Toby Pontifex

Instruments outside of theatre- A Culture Change

Work commenced in 2018 at the Eye and Ear Hospital to progress the implementation of AS/NZS 4187: Reprocessing of reusable medical devices in health service organisations, and to meet the mandatory requirements of Standard 3 – Preventing and Controlling Healthcare Associated Infections of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHSS).

The NSQHSS has mandated that all semi-critical reusable medical devices (RMDs) used in areas outside theatre meet minimum disinfection standards and be traceable to the procedure and individual patient they are used on. Health services must be fully compliant with the mandated requirements by 31 December 2023.

The presentation will provide an overview of some of the collaborative work that has been progressed  at the Eye and Ear Hospital.​

Key sentences

• Meeting Australian Standard 4187
• Disinfection
• Tracking to a patient
• Collaboration
• Innovation