Categories
Endoscope Reprocessing Endoscope Reprocessing News Healthmark Industries Infection Control Tips Tutorials

Webinar Registration: Endoscope Microbial Surveillance Testing Made Easy

register-hmark

 

Healthmark Industries is hosting a complimentary Webinar on December 5, 2016 to review Endoscope Microbial Surveillance Testing. Register online today!

The featured speakers, Mary Ann Drosnock, MS, CIC, CFER, FAPIC, RM(NRCM) and Alpa Patel are experts in the realm of microbiology and the current standards for endoscope reprocessing.

 

SIGN UP TODAY!

Categories
Bronchoscope Cleaning Cleaning Verification Stations Endoscope Reprocessing News Healthmark Industries Infection Control Tips SGNA Houston

New Quick Comply Starter Kit!

Healthmark Industries is proud to present the “Quick Comply” starter kit for your Endoscopy / GI departments.

Designed to comply with AAMI ST91, the Quick Comply Kit provides key elements for cleaning verification, safe storage, traceability, and labeling all in one convenient kit: 100 ChannelCheck™ (UCC-101) that come with 2 boxes of 50 test strips and 1 control per box capable of testing any lumened instrument for residual organic soils (i.e., blood, protein and carbohydrates); 20 Valvesafe™ (VS-002 BLU) single-use polypropylene cages that attach to endoscopes for storage of up to four endoscope valves and detachable parts, the unique container design has large openings that allow disinfectants to flow through effectively and permit adequate drying in a contaminant free environment; 1 Valvesafe™ Dispenser (VSH-022) made from ABS Plastic designed to store 20 single-use Valvesafe™ cages (VS-002 BLU); 100 Green HangTime Labels (403225 HTKG) that track your endoscope by day and month to indicate the scopes last reprocess date, which includes fillable spaces for the scope serial number and initials (labels are available in other colors). The Quick Comply Kit is available for individual purchase.

Part# Description Pkg Price

QCK-101 Quick Comply Kit EA $165.00

More information available upon request. Email US or Call: 713-640-5393

TheQuickComplyKitProductReleaseMemo

Categories
Bronchoscope Cleaning Endoscope Reprocessing News IAHCSMM Infection Control Tips LogiQuip SGNA Houston

New Scope Drying Cabinet from Logiquip

Houston Hospital Services is the proud distributor for Logiquip Storage Solutions. At the IAHCSMM Conference and Expo, Logiquip launched a newly designed Endoscope drying cabinet. Logiquip is proud to offer a full line of endoscope cabinets, the Endo Dri-Stor series. Fabricated using high-quality stainless steel and available with a broad range of options including channel air purge. Designed to stylishly protect and manage scopes.

FEATURES:

• All welded type 304 stainless steel fabrication.

• Every surface is non-porous and can withstand hospital-grade disinfectants.

• Hinged glass doors with stainless steel 1-1 /2″ tubular frame and piano hinge.

• Innovative side-compartment design allows easy access for to interior components and cabinet modularity. Two storage cabinets can attach to one component cabinet, which provides significant space and cost savings

• The modular design allows for options to be added later, expanding with your needs.

• Removable bottom stainless steel drip tray allows access to adjustable leveling feet and also to clean the floor beneath the cabinet.

• LED Lighting

• More ventilation options than any other cabinet made in North America. Choose from: – Ambient without filter – Power vent with HEPA Filter – Channel Air Purge with HEPA Filter – Power vent with HEPA Filter and Individual Channel Purge

• Premium HEPA filter: removes 99:97% of particulate 0.3 micron in size

The Industry Demands REAL Channel Purge Drying Cabinets! 

Drying is a critical element in reprocessing … Endoscopes must be stored in an area that is clean, well­ ventilated and dust-free in order to keep the endoscopes dry and free of microbial contamination …. Drying cabinets are designed to control air quality and humidity, and access to endoscopes” SGNA, Standards of Infection Prevention in Reprocessing of Flexible Gastrointestinal Endoscopes, 2015

For more information or to contact us for a quote, please call 713-640-5393 or email team@hhstx.com

Categories
Bronchoscope Cleaning Cleaning Verification Stations Healthmark Industries Infection Control Tips

Infections Associated with Reprocessed Flexible Bronchoscopes: FDA Safety Communication

HMARK - ENDOCHECK - HHS-lowAccording to a recent study, approximately 500,000 Bronchoscopes are performed nationwide each year. The FDA is taking a serious look at how meticulously these scopes are cleaned after each use. The team at Houston Hospital Services, Inc. in partnership with Healthmark Industries, offers solutions for some of the cleaning process failures outlined in this recent report. Below is an excerpt from that report. To read the report in its entirety, CLICK HERE

  • Failure to meticulously follow manufacturer instructions for reprocessing, including:
    • Lack of pre-cleaning at point of use. Pre-cleaning typically includes surface wiping and channel flushing to prevent drying of blood, tissue and other biological debris;
    • Failure to perform thorough manual cleaning before high-level disinfection (HLD) or sterilization;
    • Failure to flush or brush channels;
    • Use of expired detergent or high-level disinfectant;
    • Insufficient flushing, rinsing and/or drying after HLD.
  • Continued use of devices despite integrity, maintenance and mechanical issues, including:
    • Persistent device channel kinks or bends;
    • Channel wall scratches, divots, or crevices;
    • Holes, cracks, or other imperfections in the distal end;
    • Use of repaired or refurbished devices using out-of-specification parts;
    • Use of devices despite residual material in the instrument or suction channels.

Unfortunately, this isn’t something we are seeing LESS of in the news. However, we are confident steps are being taken at all levels to ensure patient safety and care. Healthmark Industries has an entire line of cleaning verification products that add very little time, money and effort to each procedure.  Contact us today to learn more or to schedule your departmental in-service TODAY. (713) 640-5393 or team@hhstx.com

 

Categories
IAHCSMM Infection Control Tips

IAHCSMM RECAP

The Grand Hyatt Conference Center in San Antonio played host to thousands of professionals for the annual IAHCSMM Conference & Expo (International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management). Vendors, educators and professional converged to focus heavily of the topic of GI, Endoscopy and the best practices of processing of scopes. In the latest edition of Healthcare Purchasing News, there is an excellent trade recap of the winners, educators, vendors, spotlights and more. READ MORE

Categories
Cleaning Verification Stations Healthmark Industries Infection Control Tips

Video Of The Week: Flexible Inspection Scope Verification

 

Did you know that your flexible scope cleaning station could be equipped with a flexible inspection scope verification tool like this one? It’s a small price to pay to ensure that all the ‘nooks and crannies’ are being scrubbed and cleaned of bio-burden. No human eye can possibly detect all the possible places bio-burden may be hiding. Why put your patient and your hospital at risk? Take the extra step and get a better view of your scopes once they have been “cleaned”. Need further verification? Healthmark Industries is the leader is cleaning verification tools for these scopes. With EndoCheck™, ChannelCheck™, Pro-Check™ and HemoCheck™. Click here to learn more or call Houston Hospital Services, Inc at 713-640-5393 for more information!

Categories
Endoscope Reprocessing News IAHCSMM Infection Control Tips

Reprocessing Risks: A Surging Hot Topic in Healthcare

Endoscope_reprocessing

FISIf you find yourself anywhere near the healthcare industry, you are sure to find yourself inundated with white papers, a newspaper articles and magazine covers touching on the challenges, education and healthcare changes necessary to ensure patient safety regards to endoscope reprocessing techniques within hospital systems nationwide. According to a recent article in Communiqué Magazine, steps for success and safety – as set forth by agencies such as the CDC/FDA (HAN 00383) and ANSI/AAMI ST79 – must be carefully followed.

The temperature continues to rise on the topic of dirty endoscopes and reprocessing risks associated with all types of reusable instruments. The good news? Top lines such as Healthmark, Sterile Services and Applied Logic (Abacus 2) continue their quest to create products to verify cleaning, verify steam sterilizer functions and create accountability through instrument tracking to the patients. All of these lines are direct partners of Houston Hospital Services, Inc. We care about the infection control. We care about proper device handling. We care about patient safety and we care about your hospital.

 

Categories
Infection Control Tips

5 Tips for Infection Control from Becker’s

Maintaining optimal levels of sterility assurance requires use of chemicals that can be harmful to humans. Gaps in education of our healthcare workers results in improper handling of these necessary chemicals. The trickle down effect could result in chronic health effects should healthcare workers not pay close attention to proper protocols.

Becker’s Infection Control & Clinical Quality released “How to clean, disinfect while preventing harmful exposure: 5 things to know” written by Max Green. These tips address gaps in key areas where healthcare workers and sanitation standards need to meet. Click HERE to read more!