Comply with AS4187 Standards by 2021
NSC can assist your sterilisation department in complying with AS4187 Standards for storage of sterile stock
The extension to the AS4187 compliance deadline allows CSSDs to have more time to plan and develop a solution that meet the Standards for their sterilisation department.
By December 2021, sterilisation departments need to have a documented plan in place that determines how the department will identify and manage gaps in their current compliance. These need to be measureable with timeframes and realistic deliverables to meet these. The CSSD will need to report on how they are meeting the timeframes and next actions.
By December 2022, CSSDs will require compliance of effective segregation of clean and dirty activities. This does not mean that the clean and dirty activities are separated by separate rooms. It must comply with the Standards.
By 31 December 2022, CSSDs must comply with the Standard for storage of sterile stock in compliant shelving. Prior to this date, CSSDs will be required to develop a compliance plan about how they will meet the Standards. Again, this must contain timeframes, deliverables and strategies to meet the targets.
What does this mean for CSSDs?
Even with the extension of the A4187 Standards deadline, CSSDs have to have in place a measureable and precise compliance plan before December 2021. This needs to identify how the department will have full compliance by December 2022.
Even though this may seem like alot of time to perform these tasks, you don’t want to leave your CSSD without accreditation. NSC can assist in designing and installing a shelving and storage system to manage sterile stock and incorporate this in your compliance plan and deliver before the deadline.
NSC is a specialist in designing and implementing shelving and storage systems for hospitals including CSSDs and have been doing this for over 15 years. What makes us different to our competitors is that we can offer a complete shelving and storage solution that is unique to sterilisation departments.
We can design and install a range of shelving solutions from chrome wire, stainless steel, Pegasus high density modular racks, sterile tray racks, carts, trolleys and baskets.
The standards state that all sterile stock should be stored in compliant shelving and reduce any risks of potential contamination. There needs to be separate rooms for clean and contaminated reprocessing which will require separate storage systems.
We can provide shelving and storage solutions, sterilisation trays and height adjustable packing tables to suit your individual needs. We design CAD drawings to demonstrate the correct size and scale of the storage solution and this can be adjusted and updated as required.
In order to comply with AS4187 accreditation, health service organisations need to:
√ Develop and document an implementation plan using a quality improvement framework specifying timeframes, milestones and deliverables to support implementation for AS/NZS 4187:2014 by December 2021
√ Demonstrate progress toward implementing the plan, noting the following:
- Segregation of clean and dirty activities
- Design of storage areas for sterile stock
- Replacement of AS/NZS 4187:2014 non-compliant cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising equipment
- Monitoring requirements for water quality
NSC shelving and storage systems can be used in any area within a CSSD:
- Sterile stock room or areas
- Dirty utility
- Clean rooms
- Deboxing rooms
- Packing stations
- Cleaning stations
- Set up trolleys
- General CSSD store rooms
- Control and picking rooms
We work with all levels and departments of hospital personnel to develop the best solution to meet their needs and can liaise with builders, architects, consultants and other designers to assist in the accreditation process when it comes to storage solution within the CSSD.
From our extensive knowledge in the healthcare industry, particularly relating to operating theatres and CSSD, we understand the space and storage requirements of hospital specialised areas. As such, NSC is able to develop customised shelving solutions for each and every application.
Our range of shelving and storage solutions for hospitals is extensive and we can tailor a solution to meet your specific needs using the following products:
