Promoting quality and excellence within central service profession

by Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL

The International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) has long been a leader in education and multi-layered support for central sterile supply department professionals worldwide. In light of that enduring commitment, the Association has established an extensive portfolio of innovative resources and tools to propel knowledge and professionalism within the discipline, and allow CSSD professionals to flourish in their role as sterilization and instrumentation experts.

In IAHCSMM’s ongoing quest to provide industry-leading, organized educational opportunities and professional development—and stay abreast of changes impacting the CSSD profession on a global scale—the Association has become increasingly committed to advancing partnerships with allied groups, while also playing a more direct role in promoting educational awareness on the international front.

In October, IAHCSMM was represented at the World Forum for Hospital Sterile Supply conference in Crete, Greece, as well as the 4th Middle East CSSD Decontamination and Sterilization Conference in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. (held in conjunction with the Patient Safety Conference). IAHCSMM will also have the honor of participating at this year’s World Congress in Brazil. It’s opportunities like these that enable us to truly serve as an international association, while also advancing the far-reaching efforts of IAHCSMM and the CSSD profession at large—all of which helps to further promote quality and excellence within the discipline.

Fostering Effective Leaders

While IAHCSMM members have grown accustomed to the Association’s expanding cadre of educational resources, 2010 promises to provide some of the most exciting offerings to date—many of which will be unveiled at IAHCSMM’s 45th Annual Meeting in San Diego May 1-5.

In addition to the preconference workshops, Early Bird Discussion Forums and 20 timely educational sessions hosted by some of the profession’s foremost experts, the San Diego meeting will add to its lineup its first-ever Exhibit Learning Annexes and poster presentations. The Exhibit Learning Annexes are unique in that they will bring registered attendees and vendor experts together in a private, enclosed room on the exhibit floor. The 20- to 30-minute educational or product/service demonstrations will be hosted at numerous time slots to allow for greater attendee participation. The newly-added poster presentations will be on display in the exhibit hall as well. These presentations will provide a new opportunity for IAHCSMM members and meeting attendees to share their success stories, study data and process improvements.

IAHCSMM recognizes that developing CSSD leaders and “experts” in the field takes a coordinated effort—one that blends formal training and certification programs with adjunctive training and reference tools. To assist with leadership development, IAHCSMM has developed the new Central Service Leadership Manual. This textbook, which will debut at the 2010 Annual Meeting, will give CSSD professionals a solid foundation on leadership requirements and fundamentals. The 25-chapter textbook was developed to be used in conjunction with the 7th Edition Technical Central Service Technical Manual, and covers a wide range of topics, from employee coaching, technical essentials and purchasing/inventory management to legal considerations, regulatory requirements, resource management and effective communication, among others.

Yet another tool that IAHCSMM hopes to unveil at the meeting is a first-of-its-kind CSSD dictionary, which will serve as a valuable, at-a-glance reference for technicians and managers. Although other IAHCSMM references, such as the 7th Edition Central Service Technical Manual and the new CS Leadership Manual, feature well-appointed glossaries, the CSSD dictionary will be far more comprehensive and provide a detailed, one-stop reference for staff. In addition to an A-Z guide of terminology that most CSSDs are exposed to in their departments (from basic equipment- and supply-related terms to management and technician verbiage and even surgical terms), the dictionary will also feature temperature and time conversion charts, and even a symbol directory to help CSSD staff gain a clearer understanding of manufacturer recommendations and processing requirements.

An Eye on Visual Tools

IAHCSMM has also heard the call from members for visual training aides to assist with staff orientation and ongoing knowledge advancement. In partnership with Envision Inc., an award-winning producer of healthcare training videos, IAHCSMM will be unveiling at the Annual Meeting a series of four disinfection- and sterilization-related educational training videos geared toward CSSD and operating room professionals. The videos, which will be 10 to 15 minutes in duration, will cover General Orientation/Overview of Cleaning, High-Level Disinfection and Sterilization of Surgical Instruments, Medical Devices and Equipment; Cleaning of Instruments and Devices Prior to High-Level Disinfection and Sterilization; High-Level Disinfection; and Sterilization. Post-tests will also be included.

Beyond that, the Association is rolling out its much-anticipated follow-up to the first video, Today’s CS Industry: Instrumental to Patient Care, which debuted in 2005. While both videos offer a unique glimpse into the world of CSSD, the new video will take on a fresh, more energetic approach by visually capturing how patient care, quality and safety all begin with the CSSD. The new video will clearly demonstrate the discipline’s place within the healthcare continuum, as well as IAHCSMM’s critical role in helping promote quality, professionalism and solid leadership within the discipline through certification and ongoing education.

Knowledge and skill advancement is an ongoing, ever-evolving process and IAHCSMM is dedicated to staying ahead of the curve by offering unique, innovative and user-friendly tools and resources that best meet the varying needs of CSSD professionals worldwide. More resources are in the pipeline, and IAHCSMM will be sure to keep CSSD professionals informed as new developments unfold.

Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL is the educational director for the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM). For more information on the Association, please visit www.iahcsmm.org.