The Supervision and Management Mode of Disinfection Supply Center Improves the Standardization of Sterile Goods Management in Clinical Departments.

Background: In daily inspection, the nonstandard management of sterile articles in clinical departments of hospitals often leads to the destruction of the sterilization effectiveness of sterile articles. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen governance and improve this phenomenon. This study intends to investigate the mode in which the disinfection supply center participates in the supervision and management of the management of sterile items in clinical departments. It played a role in improving the standardization of the management of sterile articles in clinical departments and ensured the closed-loop management of the sterilization effectiveness of sterile articles. Methods: Every quarter, the disinfection supply center of our hospital will inspect the standardized management of sterile articles in all clinical departments of the hospital, mainly including the storage environment and facilities of sterile articles, the cleanliness of storage cabinets, placement principles, whether they are stored by category, and the quality and validity management of sterile articles. The quarterly inspection results were summarized and analyzed to find the existing problems and the causes. The disinfection supply center shall supervise the improvement. After the disinfection supply center inspected the standardized management of sterile articles in all clinical departments of the hospital for the first time according to the inspection contents, under the guidance and assistance of the nursing department and the hospital infection department, it improved the sterile article management system, conducted knowledge training for the whole hospital, and incorporated the standardized management of clinical sterile articles into the quality control inspection of the nursing department. In the later stage, the disinfection supply center is responsible for conducting routine inspection and supervision on the standardized management of sterile articles in all clinical departments of the hospital every quarter according to the inspection contents, including summarizing, analyzing, and urging the clinical departments to achieve the improvement of the management of sterile articles in clinical departments. Results: The standardization of aseptic articles after improvement was significantly higher than before and during improvement, and the qualified rate was significantly different (99.4% vs 97.9% vs 89.5%, P < 0.05). The average number of lost packages caused by nonstandard management in the department was significantly reduced. The average rate of lost sterile packages during and after the improvement was significantly lower than that before the improvement (10.5% vs 97.9% vs 89.5%, P < 0.05). It also effectively reduced the cost caused by the loss of sterile packages. Conclusion: The disinfection supply center participates in the quality control and management of sterile articles in the nursing department and regularly inspects and supervises the management of sterile articles in clinical departments. It can effectively improve the standardized management of sterile articles in clinical departments, ensure the safety of sterile articles, and form a closed loop of sterilization effectiveness.

ARC: An Open Web-Platform for Request/Supply Matching for a Prioritized and Controlled COVID-19 Response.

In 2020 the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic putting entire governments and civil societies in crisis mode. Around the globe unprecedented shortages of equipment and qualified personnel were reported in hospitals and diagnostic laboratories. When a crisis is global, supply chains are strained worldwide and external help may not be readily available. In Switzerland, as part of the efforts of the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force, we developed a tailor-made web-based tool where needs and offers for critical laboratory equipment and expertise can be brought together, coordinated, prioritized, and validated. This Academic Resources for COVID-19 (ARC) Platform presents the specialized needs of diagnostic laboratories to academic research groups at universities, allowing the sourcing of said needs from unconventional supply channels, while keeping the entities tasked with coordination of the crisis response in control of each part of the process. An instance of the ARC Platform is operated in Switzerland (arc.epfl.ch) catering to the diagnostic efforts in Switzerland and sourcing from the Swiss academic sector. The underlying technology has been released as open source so that others can adopt the customizable web-platform for need/supply match-making in their own relief efforts, during the COVID-19 pandemic or any future disaster.

Interdisciplinary approach to the management of medical supplies in the nursing home setting / Abordaje interdisciplinar de la gestión de productos sanitarios en el ámbito sociosanitario

Objective: To describe and evaluate the management of medical supplies by an interdisciplinary team in order to promote their rational use in the nursing home setting. Methods: An interdisciplinary team was set up, coordinated by a Pharmacy Unit including representatives of 18 elderly nursing homes (1,599 beds). Team interventions were assessed in terms of improvements in the management of wound care supplies. In addition, a retrospective descriptive study was carried out on those patients with pressure ulcers, in order to consider future interventions. Results: The team interventions led to a selection of 15% of the 180 wound care supplies from the public tender process. The monthly savings in wound dressing material purchases was at least 17%. Furthermore, a reduction in consumption greater than 50% was found in 7 centres. The prevalence of ulcers was 5.59%. A fourth of these ulcers were originated outside nursing homes. Conclusions: The creation of an interdisciplinary team, in which the pharmacist gets closer to patient needs, and where nurses share responsibility for the selection and management of medical supplies, leads to positive results and represents an opportunity for improvement in elderly care (AU)

