How can technology help solve some of the inefficiencies in CSSDs, without compromising on quality?
2. Improving Inefficiencies
Do you know how many patients are waiting to get operated on today in England? 6.2 million – the highest level since records began 15 years ago.
The healthcare system is plagued with inefficiencies and, with increasing pressure on services to do more with less, CSSDs too are feeling the effects. So, how can technology help solve some of these inefficiencies in a cost and resource-effective way?
The cost of inefficiencies
Inefficiencies in UK hospitals are a £5bn problem, with surgical delays and cancellations costing the NHS £193m-£413m annually. Inefficiencies come from many corners of the healthcare system, ranging from procurement and estates to costs in the pathology lab and operating theatre. In 2015, the NHS produced its 5 year forward view, hoping to make efficiency savings of £22bn by 2021 across healthcare systems.
Good hospital management leads to fewer inefficiencies and better clinical outcomes. Improved management of resources, performance and governance frameworks, and the use of digital technologies are all recommended to improve efficiency across the entire care pathway.
For CSSDs, these inefficiencies are more acute. Issues with training and retaining staff, and costs of processing equipment all add up. As pressures on healthcare systems mount, with many staff feeling overworked and burnt out – efficiencies are not just a cost-saving exercise, they are also deeply personal.
The healthcare system is plagued with inefficiencies and, with increasing pressure on services to do more with less, CSSDs too are feeling the effects. So, how can technology help solve some of these inefficiencies in a cost and resource-effective way?
The cost of inefficiencies
Inefficiencies in UK hospitals are a £5bn problem, with surgical delays and cancellations costing the NHS £193m-£413m annually. Inefficiencies come from many corners of the healthcare system, ranging from procurement and estates to costs in the pathology lab and operating theatre. In 2015, the NHS produced its 5 year forward view, hoping to make efficiency savings of £22bn by 2021 across healthcare systems.
Good hospital management leads to fewer inefficiencies and better clinical outcomes. Improved management of resources, performance and governance frameworks, and the use of digital technologies are all recommended to improve efficiency across the entire care pathway.
For CSSDs, these inefficiencies are more acute. Issues with training and retaining staff, and costs of processing equipment all add up. As pressures on healthcare systems mount, with many staff feeling overworked and burnt out – efficiencies are not just a cost-saving exercise, they are also deeply personal.
CSSDs are a vital part of the care pathway, ensuring surgical instruments are correctly prepared and sterilized for surgery. Experienced technicians are hard to come by, and with people leaving the healthcare profession in droves, the remaining staff find themselves under increased pressure.
A pressurized health system
After two years of COVID-19, healthcare staff are at breaking point and suffering burnout. A recent survey found that healthcare staff in England are quitting in record numbers, with over 400 leaving the NHS every week in a bid to improve their work-life balance.
With reduced staffing levels and cuts to NHS funding, existing healthcare professionals are finding themselves with ever-larger workloads and dwindling resources – which, in turn, affects the quality of patient care offered. When people are overstretched, the frequency of errors and mistakes increases and it's happening in CSSDs too.
Increasing efficiencies across healthcare systems are vital to ensuring the retention of skilled healthcare professionals and upholding a high quality of care. Unfortunately, steps to increase efficiency come with compromises in quality, but new technologies mean that there no longer has to be a trade-off.
Efficiencies without compromise
CSSDs are a vital part of the care pathway, ensuring surgical instruments are correctly prepared and sterilized for surgery. Experienced technicians are hard to come by, and with people leaving the healthcare profession in droves, the remaining staff find themselves under increased pressure.
So, how can CSSDs increase the efficiency and capacity of their skilled technicians while upholding, and even improving, the quality of their services? There are a few key areas where technology can help drive efficiencies AND quality in sterile service divisions:
After two years of COVID-19, healthcare staff are at breaking point and suffering burnout. A recent survey found that healthcare staff in England are quitting in record numbers, with over 400 leaving the NHS every week in a bid to improve their work-life balance.
With reduced staffing levels and cuts to NHS funding, existing healthcare professionals are finding themselves with ever-larger workloads and dwindling resources – which, in turn, affects the quality of patient care offered. When people are overstretched, the frequency of errors and mistakes increases and it's happening in CSSDs too.
Increasing efficiencies across healthcare systems are vital to ensuring the retention of skilled healthcare professionals and upholding a high quality of care. Unfortunately, steps to increase efficiency come with compromises in quality, but new technologies mean that there no longer has to be a trade-off.
Efficiencies without compromise
CSSDs are a vital part of the care pathway, ensuring surgical instruments are correctly prepared and sterilized for surgery. Experienced technicians are hard to come by, and with people leaving the healthcare profession in droves, the remaining staff find themselves under increased pressure.
So, how can CSSDs increase the efficiency and capacity of their skilled technicians while upholding, and even improving, the quality of their services? There are a few key areas where technology can help drive efficiencies AND quality in sterile service divisions:
- Reduce the time taken to identify and find surgical equipment – automatic instrument tracking and inventory management helps technicians find instruments quickly and accurately.
- Reduce the costs associated with lost and broken instruments – real-time insights into surgical instrument use help CSSD technicians pack surgical trays more efficiently, reducing penalties associated with overloaded trays and reducing processing costs.
- Reduce the number of staff needed to pack trays: technology can act as a second pair of eyes and ears in CSSDS (and in surgery) providing confidence in decisions and helping minimize errors
- Increase capacity across technical teams: A streamlined workflow and reduced time spent on individual tasks frees up time for technicians to get on top of their other tasks and helps reduce overwork and burnout.
May 4, 2022