Case Study: King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK “Outstanding” decontamination facility meets SSD standards

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Challenge
Prior to the introduction of the Getinge ED-FLOW Automated Endoscope Reprocessor solution, endoscope decontamination at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was run by the endoscopy department itself, informally executed by various nurses and healthcare assistants. There also was a degree of local decontamination activities. This setup was not standardised or compliant with the UK’s decontamination standards.

In order to streamline decontamination processes and ensure compliance with current UK decontamination standards for flexible endoscopes, Paul Houslop, the hospital’s decontamination advisor, and John Churchill, endoscopy decontamination and equipment manager, put a plan in place to address a range of goals: ensure compliance, centralize the decontamination unit and develop a team of dedicated and trained decontamination staff.

They opted for a “one scope, one chamber” concept, and decided to apply endoscope decontamination compliant with SSD (Sterile Services Departments) standards. Partnering with Getinge on this ground-breaking approach, the end result was described as “outstanding” by the Joint Advisory Group on GI endoscopy (JAG), which sets and oversees standards for competence in endoscopic procedures across the UK.

Solution
The new decontamination unit, located along the four endoscopy clinical rooms, is equipped with an array of six Getinge ED-FLOW AERs, each with two asynchronous pass-through chambers, with a short 22-minute cleaning cycle. Together, they can process 12 scopes at a time, for a current capacity of 100 to 140 scopes on average per day, with plenty of room for expansion in the future.

Scopes are linked to an RFID system, in order to instruct the machines as to which wash process to apply. Independent data logging is managed via neQis monitoring software.In the height-adjustable sinks at the soiled side of the unit, integrated Scopetech evaluation ystems carry out standard tests and monitor the sink bowl water temperature.

After AER treatment, scopes are unloaded and stored in nine Getinge drying and storage cabinets, for a maximum of 72 hours, and a Scantrack monitor indicates their status with a green to red color code. Vac-a-Scope aseptic storage and transport bags are used to keep the scopes for 30 days in validated conditions prior to being scanned out to individual clinical units.

Getinge’s partner on this occasion, EWS Envirogen, has been involved in organizing the RO (Reverse Osmosis) side of the process, using the latest automatic thermal disinfection technology.To ensure that all staff involved received proper training, the Getinge Academy provided comprehensive staff training, including three three-day training sessions, and supported the hospital with an engineer and trainer on-site during and after go-live. Key hospital staff took the Endoscope Decontamination Manager course, which was rated excellent.

Benefits

  • Consistent and comprehensive end-to-end solution, from water treatment to scope decontamination.
  • Higher capacity and validated storage conditions for scopes ready for distribution to individual endoscopy units.
  • Fully automated regimen for routine sanitization of endoscopes.
  • Reduced risk of repetitive strain injury with Scopetech integrated in the height-adjustable sinks in the wash room, eliminating the need to manually syringe the scopes.
  • Accredited decontamination and endoscopy unit, with completely validated documentation based on data logging, Scantrack integration and Scopetech monitoring.
  • Implementation of high SSD standards, offering full tracking and traceability scope to patient.
  • Rated as “outstanding” by JAG authorities

Getinge is the world’s leading provider of complete, ergonomical, cost-efficient solutions for effective cleaning, disinfection and sterilization in the healthcare and life science sectors.

Getinge Group is a leading global provider of products and systems that contribute to quality enhancement and cost efficiency within healthcare and life sciences. We operate under the three brands of ArjoHuntleigh, Getinge and Maquet.

ArjoHuntleigh focuses on patient mobility and wound management solutions. Getinge provides solutions for infection control within healthcare and contamination prevention within life sciences. Maquet specializes in solutions, therapies and products for surgical
interventions, interventional cardiology and intensive care.