Managing Endoscopes

Are Endoscopy Caseload Pressures Compromising Patient Safety?

Hospital Management, Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Operational Efficiency, Patient Safety /

Due to various, well-publicized episodes over the last decade, endoscopic procedures continue to be scrutinized as a potential source of superbug outbreaks within hospitals. In the current environment, where patient safety and infection control are at the forefront of most hospital administrators, endoscopy may receive a closer look to see what can be done to […]

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How Automated Endoscope Drying Cabinets Minimize Bacterial Growth

Hospital Management, Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Infection Control, storing endoscopes in an automated cabinet with channel drying functionality effectively reduced bacterial growth in the scopes. Because endoscopes are reusable medical instruments, minimizing the amount of bacterial growth in the periods between procedures can dramatically improve patient safety. The study, performed

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How One Hospital Reduced Their Scope Reprocessing Times By Over 35 Percent

Cost Reduction, Hospital Finance, Hospital Management, Managing Endoscopes, Operational Efficiency /

Today’s Sterile Processing Department (SPD) managers function as business operators whose primary objective is to adhere to the highest standards of cleaning protocols. Their role is to focus not only on adherence to disinfection standards and requirements, but to operate with high speed and efficiency as well. Specific to endoscopic procedures, a critical requirement for

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ECRI List of Top Patient Safety Concerns Includes Sterile Processing

Hospital Management, Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

The ECRI Institute, based in Philadelphia, has just released its annual list of patient safety concerns for 2020.  This year’s list includes an entry at number 5 for device cleaning, disinfection and sterilization, echoing prior year concerns about sub-standard disinfection practices for flexible endoscopes and other reusable medical equipment. ECRI’s list is the result of

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How One Hospital Optimized Their Staffing Levels Using Scope Tracking Software

Hospital Finance, Hospital Management, Managing Endoscopes, Operational Efficiency /

Many hospitals find it difficult to optimize staffing levels for their operations. This can be due to any number of variables that become even more extreme as the size of a hospital increases – an influx of patients can throw off carefully planned schedules; certain cases extend way past their estimated closing times; and missing

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Olympus Receives FDA Clearance For Duodenoscope With Disposable Component

Hospital Management, Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

Olympus has joined the list of duodenoscope manufacturers receiving the green light to market a duodenoscope with disposable components by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Following closely on the heels of Pentax and Fujifilm’s models with disposable components, and Boston Scientific’s fully disposable duodenoscope, Olympus is now cleared to sell a duodenoscope

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How One Hospital Avoided A Patient Safety Disaster Using Scope Tracking Software

Hospital Management, Infection Control, Joint Commission, Managing Endoscopes, Operating Rooms, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

Flexible endoscopes present a unique challenge for hospitals to track and manage – these expensive medical instruments must be quickly re-processed after usage in order to provide the required instrumentation for the next procedure, yet they must undergo rigorous, time-consuming reprocessing after every use to ensure the highest levels of patient safety. Due to different

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FDA Issues Recommendation For Use Of Duodenoscopes With Disposable Components

Hospital Management, Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety, Regulatory Compliance /

Shortly following the recent United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of the first duodenoscopes with disposable components, the bureau is now recommending that facilities move to the new models where available. The FDA firmly believes that a move to disposable parts, and in some cases fully disposable scopes, will help reduce infection risks.

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How One Hospital Transitioned Endoscope Reprocessing To Central Sterile

Hospital Management, Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), based in Portland, OR, recently underwent a dramatic change in their endoscopy practice with the opening of the new Center for Health & Healing Building 2 (CHH2). As part of the opening, OHSU moved its endoscopy operations to a new building, with the endoscopy department and central sterile department

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Duodenoscope Safety Continues To Move Forward With First Disposable Model

Hospital Management, Infection Control, Managing Endoscopes, Patient Safety /

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the first fully disposable duodenoscope on the market. The industry believes that a move to disposable parts, and now fully disposable scopes, will help reduce infection risks. Poorly disinfected duodenoscopes have been linked to numerous cases of superbug outbreaks over the past several years. The

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