Musgrove Park Hospital embarked on a site-wide improvement program to streamline and modernize its processes. Under this initiative the Sterile Processing Department (SPD) launched a review of its department infrastructure and water treatment processes. As well as conducting its own analysis, the department asked Envirogen for efficiency improvement ideas.
An extensive risk assessment process identified the need to replace its ten-year old Reverse Osmosis plant (RO plant). It would further enhance an earlier Envirogen project to upgrade its RO pre-treatment section; the combined result being to process cleaning of sterilization equipment more quickly and efficiently.
The SPD has four washer/disinfectors for instrumentation sets with the addition of one flexible endoscope washer. The challenge was not only to keep the decontamination service running with no operational downtime; but also, to install and commission equipment during a period of refurbishment of the designated plant room.
A proven prefabricated duplex reverse osmosis ‘EndoTherm Duo’ system was recommended as this would deliver the enhanced water treatment processes in terms of water quality and volume improvements. Envirogen consulted closely with the hospital’s Capital Projects Estates and SPD teams to agree timings and best installation processes.
Envirogen compact Endotherm Duo: A complete reverse osmosis water treatment system with duplex RO units in a single frame. Contact Envirogen today to schedule your FREE AAMI ST108 consultation.
Multi-phased project plan
A plan was developed to enable full installation, with zero downtime, in just ten weeks.
Phase 1: Temporary reverse osmosis unit is loaned to SPD:
• Continuous operation of decontamination area is secured through installation of loaned RO system which is positioned in a ‘temporary location.’
• Following successful water quality samples to ensure compliance with latest regulatory standards and approval from the Authorizing Engineer in Decontamination (AED), this temporary equipment is connected to washer disinfectors.
Stage 2: Existing reverse osmosis plant decommissioned:
• Minimal disruption to department as existing reverse osmosis plant is decommissioned and removed.
• Musgrove Park Hospital took advantage of this recently vacated space to redecorate and relay the flooring.
Stage 3: New RO plant installed and commissioned, and temporary RO unit removed:
• Envirogen installed, connected, and certified the new EndoTherm Duo RO system and made repairs to an existing stainless-steel ring main.
• Recognizing local hospital processes, a steam heat exchanger is added, which is fed by the hospital’s own steam supply to ensure purified water is maintained and delivered at more than 158°F (70°C). This elevated temperature is required to minimize the washer cycle time and maintain good bacterial quality.
• Completing the plant, the EndoTherm Duo is connected to the pre-treatment system comprising duplex booster pumps and a duplex water softener.
• Successful water quality samples are then taken to validate water standards and assist AE(D) approval, resulting in switchover completion so that new reverse osmosis supply feeds the four washer/disinfector cabinets.
• Following the switchover process the temporary RO loan unit is removed and the new RO plant becomes fully operational.
As a vital piece of equipment within the sterile processing department, its performance and reliability is critical. Mark Morley, SPD Manager, explains:
“In every SPD, department managers want to optimize the speed and performance of their sterilization equipment to ensure targets are met. Items for sterilization therefore need to be processed more quickly and efficiently with effective water treatment processes being critical. Close collaboration with Envirogen at the early stages, meant a robust workable solution was put in place to guarantee continuous operation. I am pleased to say that during the installation the SSD did not miss a single wash cycle.”
The replacement of an outdated RO system with high quality modern equipment enabled Musgrove Park Hospital’s SPD to achieve its primary goal of boosting the infrastructure of its water treatment processes, whilst also improving efficiency and overall ability to provide sterilization services across multiple healthcare specialties. As a vital piece of equipment within the SPD, its performance and reliability was critical.
Mark Morley confirms: “From the word go our efficiency and capability within the department increased, and following installation, we can now handle over 250,000 items for sterilization per year… that’s good news for our Trust, the NHS, and our patients.”
Key outcomes
• Zero cancellation of sterilization services with no operational downtime
• Modern and highly efficient RO system resulting in reduced operating costs and long term savings.
• Guarantees water quality to meet standards of HTM01-06, HTM01-01, ISO15883, AS/NZ 4187 and AAMI ST108
• Duplex design for maximum resilience and protection against downtime
• Water treatment processes protected by comprehensive water treatment service and maintenance plan
About the client
Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton is part of Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. It is the largest acute hospital in Somerset, serving a population of over 340,000 as well as providing some specialist and tertiary services for the whole of Somerset with a catchment population of 544,000. This equates to around 700,000 visits from patients each year. The hospital is equipped with over 700 beds, 30 wards, 16 operating theatres, a fully equipped diagnostic imaging department and an enhanced cancer treatment center. They’ve also an onsite purpose-built Sterile Processing Department (SPD) that provides sterilization services across multiple healthcare specialties.
ACT NOW: Schedule your FREE AAMI ST108 consultation
Water for the Processing of Reusable Medical Devices: Prepare for the upcoming implementation of AAMI ST108 with confidence. Our team of experts specialize in water purification solutions for healthcare providers, ensuring compliance with new industry standards. Take advantage of a complimentary initial consultation to assess and optimize your water treatment systems, guaranteeing seamless adherence to AAMI ST108.
EndoTherm systems stand out in the market for its unique advantages, offering unparalleled performance and compliance:
- Unrivalled compliance with a guarantee: EndoTherm is the only proven product known to exceed the AAMI ST108 standard and includes a performance guarantee.
- Smallest footprint in the industry: This is advantageous for facilities with space constraints such as SPD, endoscopy, and decontamination areas, where efficient use of space is critical.
