In April, a Swiss hospital (Cantonal Hospital Aarua) unveiled the end result of a complete CSSD overhaul. The facility’s Central Sterile Supply Department has been upgraded and automated. This work was done with the assistance of Belimed – a premier infection control and sterilization equipment supplier. Improving the health and safety of patients is the driving force behind this refurbishment. Keeping energy costs and environmental impact low was another excellent reason for selecting Belimed as a partner on this project.

The Cantonal Hospital is a perfect setting for testing the capabilities of new equipment. This CSSD handles an equipment supply inventory of over 350,000 instruments and operates every day of the year – around the clock. There are 16 operating theaters and only 20 employees in the sterilization department. This ratio makes the automation of processes crucial.

The facility’s seven WD 290 washer/disinfectors offer staff a hands free way to run a high volume of items for each cycle. Items ready to be washed are simply placed on the in-feed area. A conveyor system transfers them down the line to whichever washer has free space. A rotary module fills each unit with no need for human intervention. Once a washer is full, the correct cycle is automatically selected based on the load carrier that has been loaded into that specific machine. Unloading follows the same mechanized procedure making the entire process quick and efficient.

Each of the department’s MST-H sterilizers has a similar set of functions for reprocessing instruments. This equipment also makes use of barcoding for identification and cycle selection. The computerized control system ejects each batch cart after cycle completion leaving the sterilizer free for a new load. Every item in the CSSD is traceable and features a unique identifier. This makes it possible for internal software to monitor the movement of each sterile product for validation, storage, and distribution. A reduction in errors in order processing and an increase in patient safety are just 2 of the resulting benefits.

Belimed Cuts Consumption

One way Belimed is offering a faster ROI is through reduced resource consumption. The WD 290 washer uses sensors to monitor the amount of water and detergent needed for each load. This Dynamic Filling System adjusts these levels based on the volume of material loaded into the chamber. The rinse water is preheated by harnessing waste heat from the disinfecting stage. Transferring heat in this way reduces the need to use large quantities of additional water to cool the load. The MST-H sterilizer uses a similar water saving strategy.

The newest generation of Belimed equipment for sterile processing departments includes the WD 350. This washer/disinfector has a small footprint but features a throughput of up to 45 trays per hour. In addition to the standard automated loading and unloading, this equipment has an innovative dual chamber design that saves energy. The first chamber performs low temperature pre-cleaning and main cleaning cycles. The second chamber is reserved for the high temperature disinfection and drying stages. Segregating these processes reduces both heating and cooling costs simply by the nature of the design itself.

If you are upgrading your SPD facilities, find out how you can take advantage of the latest innovations in sterilization. Our free report can point you in the right direction.