Nanosonics Connect Benefits: Built-in Education, Standardization

The team at Hutchinson uses ultrasound for a variety of procedures – many of which are considered critical or semi-critical according to Spaulding classification, as the probes come in contact with tissue, mucous membrane or nonintact skin. Many different staff members are involved in both the ultrasound procedures and reprocessing the ultrasound probes for the next patients, so standardization and education around high level disinfection processes is key. The mobile device’s automated prompts ensure a standardized workflow.

“In our facility, sonographers, nursing staff, APRN staff, and surgical scrub tech nurses might all be involved in procedures. The teaching component of Nanosonics Connect has been tremendously impactful for providing standardized education for clinicians across the facility. For example, if a probe was used in a critical procedure, Nanosonics Connect will ask the clinician if a sterile probe cover was used.”

Lindsay Turner
Lead Sonographer Imaging Services, Hutchinson Regional Healthcare Center

Traceability, Insights and Notifications

Another positive benefit they’ve seen with Nanosonics Connect has been the data traceability.

“Prior to Nanosonics Connect, I would have to go across the hospital and change into surgery gowns to get the paper logbook if I needed procedural data. In the old system, I might not catch an error for 30 days – at which point it’s very difficult to track back a patient or procedural data. With Nanosonics Connect, we have instant, digital records to indicate how a probe has been reprocessed prior to and after a procedure. If any procedure isn’t logged or completed properly, I will get an email notification and can easily address the issue right then and there. This ensures we keep our patients at the least possible risk of cross-contamination, and ultimately provides the best care to our patients.”

Lindsay Turner
Lead Sonographer Imaging Services, Hutchinson Regional Healthcare Center

Outcomes

By implementing Nanosonics Connect, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center has been able to standardize their probe reprocessing procedures across the facility. Existing clinicians and new staff have built-in disinfection education with their ultrasound procedures. Through the digital notifications, the Hutchinson team was alerted to two process discrepancies prior to patient exposure, and adjusted their standard operating procedures to ensure all probes are high level disinfected before a procedure.