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BTEC Level 3 Certificate in the Decontamination of Reusable Medical Devices: Unit Six [2015]

Image of Chris Larham's BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Decontamination, highlighting Unit Six.

The performance of an Internal Quality Audit is a key process that is undertaken to verify that the working activities of SSD staff members comply with the procedures specified in the SSD policy documents found on the Q-Pulse System (the SSD’s Quality Management System).

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Posted in Decontamination [2015]

BTEC Level 3 Certificate in the Decontamination of Reusable Medical Devices: Unit Five

Image of Chris Larham's BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Decontamination, highlighting Unit Five.

When items have been inspected, assembled, and wrapped in the IAP Area they are placed on the conveyor belt to be transported into the Autoclave Area. The conveyor belt should only be activated when the Autoclave Attendant is present – otherwise, sets will congregate at the end of the conveyor belt’s ‘runners’, increasing the likelihood of damaged wraps (per ‘SOP-11’). The member of staff in the IAP Area should also check that there is enough room for the items to pass beyond the second set of flaps prior to activating the conveyor belt. ‘SOP-11’ states that items requiring sterilisation should not be taken past the yellow tape on the floor on the Sterile Store side of Autoclave Number 4 under any circumstances, since this tape serves as the pre-sterilisation boundary demarcation line.

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Posted in Decontamination [2015]

BTEC Level 3 Certificate in the Decontamination of Reusable Medical Devices: Unit Four

Image of Chris Larham's BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Decontamination, highlighting Unit Four.

Prior to entering the IAP Area, staff members pass through the IAP viewing area. This area is maintained at a positive pressure differential above 10 Pascal, forming one of the checks of environmental cleanliness associated with the IAP Area (per ‘SOP-10’) that ensure compliance with Class 9 standards as defined in BS EN ISO 14644. Shift supervisors check the magna-helix to ensure that the pressure is maintained above 10 Pascal, and the readings are recorded every 8 hours.[…]

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Posted in Decontamination [2015]

BTEC Level 3 Certificate in the Decontamination of Reusable Medical Devices: Unit Three

Image of Chris Larham's BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Decontamination, highlighting Unit Three.

Two four-chamber Tunnel Washers (Washers One and Two) and one single-chamber Cabinet Washer (Washer Three) are the major pieces of decontamination equipment in the SSD Wash Room. The Tunnel Washers’ water tank capacity is 35 litres and the Cabinet Washer’s water tank capacity stands at 30 litres. Since there should be approximately 5mls of detergent per litre of water tank capacity, the detergent dosage is 175mls per Tunnel Washer cycle and 150mls per Cabinet Washer cycle.[…]

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Posted in Decontamination [2015]

BTEC Level 3 Certificate in the Decontamination of Reusable Medical Devices: Unit Two

Image of Chris Larham's BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Decontamination, highlighting Unit Two.

Many different items are received in the SSD Wash Room. It is essential to sort items according to their wash methods: some difficult-to-clean cannulated items require an ultrasonic wash to ensure all contamination is thoroughly flushed out (for example, ‘Mr Finlay’s Goldfinger’ or Pretzelflex Retractors); certain items with exposed electrical components (for example, Stryker Shavers) must be manually handwashed as they cannot withstand processing through the industrial washers – the same goes for delicate items such as dental handpieces; and other sets are able to be processed in a straightforward, non-sonic wash (all the ‘basic’ sets – for example, Basic Hand Sets, General Basic Sets, General Breast Sets).[…]

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Posted in Decontamination [2015]

BTEC Level 3 Certificate in the Decontamination of Reusable Medical Devices: Unit One

Image of Chris Larham's BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Decontamination, highlighting Unit One.

At the beginning of each shift, the driver changes into a recognisable uniform of black trousers, a green jumper, and crush-resistant shoes, as well as ensuring that the staff ID badge is clearly visible. This uniform is recognisable to staff members on the various wards and theatres, enabling the driver to collect used items without causing alarm.[…]

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Posted in Decontamination [2015]