Surgical Directions has released a report revealing a “growing patient safety risk linked to chronic staffing shortages and underinvestment in sterile processing departments across the U.S.” PR Newswire has the release.
Barbara McClenathan, vice president of nursing at the company, wrote that “without targeted investment in training, compensation, and integration into hospital safety strategies [for SPDs], health systems risk surgical delays, infections, and compliance failures.”
The report found that up to “5% of surgical patients experience surgical site infections, many of which are tied to improper instrument sterilization.” Additionally, “hospitals report persistent SPD vacancies, with roles often remaining unfilled for months due to low pay, limited career pathways, and complex certification requirements.” Compensation also rarely “matches the skill level required” given the amount of training SPD technicians are required to undergo.
These “staffing gaps and mismanaged workflows result in procedure delays, cancellations, and surgeon dissatisfaction, contributing to lost revenue and regulatory penalties.” Surgical Directions offers several strategic action ideas to address the staffing and quality issues, including increasing compensation, investing in training, developing career pathways “that create opportunities for leadership, quality oversight, and education roles,” enhancing visibility by “recognizing SPD's role as a critical partner in surgical quality and patient safety,” and integrating SPD into governance.
