Using Quality Data for Education and Training

Sterile processing departments are persistently understaffed with high turnover which leads to higher defect rates. These defects have serious impacts on patient safety and are the third leading cause of operating room delays.

So how can SPD leadership get actionable data they need to make impactful changes that will significantly improve sterile processing outcomes and help lower defects?

On today’s episode of the ConCensis Podcast, host Gabrielle Bejarano speaks with Stewart Pillow, Senior Program Coordinator at VCU Health, and Shamu Anthony, SPD Education Coordinator at VCU Health, about the significance of using quality data for education and training, and their experience using CensisAI², to gain insights to streamline operations and make better, data-driven decisions faster.

Bejarano, Pillow, and Anthony discussed:

1. The experience of transitioning to using CensisAI² to better see quality data
2. Using quality data for education and training
3. Impact of AI tools on productivity and quality

“Previously, we relied on a data analyst to maintain the dashboard for our quality data. However, CensisAI² is great because it reduces the time required to fill, sort, and represent data. In addition, it is easier to access and use. Using CensisAI² can help us trace back quality performance in the past to make future predictions of performance, which can guide the decision of what training to include for our staff. CensisAI² is helping to bridge the gap between productivity and quality. Data that used to take months to make sense of has now become available at a click of a button. This has created a more efficient and sustainable workflow,” explained Pillow.

“Most times, we have lots of new staff and travelling staff. As a result, using CensisAI² has helped me identify key areas of focus during training programs. It also helps to identify what instructions or reminders the staff needs, which helps to optimize consistent productivity across the board to get quality results, regardless of the shift or the number of trays we need to process.” said Anthony.

Stewart Pillow is the Senior Program Coordinator at VCU Health. He earned a Standard Diploma from Varina High School and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from ECPI University.

Shamu Anthony is the SPD Education Coordinator at VCU Health. She oversees the education for sterile processing. She identifies areas that require more education with CensisAI² and ensures the training is tailored to address these areas.