top of page

Central Sterile Department (CSD) Infection Prevention

Sterile processing departments play a vital role in healthcare facilities by ensuring medical instruments and devices are properly cleaned, disinfected, and sterilised. This department, called CSSD, CSD or SSD, handles all items that contact mucous membranes, sterile tissue, or the vascular system. Their work prevents surgical site infections, managing all semi-critical and critical items under the Spaulding Classification System.

​

Regulatory oversight has intensified, with accreditation agencies and state health departments closely examining surgical and gastrointestinal procedure processes during facility surveys. This heightened scrutiny affects hospitals, day hospitals and dental facilities. Many states have implemented mandatory certification requirements for sterile processing technicians to ensure proper reprocessing standards.

​

As an industry leader in infection prevention and control, Infection Prevention & Control Consulting Services provides expert guidance on sterile processing procedures. We bring extensive experience in all aspects of the field, including pre-cleaning, high-level disinfection, sterilisation, and process monitoring.

​

Despite facilities' best efforts to maintain complete compliance, we frequently identify minor but critical oversights that could compromise patient safety and put facilities at risk during surveys. Comprehensive services include on-site assessments, policy reviews, and detailed reports with specific recommendations for improvement. Infection Prevention Consulting helps facilities stay current with instrument and scope reprocessing guidelines while ensuring proper monitoring protocols are in place.

​

For facilities that have received citations related to reprocessing during recent NSQHSS surveys, Infection Prevention Control Consulting Services  (IPCCS)  offers specialised assistance in developing effective Action Plans of Correction. 

​

​

Washer Disinfector.jpg

Plan of Correction Action

After regulatory surveys are conducted by accreditation certification bodies, or state agencies, healthcare facilities receive detailed reports outlining the auditor's findings.

 

These documents identify areas needing improvement and specify any compliance issues discovered during the inspection. The severity of any deficiencies determines how quickly the facility must submit their plan of corrective action (POCA), which must follow strict formatting guidelines.

​

Creating an effective POCA requires significant expertise and understanding of regulatory requirements. Infection Prevention Consulting (IPC) partners with facilities to develop comprehensive, achievable, and detailed correction action plans that meet all necessary criteria.

​

POCAs are complex documents that must address multiple elements. Each identified deficiency requires a detailed response outlining specific corrective actions and implementation timelines. Vague or general statements are unacceptable - facilities must precisely describe their corrective measures, explain how they will prevent future occurrences through systematic changes, and detail their quality assurance monitoring processes.

​

The plan must specify which staff positions will oversee the corrective actions and the quality assurance programs. Every corrective action needs a completion date, whether already accomplished or planned. Some deficiencies may require multiple corrective actions with different completion timelines.

 

Notably, deficiencies involving direct patient care typically demand faster resolution.

​

Infection Prevention Consulting (IPC) helps facilities navigate these requirements by developing thorough, compliant POCAs that satisfy regulatory expectations while implementing practical solutions for lasting improvement.

​

Partner with Us to learn how we can help your facility develop an corrective action plan and how we can help you reduce the likelihood of deficiencies through our other services, including accreditation preparation, infection prevention and control risk assessments and gap analysis.

Washer Disinfector.jpg
Report writing.jpg

Infection Prevention Plan

Infection Prevention Consulting (IPC) provides a comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control Plan for hospitals, which is customised to meet the needs of your facility. The Plan includes, but is not limited to the following:

​

  • Role of the infection preventionist

  • Role of the infection prevention and control committee

  • Risk assessment (separate attachment specific to your facility's goals and strategies)

  • Quality Assurance Performance Improvement review - Gap Analysis for NSQHS Standard 3, including AS 5369:2023

  • Employee health

  • Influenza vaccination of healthcare workers

  • Surveillance for healthcare-associated infections

  • Reporting of communicable diseases

  • Management of patients with Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs)

  • Safe injection practices

  • Environmental cleaning and toolkits

  • Resources, including competencies

  • Education

  • And more.

bottom of page