Sterile processing departments (SPDs) are critical in both hospitals and surgery centers. They ensure that surgical tools and medical devices are properly cleaned, inspected, sterilized, and stored for future use.
Without this department, hospitals and other surgical facilities would be unable to perform procedures safely and comply with regulations and guidelines. However, despite the increasing demand for sterile processing, many healthcare facilities struggle with maintaining storage efficiency.
One of the most effective solutions for addressing storage challenges is polymer shelving, which provides protection against rips and tears and offers superior corrosion resistance, easy maintenance, and enhanced organization compared to other storage solutions.
This article will explore:
- The challenges faced by SPDs in managing sterile storage
- The benefits of polymer shelving in sterile processing environments
- How high-density polymer shelving can maximize limited space
- MetroMax® polymer shelving solutions for SPDs
Storage Challenges in Sterile Processing Departments
The SPD is often called the heart of the hospital because it is equally vital to the facility’s function. This department serves as the foundation of patient safety and ensures that every surgical instrument and medical device is properly cleaned, sterilized, and stored before use. Without a well-functioning SPD, operating rooms would not be able to maintain the high standards of infection control required for safe procedures.
However, despite its critical role in healthcare, the SPD is not immune to challenges. One of the biggest obstacles facilities face is storage—both in terms of capacity and efficiency.
Limited Space and High Demand
Sterile processing areas are often confined to a limited footprint but must accommodate a growing volume of surgical instruments and sterile supplies. As hospitals and surgical centers expand services, SPDs are frequently asked to handle more volume without a corresponding increase in storage space.
Overcrowding makes organization difficult, increases contamination risks, and can lead to workflow inefficiencies and OR delays. With guidelines recommending not stacking wrapped packs, the challenges are compounded.
Maintaining Sterility and Compliance
The integrity of sterile instruments depends on the sterilization process, the containerization, and how they are stored. If sterile packaging is compromised due to improper handling or inadequate storage, items must be reprocessed—an unnecessary and costly step that can disrupt OR schedules, strain resources, and impact the bottom line.
SPDs must also adhere to strict guidelines, like ANSI/AAMI ST79, to protect sterile items from environmental contaminants. Maintaining compliance becomes more difficult without the right shelving solutions, increasing the risk of contamination and regulatory penalties.
Organization and Workflow Efficiency
A well-organized SPD is essential for maintaining an efficient workflow. Staff need to quickly locate and retrieve sterile instruments without excessive searching or disruption. However, poor storage systems can lead to misplaced items, overstocking, or even expired supplies going unnoticed.
A lack of organization hinders overall efficiency, which can impact surgical readiness. Additionally, if storage solutions do not allow for proper categorization, it becomes difficult to keep track of inventory and ensure items are returned to their correct locations after use.
Finding a Solution
While each of these challenges presents unique difficulties for healthcare facilities, efficient storage solutions can help alleviate many of these issues. By implementing the right shelving systems—designed to maximize space, maintain sterility, and improve organization—SPDs can streamline their operations and better support the surgical teams that rely on them.
The Benefits of MetroMax Polymer Shelving in SPDs
Balance is key when it comes to the best storage solutions for Sterile Processing Departments (SPDs). Shelving must support sterility, accessibility, and organization while withstanding the demands of a high-volume, high-regulation environment. MetroMax polymer shelving is designed specifically to meet these needs, offering corrosion-proof durability, easy maintenance, and enhanced protection for surgical packs.
Advanced Protection for Stored Items
A key advantage of MetroMax shelving is its smooth surfaces, which protect delicate items and prevent damage to valuable supplies like sterile packs. Unlike traditional chrome or stainless-steel wire shelving, MetroMax polymer shelving has a smooth front, unlike the usual lipped front, offering better protection for sterile packs and wrapped trays. Both the solid and vented grid shelf mat options protect against rips and tears, lessening the need for costly and time-consuming re-sterilization.
Corrosion-Resistant and Durable
Unlike traditional wire or other painted solutions, MetroMax polymer shelving is corrosion-proof, making it an ideal choice for SPDs where sterilization and thorough cleaning protocols are part of daily operations. Rust can jeopardize sterile storage, damage equipment, and even contribute to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).