Objetivo: Describir y evaluar la gestión de los productos sanitarios por un equipo interdisciplinar con la finalidad de racionalizar su utilización en el ámbito de la atención sociosanitaria. Métodos: Se creó un equipo interdisciplinar coordinado por un servicio de farmacia con representantes de 18 residencias para personas mayores dependientes (1.599 plazas asistenciales). Las intervenciones del equipo se valoraron en términos de mejora en la gestión de los productos sanitarios para curas. Además, se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de los pacientes con úlceras por presión para considerar futuras intervenciones. Resultados: Las intervenciones del equipo resultaron en una selección del 15% de los 180 productos sanitarios para curas a partir del concurso público. El ahorro mensual en las compras de productos para cuidado de las úlceras fue como mínimo de un 17%. Además, se constató una reducción en el consumo superior al 50% en 7 centros. La prevalencia de úlceras fue del 5,59%. La cuarta parte de las úlceras tuvo un origen externo a la residencia. Conclusiones: La formación de un equipo interdisciplinar, en el que el farmacéutico se aproxima a las necesidades del paciente, y los profesionales de enfermería comparten la responsabilidad en la selección y gestión de los productos sanitarios, conduce a resultados positivos y supone una oportunidad de mejora en la atención a los mayores (AU)

Supply chain optimization at an academic medical center.

PURPOSE: A successful supply chain optimization project that leveraged technology, engineering principles, and a technician workflow redesign in the setting of a growing health system is described. SUMMARY: With continued rises in medication costs, medication inventory management is increasingly important. Proper management of central pharmacy inventory and floor-stock inventory in automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) can be challenging. In an effort to improve control of inventory costs in the central pharmacy of a large academic medical center, the pharmacy department implemented a supply chain optimization project in collaboration with the medical center's inhouse team of experts on process improvement and industrial engineering. The project had 2 main components: (1) upgrading and reconfiguring carousel technology within an expanded central pharmacy footprint to generate accurate floor-stock inventory replenishment reports, which resulted in efficiencies within the medication-use system, and (2) implementing a technician workflow redesign and algorithm to right-size the ADC inventory, which decreased inventory stockouts (i.e., incidents of depletion of medication stock) and improved ADC user satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Through a multifaceted approach to inventory management, the number of stockouts per month was decreased and ADC inventory was optimized, resulting in a one-time inventory cost savings of $220,500.

Bar Code-Based Management to Enhance Efficiency of a Sterile Supply Unit in Singapore.

Sterile surgical instruments are essential for successful surgical outcomes. The Singapore General Hospital's Theatre Sterile Supplies Unit (TSSU) has faced many challenges, including increasing demand for instruments and the need to maintain instruments of greater complexity. To address these challenges, stakeholders from key departments at Singapore General Hospital formed a multidisciplinary team to transform operations in the TSSU. The team adopted and implemented the TSSU Instrument Management System (TIMS) in three phases over five years. The project included standardizing instrument-naming conventions, implementing electronic integration of instrument tracking in the unit, extending traceability of instruments to the major ORs, initiating integrated web-based instrument ordering, and extending the system management of instruments at ambulatory surgery and specialized OR facilities. The implementation of TIMS has improved inventory, supply, and quality management; reduced instrument repairs; and led to savings through increased productivity and lower expenses.

NHS generic project: response from the wound care community.

This series of letters outlines the response from MA Healthcare, key opinion leaders, and industry to the news that the Government is planning to introduce a generic project for wound dressings, limiting products to three main suppliers.

Optimización en la logística de aprovisionamiento de insumos hospitalarios

El trabajo que se propone es el resultado de una realidad que vive la sociedad como consecuencias de una deficitaria prestación de los servicios de salud por parte del estado, fruto de los acontecimientos políticos ocurridos en nuestro país

[Discussion about Management of In Vitro Diagnostic Reagent].

