| Currently, our profession is one of the most | | | | certification-on the contrary! Today, professional |
| under recognized and underpaid of the clinical | | | | certification is the highest possible standard for |
| technicians in the modern health care setting. This | | | | the sterile processing professional and it is a |
| is a very sad state of affairs when one considers | | | | MUST. We both recommend certification via |
| the importance of the role of the sterile | | | | CBSPD and IAHCSMM to all of our students and |
| processing technician in the hospital and surgery | | | | require it of our affiliate instructors. |
| center setting. Quite literally, no direct patient care | | | | How can we begin to implement the above |
| providing medical center can function without | | | | recommended changes in our own professional |
| them! | | | | arena? |
| It is unlikely that hospital administrators will come | | | | First, let's take a look at the current educational |
| to an epiphany on their own with respect to the | | | | situation. Today, the only real educational options |
| profession within their respective facilities and | | | | for sterile processing educational progression are: |
| seek to reach down and help elevate the SPD | | | | 1) self study, 2) the occasional seminar/training |
| department and, subsequently, its technicians. It is, | | | | session, 3) some course offerings via community |
| in pretty much any endeavor, futile (not to | | | | and technical colleges, and 4) vendor sponsored |
| mention lazy and irresponsible) to sit around any | | | | programs and inservices. |
| hope for things to get better. Some times, we | | | | Self study is a viable option for some, but it is |
| have take the initiative upon ourselves. | | | | limited in scope and not everyone does well |
| In central services, one organization, IAHCSMM, | | | | without the appropriate structure of the |
| has been at the forefront of this for many, many | | | | classroom setting and fixed curriculum. |
| years. And other independent and group efforts | | | | Seminars and the occasional training session are |
| are underway, organizations such as The Central | | | | good opportunities for learning but self-limiting due |
| Sterile Processing Initiative. But a more | | | | to several factors. For one, they aren't available in |
| concentrated effort is now needed if we are to | | | | all locations and at regularly scheduled times. This |
| move the profession forward. If what we have | | | | makes is difficult for many. As well, they, due to |
| been doing for years isn't giving us the results we | | | | the short time frame which they run (anywhere |
| both want and need, then it is clearly time to step | | | | from several hours to several days) only so much |
| back and evaluate. | | | | information can be conveyed. |
| It is the contention of our initiative that there are | | | | The community/technical college offerings are |
| several areas upon which we should, as a | | | | good first steps, however, the problem again is |
| profession, now be focused-mandatory | | | | location-they just aren't convenient for the |
| certification is not the biggest hurdle and should | | | | greater population as the sterile processing course |
| not be our ultimate goal. We can aim higher than | | | | offerings aren't standard programs as would be, |
| even this lofty enterprise. To learn more about | | | | say, radiology technician training. As well, these |
| these areas and our ideas, please visit The | | | | programs can be costly. |
| Central Sterile Processing Initiative's website. | | | | Many vendors offer educational programs and |
| But for the discussion at hand, we are interested | | | | some of these are indeed outstanding. However, |
| in one topic alone, education. Before the sterile | | | | with vendor sponsored programs, there is always |
| processing professional can be lifted up, he or she | | | | a catch-there is a clear product bias and, in many |
| need be worthy of such elevation. It is time that | | | | instances, this can cause more confusion than do |
| we stopped treating sterile processing as any | | | | good. Vendor neutral educational programs are to |
| other support services area such as | | | | be preferred. |
| environmental or dietary and begin to focus on | | | | Despite stating the negatives associated with the |
| both the clinical and technical aspects of the field. | | | | above, these are in fact integral parts of the |
| This entails a much more educated technician. | | | | sterile processing educational platform and are not |
| The initiative's view of education is not centered | | | | to be shunned but rather seen merely for what |
| upon simply plans of self-study, brief courses and | | | | they are-ancillary educational arenas-but these |
| seminars, and then, finally, passing a certification | | | | alone cannot move the profession forward. These |
| exam. Rather, we proffer that the education of a | | | | are just first steps. |
| sterile processing technician should be no less | | | | This is one of the driving goals of The Central |
| rigorous than that of any other technical/clinical | | | | Sterile Processing Initiative-develop comprehensive |
| associate's degree-level program. The reasons for | | | | online training curricula for sterile processing |
| this should be obvious (the complex understanding | | | | professionals that one can accessed at anytime, |
| of microbiology, chemistry, and physics required; | | | | from anywhere, at an economy price so that we |
| infection control prevention, patient safety, etc.) | | | | can put more and better education into the hands |
| We know that this won't come quickly or even | | | | of those who would otherwise miss out on such |
| easy but it is a goal that we should be focused | | | | opportunities. |
| upon. Certification should be second to such an | | | | Copyright 2010 by Shane Huey. All rights |
| educational paradigm shift. | | | | reserved. |
| The above being said, we are not opposed to | | | | |