Across much of the U.S. there is little uniform training or standardized certification for the workers who guard patients from infections that can result from inadequately cleaned medical devices.
A study published in Perioperative Care and Operating Room Management revealed wide variation in the educational backgrounds of the employees who are so vital to the healthcare system.
“In most states, a standardized pathway to employment does not exist; rather, individual employers assume responsibility for SPD employee training,” the researchers wrote. “Employment requirements are variable, and certifications specific to this space do not correlate significantly with workplace roles or positions of leadership.”
The study was a partnership between Beyond Clean, a clinical education and advocacy group in sterile processing, and researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, based on email surveys sent to more than 50,000 sterile processing employees. There were 958 responses to the survey.
Among the findings:
- About half had enrolled in a post-high school education program in sterile processing, with an average of 7.2 months of training
- 92 percent held some form of sterile processing certification
- Most reported engaging in self-directed learning on at least a monthly basis
- Directors and managers were more likely to have a 4-year, master or doctoral degree than technicians
“It is incumbent upon the broader healthcare industry to establish formal, incentivized education pathways that will open up new opportunities for them,” Laura Bellaire, researcher and study author said in a Beyond Clean press release.
What About Certification?
Some leaders say the industry would be better off with certification for sterile processors.
Given that sterile processing technicians stand on the front lines of infection prevention, training makes all the difference in job performance, experts say. In fact, some hospitals and five states require that sterile processing department technicians get certified early on in their careers.
“A staff knowledgeable in cleaning and sterilization leads unequivocally to the best outcomes for patients,” Casey Czarnowski wrote in Outpatient Surgery.
The Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA), formerly IAHCSMM, and the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) are the two main certification organizations. Each offers certifications that address specific areas of instrument reprocessing in addition to basic certifications.
Following their coursework, students take an exam at a national testing center. The HSPA course also requires hands-on experience (400 hours) in addition to the written exam for certification.
The Single-Use Solution
Ambu A/S and other companies that manufacture single-use endoscopes offer a simple path around the challenges of reprocessing. Scopes that are sterile straight from the pack add a layer of safety for patients and healthcare workers and eliminate the risk of cross-contamination. They have also been found to boost workplace efficiency because they are always available, and they don’t incur maintenance and repair costs.
While the risk of device-related infection is considered to be rare, regulators have focused attention on possible scope contamination issues and have recommended transitioning to innovative single-use designs.
