with CDC standards, manufacturers now
produce sterilization centers that meet all the requirements.
For information and help on infection control and sterilization practices, you can find excellent resources through
the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) Please go to www.osap.org.

www.henryschein.com/sm

http://www.osap.org http://www.henryschein.com/sm

CHC Planning Guide - 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CHC Planning Guide - 2019