Sterilization ?'s and Advice

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Specializes in OR RN Circulator, Scrub; Management.

We all know that flash sterilization of implants is to be used in a EMERGENCY situation only. How does your institution handle this?

In our OR/CSR we use a biological/attest that takes 3 hours after sterilization/cooling period for incubation. Obviously, we cannot wait 3 hours with a pt under anesthesia in a emergency and then the f/u and incident report gets started and we have our initial read out to go by until after the biological is read.

Also, many of our sets/implants (esp in ortho or neuro spine) are brought in by sales reps. The goal is to have the item in house the day before so it will be processed in time but if a set or implants have to be sent in from another city and arrive the day of we're stuck. Of course, the rep in question fails to tell the surgeon all of this and we're left to explain why we can't start at his requested time the next day (another issue that we're following up on and I'll save for another day).

I know there are a lot of things wrapped up in this post but would love some feedback from all of the experienced OR staffers on the board........thanks!!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Of course, the rep in question fails to tell the surgeon all of this and we're left to explain why we can't start at his requested time the next day (another issue that we're following up on and I'll save for another day).

The rep should be shoved up to the batting plate to explain, instead of the OR staff catching crap for something that wasn't in their control at the time. Any rep that doesn't do this is no longer our rep.

We haven't had to flash any implants. We always have backup trays. All trays arrive the day before, and take 3 CS employee signatures for processing.

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Specializes in OR RN Circulator, Scrub; Management.

We had a nice chat w/the reps boss just this week and he is sending a letter to the surgeon's involved. What is worse is that you know what the rep more than likely was telling the MD's in the case(s).

Hopefully we will get things resolved and in turn get our inventory increased as well so that we don't have to do all the worrying as we have in the past.

Thanks for the reply.

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Get in your AORN Recommended Standards and Practices. It tells you how to handle implants that have to be flashed. ;)

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