Basics on Processing and Sterilization

The Surgical Processing Department (Central Supply, Central Service, Sterile Processing as it is also known), comprises that service within the hospital in which medical/surgical supplies, both sterile and unsterile, are cleaned, prepared, processed, stored, and issued for patient care.

Until the 1940's. medical/surgical supplies were, for the most part, processed and maintained in the department and patient care areas in which they were to be used. Under this system, there was considerable duplication of effort and equipment, and it was difficult to maintain consistently high standards for sterilization technique and product quality throughout the health care facility.

As the number and variety of surgical procedures grew and the types of medical devices, equipment, and supplies proliferated, it became apparent that a centralized processing was needed for efficiency, economy, and patient safety. The work of scientists W.B. Underwood and J.J. Perkins was instrumental in encouraging health care facilities to establish a separate and distinct department, the Surgical Processing Department, with specialized expertise and direct responsibility for providing clean and sterile medical/surgical supplies and equipment to patient care areas.

Functions

Surgical Processing Departments are typically divided into four major areas to accomplish the functions of decontamination, assembly and sterile processing, sterile storage, and distribution.

In the decontamination area, reusable equipment, instruments, and supplies are cleaned and decontaminated by means of manual or mechanical cleaning processes and chemical disinfection.

Clean items are received in the assembly and packaging area from the decontamination area and are then assembled and prepared for issue, storage, or further processing (like sterilization).

After assembly or sterilization, items are transferred to the sterile storage area until its time for them to be issued.

Several major functions are carried out in the sterile storage/distribution area: case cart preparation and delivery; replenishment of inventory and delivery; and telephone-order filling.

Administration | Basics on Processing and Sterilization