Blue wrap is cheap, boundless and easy to dispose, but in this case, the cheaper the option, the higher the risk. Blue wrap tears. When it does, the tray and instruments contained in the blue wrap have to be re-sterilized. Surgical facilities large and small are finding rigid sealed containers to be more reliable ways to pack, deliver and hold instruments before, during and after sterilization. Buying containers might seem like a costly measure upfront as opposed to using blue wrap. A few years ago, our 2-hospital system invested $606,300 in containers. At $1,290 per container, we bought about 300 for one hospital and 170 for another. Here are the benefits we've experienced that already have made the investment a worthwhile one.

• You'll save in the long run. Though the initial cost of the containers might seem steep at first, what you save by cutting spending on blue wrap quickly adds up. Sealed containers last for 15 or 20 years and eliminate the waste of single-use wrap. Plus, with the availability of sizes and flexible storage designs within, they can hold a higher volume of instruments that can be arranged according to preference or need. With a higher volume of instruments going through at a faster turnover rate, you can schedule more cases and bring in more revenue, knowing your sterile processing department is running more efficiently. In the long run, what you're paying for is better staff efficiency, and it's hard to put a price on that.
• Faster dry times. Another benefit that some containers feature is a filtered base that reduces dry time after sterilization. This feature lets steam fill the container during reprocessing, and then filter through and escape once the process is complete without condensation gathering, making the container and instruments ready for use right after. This feature lets us eliminate immediate-use steam sterilization (flashing) entirely while also decreasing our reprocessing time. If time spent reprocessing is becoming an issue at your facility, keep an eye out for containers with this kind of design. Some designs also feature kits that contain filters, chemical indicators and locks that are individually packaged to comply with infection control protocols.
• Warranties. When you begin deciding on a manufacturer, you'll find that many provide lifetime warranties with their container systems, making these already sturdy sets even more reliable. On the rare occasion when we have repairs that need fixing or damaged containers that need replacing, our company restores our set in no time with no questions asked, which lets us maintain our efficiency. These containers already have longevity. With this added benefit, though, they're virtually worry-free.
• Space. Another concern, one we also shared when we began purchasing rigid containers, is storage space. Compared with blue wrap, these sets are big and bulky and take up lots of room. Scrambling to make way for containers can seem cumbersome, but if your turnover demands a change, space issues shouldn't hold you back. You just have to get creative. We re-arranged our SPD in the best way possible and took to stacking the containers so we could maximize our floor space as much as possible. It took time, but the change was worth the hassle, and it's easy to settle into a new system once you've planned it out with your team.

Checking all the boxes

When it comes to sterile processing, doing the best job you can stems from 3 guiding principles: maximizing quality, ensuring safety and minimizing time. Some-times, though, adhering to quality and time constraints seem at odds with each other and, if there's a heavy demand for turnover due to high case volume, your reprocessing techs come under pressure and often work miracles to balance their time. For our hospital's SPD, rigid sealed containers held the answer to our dilemmas. Plus, the latest models save time, money and effort without sacrificing quality. This aim should be every manager's aim. OSM