How should health care delivery organizations tackle the complex challenge of setting appropriate relative humidity (RH) levels in the operating room (OR)? A group of professional health care and sterilization organizations has studied this question and has recommendations on how to assess the risks associated with this question, especially as it relates to the impact on sterile supplies and electro-medical equipment.
“Health care facility leaders should think about whether lower humidity levels are desirable and appropriate in their facility — and the answer may vary depending on the climate where the facility is located, the services offered, and the products and equipment used in their location,” the organizations said in a joint communication released last month.
Concerns in the field about appropriate humidity levels in the OR, equipment, and regulations related to them prompted a meeting this past fall at AAMI headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, involving multiple stakeholders. The joint statement was developed in the wake of that meeting. Its goals are to ensure that patients are protected through the safe use of equipment and that resources for installation, energy and ongoing maintenance are used efficiently.
“Many health care delivery organizations are choosing to lower their humidity levels,” said AAMI President Mary Logan. “Doing so can affect the shelf life and integrity of sterile supplies. This document provides points facilities should keep in mind as they think about lowering humidity levels.”
The communication provides background on the issue and explains why some medical supplies cannot tolerate the lower RH levels. Manufacturers of these supplies want to support the HDOs in expanding the RH range, but they cannot change their products overnight, according to the statement.
“It will take some time for manufacturers to modify products and/or packaging to accommodate or verify the lower minimum RH, complete testing requirements for these typically regulated products, and have those products available for HDOs,” according to the communication. It advises HDOs to follow the product’s instructions for use or contact the manufacturer if they cannot find an answer to their question.
The communication, which is available at www.aami.org/news/2015/Humidity_in_OR_Joint_Communication_to_HDOs_January_2015.pdf, includes considerations for preparing for lower humidity levels, including whether checking the IFU for existing inventory of supplies used in the OR and what level of humidity the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system can maintain.
AAMI Scholarship Meets Its Fundraising Goal
In 2009, AAMI embarked on an ambitious goal to raise $500,000 for a scholarship fund to help students interested in a healthcare technology management (HTM) career. Now, thanks to a number of generous donations, the fund has reached that mark, enabling AAMI to expand the program.
Named in honor of former AAMI President Michael J. Miller, the scholarships, which are awarded by the AAMI Foundation, go to students aspiring to become biomedical equipment technicians (BMETs) or clinical engineers. Ten students — five aspiring BMETs and five clinical engineers — have received the honor.
Bob Stiefel, a retired clinical engineer (CE) and former consultant, gave the initial donation, as well as the one that pushed the fund over its target. As a lecturer at courses for biomedical equipment technicians from the 1970s through the ’90s, Stiefel appreciates the work HTM professionals do.
“I had graduates of these and other BMET programs as interns and employees in my CE departments at the University of Rochester-Strong Memorial Hospital and at Johns Hopkins Hospital. I also established a joint Johns Hopkins Hospital-Howard Community College scholarship program for BMET students,” he said. “Obviously, I value the educational opportunities available in BMET programs. I know from personal experience that scholarships help some of the best future BMETs.”
Steve Campbell, AAMI’s chief operating officer, said the organization is determining how best to move the program forward.
“We are in the process of developing some recommendations to the AAMI Foundation Board on the expansion of the scholarship program,” he said. “I can’t thank our financial supporters enough — from AAMI’s corporate members and our exhibitors to AAMI leaders and members. Every bit has helped and made a difference.”
Students helped by the scholarship have diverse backgrounds, and many already have thriving HTM careers. In fact, several have landed high-profile positions.
“The scholarship helped motivate me to continue my passion within the HTM field and pursue my doctoral degree as a full-time student,” said 2012 winner Avinash Konkani. “Now, I work as a clinical engineer at University of Virginia Health System, having graduated with a PhD in systems engineering from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.”
He credited the scholarship for giving him not only the financial support he needed, but also exposure to experts in the field.
To donate or learn more about the program, visit www.aami.org/foundation/scholarship.
Guide Aims to Improve Instructions for Processing Equipment
Human factors engineering principles play a huge role in the proper processing of medical devices. To help in the development of clear and consistent instructions for use (IFU) and education and training guides for processing equipment, AAMI has unveiled a new technical information report.
Intended for medical device manufacturers, the document is called “AAMI TIR55: Human factors engineering for processing medical devices.”
“Medical device processing is performed by and is dependent on humans, and therefore human factors engineering needs to be considered in the design of the various elements of processing,” according to the document.
In the section dealing with IFU, the document recommends using text and images in close proximity to improve comprehension. Also, instructions should be in a text that is easy to read and simplifies jargon. In addition, the document recommends starting sentences with action verbs when describing steps, breaking down each into separate bullet points.
“TIR55 provides information not available in other AAMI documents and will assist the medical device manufacturer in designing a device, creating IFU, and providing education, training, and competency assessment tools so sterile processing can more effectively and efficiently clean and sterilize medical devices,” said Martha Young, president at Martha L. Young, LLC, who provides sterilization solutions for health care.