Q: How should our ambulatory surgery center determine what is the appropriate number of full-time employees for our sterile processing department? What’s a good formula to use?
Ruth P. Shumaker: One formula that can be used is hours worked per 100 items processed, [which measures] productivity. However, it’s difficult to rely on a common figure for all applications. In addition to [the sterile processing department] cleaning and processing instruments, they may also load case carts with supplies, order and stock supply shelves, process crash carts, restock OR room cells and conduct hospital rounds for equipment pick up and processing. None of that is considered items processed.
So if your department does all of this — plus the items processed — the formula may not be a true reflection of the department’s productivity. Remember the issue is time and how you are using your time. Duties that are needed to sterilize items consist of cleaning, inspecting and assembling instrument trays. Does your staff inspect each item the way it should truly be done?
You must also consider that if the manufacturer’s directions are followed, your time [spent on sterile processing] may greatly increase. Do you have a computer system to track your assembly and productivity? That can be helpful. [Also], there are a number of companies that do benchmarking.
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