Offsite sterilization fuels onsite efficiency for lean ASCs

For many in the healthcare industry, imagining surgery without onsite sterile processing seems unthinkable. Then again, performing total joints in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) was unthinkable 10 years ago. ASC sterile processing departments (SPDs) are generally not designed to handle the high volumes of instrument trays, vendor trays, and robotic-assisted surgical instruments associated with total joint surgery. Additionally, challenges with applying best practices, recruiting and retaining labor, and managing expenses related to equipment and technology can make expanding the SPD a difficult proposition.