OBJECTIVE: In order to adapt the rapid development of modern medicine, this paper is aimed to analyze the application of in vitro diagnostic reagents (IVD Reagents) in hospital management and improve the overall level of hospital management. METHODS: By groping the management experience of IVD reagents, we discuss the internal hospital management mode of IVD reagents in reality. RESULTS: With the continuous improvements on the information platform of IVD reagents,we can realize benefit analysis of IVD reagents within the process of management. CONCLUSION: Reasonable management on IVD reagentscan improve the working efficiency in hospitals and provide swifter and better medical service for patients.

Armazenamento dos produtos para saúde estéreis em unidades assistenciais: estudo descritivo / Storage fo sterile procucts in healthcare units: a descriptive study

Objetivo: Analisar as condições dos locais de guarda dos produtos para saúde estéreis em unidades assistenciais de hospitais de grande porte de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Método: Conduziu-se um estudo exploratório, descritivo, entre maio e setembro de 2013. Utilizou-se um instrumento validado para a realização da análise descritiva. Resultados: Foram visitadas 33 unidades assistenciais, entre elas Centros de Terapia Intensiva (39,4%), Centros Cirúrgicos (33,3%) e Unidades de Pronto Atendimento (27,3%). Os locais de acondicionamento do produto foram identificados (81,8%), feitos de revestimento lavável (93,9%) e armazenados em armários fechados (75,8%). A validade da esterilização foi observada em 97% das instituições pesquisadas. Foram encontradas áreas não exclusivas para guarda de artigos esterilizados. Conclusão: Observou-se uma escassez de estudos na literatura sobre o tema. Constatou-se que as recomendações dos órgãos regulamentadores em saúde, quanto às condições de armazenamento do produto estéril nas unidades assistenciais, não estão sendo observadas em sua totalidade...

Mejorando la cadena de suministro en un hospital mediante la gestión Lean / Improving a hospital's supply chain through lean management

Objetivos. La gestión del suministro constituye un área en la que los hospitales tienen importantes oportunidades de mejora. Este trabajo pretende analizar cómo la aplicación de los principios de Lean puede mejorar los costes logísticos y la satisfacción de los usuarios. Métodos. Análisis de los resultados de una experiencia de reorganización del sistema logístico de un hospital basada en algunos principios Lean. Para el cálculo de los costes logísticos se ha utilizado el método del coste completo o full costing de contabilidad analítica de gestión. La satisfacción del usuario se evaluó mediante encuesta anónima. El tratamiento de los datos de la encuesta incluyó análisis factorial y el modelo de análisis de la varianza ANOVA. Resultados. Los datos obtenidos mostraron una mejora en la gestión de logística tras la implantación de Lean, con reducción de costes y mejora del nivel de satisfacción del usuario interno. Se ha observado que el personal sanitario percibe y valora el servicio logístico de manera global, sin diferenciar los aspectos del servicio, detectándose diferencias en cuanto al grado de satisfacción percibida por distintos grupos de usuarios. Conclusiones. La experiencia analizada ha permitido comprobar la aplicabilidad e idoneidad de los principios Lean para mejorar los costes e incrementar la satisfacción de los usuarios de servicios logísticos hospitalarios (AU)

Objectives: Supply management is an area where hospitals have significant opportunities for improvement. The main objective of this paper has been to analyze how the application of Lean principles can improve logistics costs and user satisfaction. In connection with satisfaction, it also aimed to examine which aspects of the service define it and check for differences between different groups of users. Methods: The results of an experience to reorganize the hospital logistic system based on some Lean principles have been studied. This is therefore a case study, which combine different methods of data collection. The logistics cost calculation was carried out using the full costing method. To measure satisfaction of healthcare personnel, the internal logistics service users, an anonymous survey was conducted. Processing of the data obtained from the survey have included exploratory analysis, factor analysis and ANOVAs. Results: The data have showed an improvement in logistics management after the implementation of Lean principles. Logistics costs were reduced and the satisfaction level of the internal users with the new logistics system was increased. Some differences in the degree of satisfaction by different groups of users were also detected, although they did not seem to distinguish between different aspects of logistic service. Conclusions: The analyzed experience shows the applicability and suitability of Lean principles to improve logistics operational costs and increase user satisfaction (AU)

A hospital-wide initiative to eliminate preventable causes of immediate use steam sterilization.

