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  • 1.  Autoclaving physical environment

    Posted 01-06-2025 16:14
    Edited by Teri Corless 01-06-2025 16:14

    Hello, we have 8 clinics that do their own autoclaving. We are struggling with our physical environment meeting the CDC and AORN guidelines of physicals barriers separating the decontamination, packaging and sterilization/storage. Currently many of our clinics have the autoclave in an exam room and the cleaning, packaging and sterilizing are happening in the one location.  We are struggling to find a space to dedicate to this in each clinic-  anyone have a similar struggle and what was your solution? Also wondering if the negative and positive air pressures AORN requires are required for an ambulatory clinic? Anyone know if we have a designated place for decontamination - as long as we move them to a clean area for drying, packaging and sterilizing can the clean area be an exam room? Thank you for any help or insight you have. 



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    Teri Corless
    Madison Health
    Ammon ID
    (801) 792-6331
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  • 2.  RE: Autoclaving physical environment

    Posted 01-10-2025 20:45

    Hi Teri, we are a free-standing integrated clinic with two autoclave rooms - dental and medical. Feel free to email me directly if you'd like to talk through processes. We're a AAAHC accredited facility so have had rigorous reviews of our sterilization processes. 



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    Heather Zak MS, RN, ACNS-BC, CCM
    Clinical Nurse Manager
    Lummi Nation Health Center
    Bellingham WA
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  • 3.  RE: Autoclaving physical environment

    Posted 01-16-2025 07:46

    Heather, thank you so much for being willing to help. Id love to send you an email and gather your thoughts on our current set up. I dont see your email above. Thank you. 



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    Teri Corless
    Madison Health
    Ammon ID
    (801) 792-6331
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Autoclaving physical environment

    Posted 01-11-2025 22:11

    We have 2 clinics with active reprocessing & 2 clinic locations that will start in the next 1-2 months. I've developed a comprehensive training & skill competency program for reprocessing staff. Each location has a reprocessing space with flow dirty to clean. We utilize tabletop class B autoclaves, STERRAD, and one clinic also has Cidex OPA for flexible ENT endoscopes. The distance of the clinics to our central processing department is our main reason for needing insured processing. It's possible to do but not easy. Ive been working on ensuring regulatory compliance for the last year. This area of quality assurance & infection control is a passion of mine, I'm happy to help if I can!



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    Olivia Burden, BSN, RN, CIC
    Clinical Staff Operations Manager
    OHIO COUNTY HEALTHCARE
    Provider Practices
    Hartford, KY
    oburden@ochcares.com
    270-298-5210
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  • 5.  RE: Autoclaving physical environment

    Posted 01-16-2025 07:47

    Thank you Olivia, I would I would really appreciate the collaboration. Ill send you an email. 



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    Teri Corless
    Madison Health
    Ammon ID
    (801) 792-6331
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    Original Message


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