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Reducing Sterilization Time in ORs: An Interview with Healthcare Facilities

JoAnn Durette
With such high demand, keeping operating rooms running is one of the highest priorities of the inner city hospital facilities team. Strict attention to infection control is integral to keeping the ORs in service. After the patient and surgical team exit the OR, facilities personnel immediately begin decontamination routines to remove debris, stains and microorganisms on everything from overhead lighting and equipment to tables and walls.Sixteen operating rooms in the newer building were originally constructed using sheet vinyl flooring that the facilities team had to replace four times in four years. The flooring would stain easily and was difficult and time-consuming to clean, taking up to two hours to sterilize between operations. The rigorous sanitization process required to maintain the floors would often cause damage, as scrubbing out stains would result in the removal of sealer and the need for costly repairs. Falling instruments and rolling tables and carts would further damage the floors, causing tears and broken seam welds. After replacing the vinyl flooring for the fourth time, it became clear that they would need an alternative solution for future renovations.They were considering terrazzo flooring as a potential alternative when they were introduced to Floorazzo™. The terrazzo tile seemed to have the durability and stain resistant qualities he was seeking so, the Assistant Director and his staff tested the flooring for staining and durability. The staining experiment included pouring betadyne all over a Floorazzo™ tile and after 4 days they were able to easily remove the potential stain from the surface. A short time thereafter, one of the hospital’s busy corridors needed new flooring and they installed Floorazzo™ to evaluate its durability under the high traffic conditions. When they were sufficiently convinced, they decided to proceed with Floorazzo™ in the next two ORs that required replacement flooring. Floorazzo™ engineers presented the seamless floor, cove base and transition wall system, Floorazzo™ FUSION™, to achieve the improved flooring performance as well as reduce wall damage caused by rolling gurneys and medical equipment. The flooring was installed in just a couple of days, less than half the time it would have taken to pour terrazzo. The Assistant Director stated that Floorazzo™ helped reduce sterilization time between operations from two hours to twenty minutes and the expense associated with the constant need for repair of the walls and floor was eliminated. Over the 7 years following, Floorazzo™ has been installed in all 16 of the surgical suites in the now 13 year old building. The facilities team takes care to perform routine maintenance and they seal the floors every 6 months. The Assistant Director enthusiastically reported that not one work order has been submitted, except for an occasional light bulb and that sort of thing. He also disclosed that EVS crews much prefer working in the building with 16 Floorazzo™ ORs.

Mats Inc.

Address:

37 Shuman Ave
Stoughton 2072
United States
(800) 628-7462
http://www.matsinc.com
Mats Inc.
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