Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS)
A surgical procedure performed in a manner that causes little or no trauma or injury to the patient; It is often performed through a cannula using lasers, endoscopes or laparoscopes. Compared with other procedures, minimally invasive procedures involve smaller incisions, less tissue damage and bleeding, smaller amounts of anesthesia, less pain and minimal scarring.
Standard Precautions
Method of using appropriate barriers to reduce the risk of transmission of bloodborne and other pathogens. This standard applies to all patients, regardless of diagnosis or presumed infectious status.
Healthcare-associated Infections (HAI)
An infection that is not present when a patient is admitted to a healthcare facility. If the infection develops in a patient on or after day three of admission to the healthcare facility, the infection is referred to as a HAI.
Job Description
A Human Resources tool that identifies the major tasks performed by individuals in specific positions.
Decontamination
To make safe by removing or reducing contamination by infectious organisms or other harmful substances to an acceptable level.
Cleaning
The removal of all visible and non-visible soil and any other foreign material from medical devices being processed.
Case Cart System
An inventory control system for products/equipment typically used in an OR that involves use of an enclosed or covered cart (generally prepared for one surgical case and not used for general supply replenishment).
Doctor’s (physician’s) Preference Card
A document that identifies a physician’s needs (requests and preferences) for a specific medical procedure. Preference cards usually contain information regarding the instruments, equipment, supplies and utensils used by a specific physician. They may also include reminders for the staff of the physician’s references regarding patient draping, instruments and supplies.
Supply Chain Management
Department that procures and distributes resources and manages supplies, goods and services to providers and patients.
Positive air pressure
Situation in which air flows out of a room or area because the pressure in the area is greater than that of surrounding areas.
Negative pressure
Air pressure inside the room that is lower than the air pressure outside the room, causing the air to flow into the room with the lower (negative) air pressure.
ASHRAE
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
Sterilization
The process of destroying all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, spores, and fungi.
Ensures surgical instruments are free of living organisms to prevent infection and complications during surgery.
Sterilant
The physical or chemical agent that destroys microorganisms during sterilization.
Example: In steam sterilization, the steam is the sterilant.
Sterile
The state of being completely free of all living microorganisms.
Sterile Field
An area free of living microorganisms, used in surgeries.
Includes the patient’s drapes, surgical team’s gowns, and the instrument table.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Items like masks, gloves, gowns, and eye protection used to prevent exposure to blood and body fluids.
Part of Standard Precautions to prevent the spread of microorganisms.
Cross-Contamination
The transfer of contaminants from one person, object, or location to another.
Sterile Processing departments use a one-way workflow to prevent cross-contamination between clean and dirty areas.
Medical Devices
Instruments, apparatuses, or materials used for diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases.
Regulated by the FDA and must meet strict standards before use.
Instructions for Use (IFU)
Detailed guidelines from manufacturers on how to properly use and process medical devices.
Includes cleaning, disinfection, sterilization steps, time, and temperature specifications.
Case Cart
A cart prepared for a specific procedure containing all instruments, supplies, and utensils needed for that surgery.
Case Cart Pull Sheet (Pick List)
A list of supplies and instruments needed for a specific surgery, used to assemble the case cart.
