In February, Censitrac launched its first quarterly company newsletter. It showcases their instrument tracking system for Sterile Processing and Distribution. The company installed this product at London Health Sciences Center (in Canada) last year, and they have more jobs lined up. Tracking individual instruments is not a common practice in Canada. However, it is standard for many hospitals in the U.S. The FDA’s recent public workshop on unique device identification (UDI) has brought new attention to this subject. As inventory and quality control improve, healthcare facilities can expect to see results in the form of cost savings and better patient care.
Censitrac has positioned itself strategically to take advantage of an upswing in the use of instrument management software. Their product makes it easy to complete the assembly of surgical trays, Here are some key features:
- Two-dimensional matrix barcoding can be etched directly on each metal instrument.
- These assets can then be followed through the decontamination and distribution process.
- Autoclaving and harsh disinfectants won’t wear away the electrochemical engraving.
- Hand held scanners make it simple to check items out of inventory.
- Each instrument can be linked to the appropriate tray making it possible to track entire sets.
- Matching patients to specific recall events is also possible with this software.
Accurate Tracking Systems Can Lower Costs
Knowing where each unit is at all times makes inventory control simpler. Fewer sets need to be kept on hand when hospitals don’t have to constantly deal with misplaced tools. Surgical teams benefit by having access to critical instruments without delay. This minimizes frustration and can also cut overtime since personnel aren’t kept on standby waiting for equipment to be located and sterilized. Patients benefit from this higher level of service. They can also be assured that each instrument has been sanitized appropriately.
The software can be programmed to count the number of times each surgical tool is used and re-sterilized. Those that require routine maintenance can be automatically tagged for periodic servicing. Such regular care can keep instruments in good condition for a longer time period.
A similar function can be used to follow each item through its complete lifespan. This makes it possible to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of different products. Having this data on hand enables hospital procurement specialists to make better vendor choices. Since the software can be used with any brand of instrument, competitive purchasing practices can be followed to negotiate the best pricing on equipment from a variety of manufacturers.
Censitrac has added a couple of features to its system at the request of customers. These upgrades include integrated OR schedule monitoring to ensure that SPD has sets ready on time. Sterilizers can now be linked in to the software to make electronic record keeping a snap. Charts have also been added to the reporting module. This company is looking into RFID tracking for future applications.
If you are currently in the market for a new autoclave, review our free report. It takes only a few minutes to guide you in the right direction for locating state-of-the-art equipment.
