Your Hands Matter: The Art of Assembly and Inspection in Sterile Processing

Send us Fan MailCliff Russell from SterisIMS takes us through the "Y" in our CYCLE mini-series, focusing on "Your Hands Matter" - the critical assembly and inspection phase where precision becomes patient protection.• Assembly and inspection as the last checkpoint before instruments reach surgery• The hidden complexity behind "just putting trays together"• Real consequences of missed defects, including instrument failures during procedures• Using appropriate testing materials for different instrument types• Balancing time pressure with thorough inspection• Scissors as the most commonly undertested instrument in SPD• Creating standardized workstations with proper testing tools• The importance of checking box locks and inspecting for cracks• Using vendor partners for education, audits, and competency validation• Making IFUs accessible through daily huddles, trivia, and interactive learning• Building confidence through peer mentorship and creating a culture where mistakes can be discussed• Pro tips including proper instrument placement, matching correct components, and using magnification• The role of technology in transforming instrument inspectionUse your vendors as resources for education and audits - they're here to partner with you in creating the safest patient outcomes possible.Support the show