MetroMax has advanced polymer construction, making it as strong as metal and wire shelving; however, its corrosion resistance provides long-term durability, an addition to a hygienic storage solution.
Easy to Clean and Maintain
Maintaining a sterile storage environment requires shelving that is quick and easy to clean. MetroMax polymer shelving features smooth, non-porous surfaces that resist dust buildup and can be wiped down easily. The shelf mats are also easy to remove and clean separately, offering an added level of sanitation—essential for preventing contamination in sterile storage areas.
Built-In Microban® Antimicrobial Protection
MetroMax shelving is designed to help SPDs maintain infection control standards with built-in Microban® antimicrobial protection. This technology inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew on the shelving surface, helping to keep storage areas cleaner between regular cleanings.
Improved Organization with Accessories
A well-organized SPD is essential for workflow efficiency. MetroMax polymer shelving offers a variety of accessories that enhance storage organization and streamline inventory management:
- Dividers: Available in multiple heights to accommodate varying heights of stored items, eliminating wasted space above items and movable to define the width of the space based on the item size to eliminate wasted space between items, ensuring efficient use of each shelf.
- Color-Coded Shelf Markers: Help staff quickly identify supplies assigned to specific service lines, reducing retrieval time.
- Label Holders: Reserve SKU locations to ensure items are always returned to their correct storage space, minimizing misplacement and inventory errors.
Maximize SPD Storage with High-Density Polymer Shelving
As the population ages, the demand for surgical services is expected to increase. With an increasing number of procedures being performed, SPDs must keep pace by ensuring they have adequate storage for sterilized instruments and supplies. However, since expanding physical space is rarely an option, one of the most effective ways to meet increased demand is through high-density shelving.
All sterile products must be stored in a way that maintains sterility until use. Since most items spend the majority of their time in sterile storage areas, efficient use of space is essential to prevent overcrowding and maintain proper organization. High-density shelving solutions can increase storage capacity by as much as 50% without adding additional floor space.
Track shelving is designed to accommodate more physical units in limited spaces, such as SPDs. Metro’s high-density shelving features sliding mobile units between stationary end units to create active aisles, enabling you to store more in the same area while keeping supplies accessible. The high-density movable aisle design allows staff to store sterile packs and create an organized area for carts and other equipment.
Optimize SPD Storage with MetroMax
Limited storage in sterile processing departments can significantly hinder efficiency and growth potential. It can also lead to mishandled sterile packages, costly reprocessing, delayed surgeries, and potential citations.
MetroMax polymer shelving systems are ideal for SPDs— sterile instrument storage as well as clean supply storage—because they can handle the unique needs of sterile environments without compromising on quality. Whether stationary, mobile, or track shelving, MetroMax provides superior protection, efficiency, and versatility.
CME and Metro storage experts can work with you to build the best possible solutions for your storage needs.
Installation and Delivery
High-density shelving system will resolve the challenge of limited supply space. CME’s direct-to-site service is the perfect solution for healthcare facilities replacing or expanding shelving for supplies. Working with your buyers, CME oversees the initial order, tracks the purchase, manages receiving, warehousing, staging, and assembly then delivers and installs the shelving – when it’s convenient for you.
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About Metro: For over 95 years, Metro has been the world's leading manufacturer of storage and transport equipment. From our innovative wire and polymer shelving lines to the revolutionary Starsys product line, and a broad range of healthcare cart solutions including the Lifeline emergency cart, Flexline procedure carts and Lionville series medication carts, Metro puts space to work in healthcare facilities everywhere.
About CME: CME Corp is the nation’s premier source for healthcare equipment, turnkey logistics, and biomedical services, representing 2 million+ products from more than 2,000 manufacturers. Headquartered in Rhode Island and with service centers coast to coast, our mission is to help healthcare facilities nationwide reduce the cost of the equipment they purchase, make their equipment specification, delivery, installation, and maintenance processes more efficient, and help them seamlessly launch, renovate and expand on schedule.