Instruments and implants sterilized by immediate use steam sterilization (IUSS), formerly called flash sterilization, can increase the patient's risk for acquiring a surgical site infection. We implemented a hospital-wide initiative to determine the reasons that perioperative personnel use IUSS to sterilize items and then designed a program to reduce the hospital's rates. Program initiatives included educating perioperative personnel, improving scheduling processes, holding vendor discussions, purchasing additional instrument sets, and transitioning from paper wrap to metal containers for instrument sets. In addition, we instituted a policy whereby nursing leaders are required to approve IUSS before it can be used and developed guidelines for immediate and rapid processing in the sterile processing department, and we monitor compliance daily and communicate results regularly to all team members. These efforts decreased our facility use of IUSS for implants from 10.22% in January 2008 to 0.09% in August 2012, and we decreased our use of IUSS for instruments from 79% in May 2010 to 7.5% in February 2012. We simultaneously implemented a process to reduce surgical site infection rates and saw an improvement in surgical site infection from 5.4% in the first quarter of 2010 to 1.4% in the fourth quarter of 2012.

[Improving a hospital's supply chain through lean management]. / Mejorando la cadena de suministro en un hospital mediante la gestión Lean.

OBJECTIVES: Supply management is an area where hospitals have significant opportunities for improvement. The main objective of this paper has been to analyze how the application of Lean principles can improve logistics costs and user satisfaction. In connection with satisfaction, it also aimed to examine which aspects of the service define it and check for differences between different groups of users. METHODS: The results of an experience to reorganize the hospital logistic system based on some Lean principles have been studied. This is therefore a case study, which combine different methods of data collection. The logistics cost calculation was carried out using the full costing method. To measure satisfaction of healthcare personnel, the internal logistics service users, an anonymous survey was conducted. Processing of the data obtained from the survey have included exploratory analysis, factor analysis and ANOVAs. RESULTS: The data have showed an improvement in logistics management after the implementation of Lean principles. Logistics costs were reduced and the satisfaction level of the internal users with the new logistics system was increased. Some differences in the degree of satisfaction by different groups of users were also detected, although they did not seem to distinguish between different aspects of logistic service. CONCLUSIONS: The analyzed experience shows the applicability and suitability of Lean principles to improve logistics operational costs and increase user satisfaction.

Gestión Lean en logística de hospitales: estudio de un caso / Lean logistics management in healthcare: a case study

Objetivo. Estudiar la aplicabilidad de los principios de la gestión Lean a la gestión de la cadena de suministros de un hospital. En concreto, tratamos de conocer qué prácticas y principios de Lean son aplicables, los beneficios que se pueden obtener y las principales barreras para su aplicación. La gestión de la cadena de suministros de los hospitales es un tema importante, tanto por su incidencia en la calidad asistencial como por su impacto en los costes. Métodos. Este trabajo se basa en un estudio de caso durante el periodo 2005-2010. Ámbito: Hospital Virgen Macarena de Sevilla. Proceso de implantación de un plan integral de gestión logística basado en la aplicación de principios Lean y en el desarrollo de inversiones tecnológicas. Resultados. La implantación del plan integral ha reducido los inventarios, disminuido los plazos de entrega y mejorado la calidad del servicio. Asimismo, se han producido otras mejoras importantes: mejora en la satisfacción de los trabajadores e incremento de la productividad del personal, tanto sanitario como del dedicado a tareas logísticas. Conclusiones. La experiencia analizada ha permitido comprobar la aplicabilidad e idoneidad de los principios Lean y de algunas de sus técnicas a la gestión de la logística de hospitales. También se han identificado algunas de las principales dificultades que pueden presentarse(AU)

Objective. To study the applicability of the principles of Lean Production to manage the supply chain of a hospital. In particular, to determine which Lean practices and principles are applicable, the benefits obtained and the main barriers for its implementation. Managing the hospital supply chain is an important issue, both for its effect on the quality of care and its impact on costs. Methods. This study is based on a case study. Study period: 2005-10. Scope: Hospital Virgen Macarena in Seville. Process of implementing a comprehensive logistics management plan based on Lean principles and technological investments. Results. The implementation of the comprehensive plan has reduced inventory, decreased lead times and improved service quality. Also, there have been other important improvements: enhanced employee satisfaction and increased staff productivity, both dedicated to health and the logistics. Conclusions. The experience analysed has shown the applicability and appropriateness of Lean principles and some of its techniques in managing the logistics of hospitals. It also identifies some of the main difficulties that may arise(AU)