“The topics chosen are ones that are frequently problematic," said Cynthia Spry, an infection-prevention consultant based in New York, who reviewed the posters’ content.
They are also convenient, according to Rose Seavey, another reviewer who is president and CEO of Seavey Healthcare Consulting LLC in Arvada, Colo. “Having these very clear instructions readily available for staff immediately instead of having to look them up in a book or on a computer will help drive compliance to best practices," she said.
The reprocessing of reusable medical devices has gained widespread attention in the national media amid reports of patients being exposed to improperly sterilized equipment. Last year, AAMI and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a two-day summit on reprocessing, which includes sterilization. Nearly 300 stakeholders hashed out the main challenges to effective reprocessing, such as inadequate training, complex manufacturer’s cleaning instructions, a lack of staff, and hard-to-clean devices.
The posters are available for purchase as a set of five. The list price is $89 and the AAMI member price is $59. The order code is POSTER-S. To order copies, visit the AAMI store at www.aami.org or call +1-877-249-8226.
