New sterilisation standard for Australia and New Zealand to become operational in December 2016 and set out tougher regulations into the reprocessing of reusable medical devices in health service organisations.
The new sterilisation standards were prepared by the Joint Standards Australia/Standard New Zealand Committee HE-023, Processing of Medical and Surgical Instruments, to supersede AS/NZS 4187:2003, cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising reusable medical and surgical instruments and equipment, and maintenance of associated environments in health care facilities. Prevention of health care associated infection in patients undergoing dental, medical or surgical procedures in an essential component of patient safety in the delivery of high quality health care. It avoids unnecessary distress for patients and lessens health care costs. Effective and safe reprocessing of reusable medical devices (RMDs) in health service organisations (HSOs) is a critical aspect in the prevention of health care associated infection. The objective of the sterilisation standards is to ensure that HSOs correctly clean, disinfect and sterilise RMDs prior to and between patient uses in order to produce RMDs that are able to be used safely and without risk of transmission of infectious agents.
At the time of publishing in December 2014, Committee HE-023 recommended that HSOs implemented the requirements of this standard within two years of the date of publication. With a larger focus on quality of inspection, it is critical that your inspection equipment provides absolute clarity and ease of use.
The Mantis range of ergonomic stereo microscopes are used in health service organisations around Australia and worldwide, and provide the perfect solution for sterilisation inspection. Mantis microscopes are chosen because operators are more comfortable during inspection, more efficient, more accurate and more productive.
They provide:
+ Ergonomic working position: Operators sit up straight and look through one viewing screen, ensuring comfort and ease of use
+ Freedom of head movement: Thanks to patented eyepiece-less design, operators do not need to align their eyes with the eyepieces. This reduces back and neck strain associated with conventional microscope eyepieces
+ A natural view of the subject: As operators can sit back from the viewing screen (as opposed to conventional microscope eyepieces), ambient light is allowed into the eyes. This reduces eye strain and provides a more natural view of the subject
+ Ability to wear glasses: With the Mantis, operators do not need to remove their prescription glasses or safety glasses to use the microscope
+ Easy hand-eye co-ordination: Sitting back from the viewer provides operators with much better peripheral vision, so they can co-ordinate hands in a natural manner.
To find out what the new standards mean for you and how the Mantis Microscopes can play a role in improving your sterilisation processes, contact us today.
