Fire rating
Standard measured in the time (minutes or hours) that a product, such as a door, can withstand exposure to fire under test conditions
spaghetti diagram
Tool used to identify the movement of an item through a process. Using a continuous line helps identify workflow duplication so a more efficient workflow can be developed.
process flow map
Chart showing the path (flow) that an item, such as an instrument tray or piece of medical equipment, takes as it cycles through a process such as sterilization
toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS)
Non -infectious inflammation of the anterior (front) segment of the eye. A complication of cataract or other anterior segment eye surgery, this reaction is usually treatable but can lead to permament vision loss.
group purchasing organization (GPO)
Organization that helps heathcare providers, such as hospitals, nursing homes and home health agencies, realize cost savings and efficiences by aggregating purchasing volume and using that leverage to negotiate discounts with manufacturers, distributors and other vendors
tensil strength (instrument)
Amount of tensil stress (stretching) a material can withstand before breaking or failing
biobarrier
Package system that allows a sterilant to enter a pack and, after sterilization, creates a barrier to contamination. Biobarriers protect sterile items from contamination but are not impenetrable. Special storage and handling protocols are required to ensure sterility.
abator (ethylene oxide)
Dedicated exhaust system that reduces ethylene oxide (EO) gas to within established standards. Abators may use a catalytic converter, acid-based removal system or another approved method.
shelf box
Inner box of a corrugated shipping carton that is designed and validated for storage of the sterile packages from that carton
Perpetual inventory
System that maintains a running balance of the quantity of the products in storage. Newly purchased products increase inventory balances, and issued products decrease them.
Par level (inventory)
System in which purchases are calculated based on the number of units required to return inventory quantities to predetermined levels; par stands for periodic automatic replenishment
charge master
Accounting tool that manages the information used to charge
for procedures, services and supplies provided to patients; also
known as the charge description master (CDM)
