Clinical Education Specialist, Southern States STERIS Hendersonville, Tennessee, United States
Description: Purpose – To identify the impact of water outage on sterile processing and surgical services departments and evaluate steps in the development of an Emergency Water Supply Plan (EWSP). Clinical Problem/Significance- Sterile Processing Departments (SPD) face challenges daily and typically have plans in place to address them when they happen. One unexpected challenge that may disrupt workflow is a water crisis. When water is not available or is not suitable for use, instrument processing comes to a halt and dramatically impacts facilitation of the OR schedule. Several factors can lead to water outage, and sterile processing departments should have an EWSP in place to address these issues if they should arise. Background-Potable water is defined as water that has been deemed safe for human use or consumption through testing to confirm contaminants and microorganisms are below certain levels as specified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Sources of water include lakes, rivers, reservoirs, or wells and are not considered potable because they often contain contaminants and microorganisms. Water utility companies are responsible for testing and treating water for compliance with EPA regulations. Each municipal water supply is maintained by local water agencies in each state. Factors that can lead to contaminated water sources include broken water pipes, treatment facilities malfunction, and major weather events like hurricanes and floods. When potable water sources become contaminated, water advisories may be issued by the water supplier, local and state governments, EPA, or Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Clinical Question- What impact does the absence of potable water have on SPD and Surgical Services Departments? Description of Evidenced-Based Protocol – AORN evidence-based guidelines 3.1, 3.2, 9.12, and 9.13 and literature searches using Google Scholar, EBSCO, and CINAHL with search terms: perioperative water outage, potable water, and water outage were reviewed. In addition, officials from local water municipalities were interviewed. Discussion/Perioperative Nursing Implications- Review of facility emergency preparedness plans for a water emergency contingency can benefit facilities and prevent delays in patient care. Identify departments impacted by a water outage and include them in planning. After being caught off-guard by an unexpected regional water shortage that lasted for weeks, one facility chose to invest in a private well. The multitude of canceled procedures and increased cost associated with backup water sources justified the $500,000 expense to create a well and purchase water treatment equipment for potable water. Conclusions - There are many things to consider when developing a water emergency plan. Some are short-term solutions for limited boil alert advisories while others may be in response to long-term water outages or advisories.