Are You in Compliance with Joint Commission's Sterilizer Printer Requirements

 
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Does Your Sterilizer Comply with the Joint Commission’s new Sterilizer Printers / Recorder Requirement?

Preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is a top priority in healthcare today, as evidenced by The Joint Commission’s January 2019 new requirement that all accredited facilities must have a sterilizer printer in place by the end of August 2019 to help reduce the staggering number of healthcare-associated infections.

Most accredited health care facilities are unaware of this new requirement and are finding out during their annual health inspections.

Here’s what you need to know about the new sterilizer printer requirements:

All accredited healthcare facilities, organizations that demonstrate their ability to meet regulatory requirements and standards established by a recognized accreditation organization such as ACHC and The Joint Commission, must have the Sterilization Printers physically attached to their sterilizers before August 31, 2019. The big question is “what does this sterilization printer do?”

The Sterilizer Printer requirement forces the physical monitoring and real-time assessment of the sterilization cycle conditions and provides permanent records by means of chart recordings or digital printouts.

Physical monitoring is needed to detect malfunctions as soon as possible, so that appropriate corrective actions can be made. And when those malfunctions happen, Medicanix is here to help in two ways.

  • We can make your practice compliant with the new Sterilizer Printer requirement by procuring a SteriData printer on your behalf and then install it easily and quickly. We can train your staff on how to use the SteriData printer.

  • When Error Codes and sterilizer mechanical issues are reported by the SteriData printer our Field Service Technicians are trained to quickly diagnose and remedy the problem to get your sterilizer back up and running.

Know About: How to Drain the Water on Your Tuttnauer Sterilizer

 Other Safety Actions to Consider:

  • Make sure staff are competent and trained in sterilization equipment.

  • Make manufacturer’s instructions available to staff and ensure that the instructions are followed.

  • Use a central location to sterilize within your practice.

  • Make sure to stay abreast of new requirements.

  • To keep your sterilizer working properly, only used distilled water. Change it after every 30 sterilization cycles and schedule an annual Preventative Maintenance for Medical Equipment.

We can help guide you through the Joint Commission’s printer requirement, discuss any problems you may be having with your Sterilizer or schedule your Annual Preventative Maintenance service. Say hello today @ 203-324-3711

Autoclaves-and-SterilizersKevin Lyons