New Section Added to Sterile Processing Benchmarking Tool
A new section focused on immediate-use steam sterilization (IUSS) has been added to AAMI’s and the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management’s (IAHCSMM) sterilization benchmarking tool to help subscribers compare their practices and procedures against other healthcare facilities.
“These questions were added to the platform as part of our continuous improvement and feedback loop from our subscribers and the joint AAMI-IAHCSMM task force. We heard that this was a topic that the industry wanted to benchmark, and we listened,” says Damien Berg, manager of sterile processing at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. Berg has played a key role in developing the benchmarking tool.
Benchmarking Solutions-Sterile Processing is a digital platform designed to help sterile processing departments measure their budgets, personnel, practices, and policies against similar departments at other facilities. Many facilities have been working to reduce their use of IUSS to improve patient care and safety; however, reducing IUSS usually involves purchasing more instrumentation. The sterile processing benchmarking tool can provide valuable information to support these purchasing requests.
“Benchmarking of IUSS can help subscribers to justify the expenditures needed to minimize the use of IUSS,” says Donna Swenson, president of Sterile Processing Quality Services, Inc., and a member of AAMI sterilization standards committees. “When administrators see that reduction of IUSS is a goal of most healthcare facilities, it is easier to justify the expenditure that is needed to make that happen.”
The tool now contains 195 questions that cover: Clinical relationships and compliance The scope of the sterile processing department Current sterilization procedures and practices Staffing Productivity analysis Financial, space, and computer resources To become a benchmarking subscriber or for additional information, visit www.aami.org/benchmarking.
Source: AAMI
Unmasking Vaccine Myths: Dr Marschall Runge on Measles, Misinformation, and Public Health Solutions
May 29th 2025As measles cases climb across the US, discredited myths continue to undercut public trust in vaccines. In an exclusive interview with Infection Control Today, Michigan Medicine’s Marschall Runge, PhD, confronts misinformation head-on and explores how clinicians can counter it with science, empathy, and community engagement.
Silent Saboteurs: Managing Endotoxins for Sepsis-Free Sterilization
Invisible yet deadly, endotoxins evade traditional sterilization methods, posing significant risks during routine surgeries. Understanding and addressing their threat is critical for patient safety.
Endoscopes and Lumened Instruments: New Studies Highlight Persistent Contamination Risks
May 7th 2025Two new studies reveal troubling contamination in both new endoscopes and cleaned lumened surgical instruments, challenging the reliability of current reprocessing practices and manufacturer guidelines.
From the Derby to the Decontam Room: Leadership Lessons for Sterile Processing
April 27th 2025Elizabeth (Betty) Casey, MSN, RN, CNOR, CRCST, CHL, is the SVP of Operations and Chief Nursing Officer at Surgical Solutions in Overland, Kansas. This SPD leader reframes preparation, unpredictability, and teamwork by comparing surgical services to the Kentucky Derby to reenergize sterile processing professionals and inspire systemic change.
