Stephen M. Kovach

Oct 29, 2024 | hpnonline.com | Stephen M. Kovach

Q: “We have tungsten carbide insert surgical devices, and some of them look like they are rusting on and around the tips. I thought tungsten carbide is not supposed to rust at all because it doesn’t contain iron. Can you explain?”A: First, without pictures I will share my thought process on what might be taking place.

Oct 29, 2024 | hpnonline.com | Stephen M. Kovach

Four years ago as of this Healthcare Purchasing News (HPN) December issue, I wrote the following in my first column:“As this is my first column, I would like to thank my friend and mentor, Ray Taurasi, and HPN for allowing me to carry the torch of answering your questions. Ray wrote this column for 19 years, and I will do my best to follow in his footsteps to bring you evidence-based answers that are clinically relevant.

Sep 24, 2024 | hpnonline.com | Stephen M. Kovach

A: I was always told to “walk your talk,” or, “If you cannot speak to your practice, you don’t have a policy that supports your practice.” My first question is: do you have a policy that deals with the degradation of medical instruments within your SPD, MDRD, CSSD, etc.? Addressing the degradation of instruments would be found in your inspection policy.

Aug 27, 2024 | hpnonline.com | Stephen M. Kovach

Q: “We have a tabletop ultrasonic cleaner that we must manually fill. My teammate told me if we fill it ¾ full we get more cleaning power. Is that true?”A: Less is not more. Ultrasonic cleaners are fine-tuned for a particular fill level; underfilling the tank will not increase cleaning power. Rather, it can damage the unit and result in less-than-optimal cleaning.

Jun 25, 2024 | hpnonline.com | Stephen M. Kovach

Q: “What psi is used for drying instruments in the decontamination area of Sterile Processing?”A: “Instrument air” is used in the decontamination area to “blow out” debris and in the prep and packaging area to help dry lumened devices and wet sets. Items should be dried for steam and low-temperature sterilization methods, unless otherwise directed by the sterilizer manufacturer/medical device manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU).