The demand for endoscopy continues to grow, with factors including patient demographics, changes to clinical practice, and initiatives designed to increase uptake of screening all contributing to this trend.
While attention is often focused on unlocking capacity at the point of delivery, the impact of increasing procedure numbers and longer operational hours are also keenly felt in endoscopy decontamination facilities. Although technology can play a role in delivering additional capacity, taking a holistic approach to the design and implementation of a decontamination facility can unlock efficiency gains throughout the process.
Delivering workflow efficiency through design excellence
Delivering optimum workflow can only be achieved when efficiency is planned into the workspace at the outset. Whether re-working an existing space, or delivering a brand-new facility, Olympus offers an end-to-end service underpinned by the use of skilled and experienced PRINCE2 qualified in-house project managers. This can remove the hassle of dealing with a large team of designers, architects and contractors, while helping to manage resources and control project timescales.
With more than 10 years’ experience delivering integrated healthcare workspaces, including operating theatres, endoscopy rooms and endoscopy decontamination facilities, Olympus’ unique position in endoscopy makes it well placed to implement bespoke solutions that can optimise any decontamination space.
At the project initiation phase, its team of experts are able to assist by providing a detailed complimentary survey of the installation site. A dedicated team outlines practical solutions that support best practise and create proposals that not only integrate associated services into the project, but also embed efficiency into the heart of the design, while meeting the latest building and planning regulations.
In addition to supporting the planning phase, as part of a full turnkey installation, Olympus’ project management can provide a sole point of contact for the implementation and build phase of the project. At this point the team focuses on critical success factors, managing the communication with both internal and external stakeholders - including contractors, the estates department, the appointed Authorised Engineer Decontamination (AED), and other project members and sponsors
Delivering interim solutions to sustain output
For customers looking to upgrade their existing endoscope washer disinfectors to the Olympus system, one of the most common challenges is how to minimise disruption to the endoscopy service throughout the duration of the upgrade programme. Olympus has practical experience of delivering flexible and cost effective interim solutions that meet local and national guidelines, with the whole process being overseen and managed in parallel to the main programme by the Olympus project manager.
Maximising capacity and minimising process downtime
The Olympus ETD Double endoscope washer disinfector has been designed to support high throughput. The capacity to simultaneously reprocess up to three endoscopes in separate baskets is delivered within a highly-compact footprint of just under 0.75m2 making it an ideal solution if space is at a premium, or where future expansion may be required. In addition to a high throughput, specific focus has been given to reducing the downtime of the machine between cycles.
Loading of the endoscope baskets and connection of the endoscope channels is done entirely outside of the washer, meaning endoscopes can be prepared for automated reprocessing while the machine is running a cycle. The universal ‘one-fits-all’ basket has been developed to simplify the endoscope connection process, with specially developed quick-connect adapter sets that allow straightforward and rapid connection of all endoscope ports for both Olympus and other compatible endoscope brands.
Upon cycle completion, a loaded basket can be quickly inserted without the need for further manual connections, enabling the next cycle to start almost immediately.
Ensuring hygienic efficiency
The ETD Double allows the separate connection of up to seven endoscope channels, so even the most complex of instruments can be reprocessed. An advanced air- and water-pressure principle for inner and outer endoscope reprocessing has been developed in a bid to ensure excellent hygienic results can be achieved. A completely new flow-control system has been developed to effectively detect faulty reprocessing conditions inside function-compatible endoscopes, including blocked channels, incorrectly connected adapters and unconnected adapters. Flow monitoring is applied during every process step, ensuring comprehensive screening throughout the entire cycle.
RFID-based tracing technology is employed to significantly enhance process safety by ensuring traceability and transparency, while the incorporation of an independent monitoring system enables supervision of process-critical parameters, such as temperature and dosage volume, in isolation from the main control system. This two-sensor system is said to lead to the highest standards of safety for patients, and help to maximise the performance of endoscopes.
As part of the focus on optimising efficiency at every step of the workflow, the ETD Double incorporates a self-disinfection process that can be pre-programmed to activate automatically prior to the daily work schedule. This feature is designed to guarantee safety from the very first cycle, and support delivery of high throughput throughout the working day, helping to facilitate the longer operational periods many departments are facing.
Efficient drying, storage and transportation
Olympus offers the EDC Plus, a modular system designed to provide a flexible solution for the drying and storage of up to 16 flexible endoscopes, providing safe, validated storage for up to 40 days. The EDC Plus is fully compliant with EN 16442 and provides continuous monitoring of critical parameters for each endoscope during storage. The adapter and holders of the EDC Plus allow easy placement and removal of a large variety of endoscope types and brands.
The Olympus endoscope transport system ETS Plus also complements daily workflow by providing a transport solution between the patient procedure, the reprocessing unit and storage room, with capacity for up to six endoscopes. The ETS Plus uses two robust foils including an inner liner to avoid contamination of the tray and a cover to protect against dust and recontamination. The cover is printed on both sides, indicating the status of the endoscope in the tray by a red or green colour code and a face icon. The transparency of the cover allows easy visual identification of the endoscope placed in the tray
Optimising workflow efficiency
In the lead up to the commissioning phase, the Olympus project management team work closely with all hospital stakeholders, including AEDs and decontamination leads, to gain project approvals and full sign-off of the project prior to operation.
Since bringing newly installed endoscope washer disinfectors into service frequently brings challenges, with staff often requiring training while sustaining busy lists, Olympus endoscope washer disinfectors are supported during the commissioning phase by a team of uptime support managers who provide extensive assistance, both throughout the ‘golive’ period and beyond, focusing on the optimal operation of the endoscope washer disinfectors and troubleshooting any problems. The training material is provided by licensed trainers with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) specified training content.
In order to shorten the ‘go-live’ period, the ETD Double also uses a preinstalled reference dataset for each individual endoscope, obviating the need for manual entry of reference volumes for your endoscopes. This dataset is updated regularly during maintenance or servicing to ensure it remains current for all compatible endoscopes.
As well as providing expert insight into the operation of the machines, the team will ensure familiarisation with the whole decontamination facility and its workflow, helping to minimise disruption during ‘golive’ and to ensure efficiency gains are realised from day one.
Guaranteed performance
Olympus’ INFOCUS Service Contracts have been developed with the aim to maximise equipment uptime (time available for use).
As the OEM, Olympus has exclusive access to OEM parts, tooling and processes, ensuring customers have peace of mind that their decontamination devices operate according to their original design specification.
Olympus’ field service engineers, all trained and licensed by Olympus, aim to ensure any critical failures are dealt with promptly, working to emergency call out targets of no more than four working hours and operating a maximum one hour call back target for decontamination products.
Reflecting the requirement for many departments to work outside of traditional operating hours, Olympus offers a Service Contract that includes 24/7 service, minimising the risk of equipment downtime during core operating hours, helping to prevent cancellation of procedures and the formation of backlogs in the decontamination department.
A dedicated team of uptime support managers are responsible for the ongoing training and education of endoscopy departments, on the use, care, and handling of Olympus’ endoscopes. Uptime support managers also use this experience during the installation of Olympus decontamination products onto a hospital site, ensuring the transition to the new washer disinfectors is seamless, with minimal disruption caused to the department.
Olympus’ expertise within the endoscopy environment means it is ideally placed to deliver endoscope decontamination solutions built around its customers. For more information, contact customer care on the details below.
Olympus Medical KeyMed House, Stock Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 5QH, UK
Telephone: +44(0)1702 616333
E-mail: medical@olympus.co.uk
Website: www.olympus.co.uk
