Practice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)

RE: Practice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 09:53:08 GMT

[quote userid="2131" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30571/practice-standard-operating-procedures-sops/240839#240839"]Well – I hope you don't think I'm being facetious, I'm not[/quote]

No, no, I didn't! And thank you for all this, very greatly appreciated.

RE: Practice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 00:27:26 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30571/practice-standard-operating-procedures-sops/240831#240831"]Yes, and all sorts of other factors. So I think a generic SOP really needs to prompt the reader as to the sorts of info they need to include, rather than be too prescriptive.[/quote]

Well – I hope you don't think I'm being facetious, I'm not – in that case one can only say:

Clean everything in sight using the methods you have been shown, except anything you are instructed not to touch.

Disinfect everything in sight using the methods you have been shown.

Tidy up.

Put stuff away if you are absolutely sure where it goes and if it's been cleaned and disinfected..

Switch things off at the mains if you've been instructed that it's OK to do so.

Put dustcovers on any items that have them.

Check and restock consumables.

Deal with any bins in the manner you have been instructed to.

Report anything you notice that doesn't seem quite right.

If this is the "cleaning dental suite" SOP it shouldn't say anything about draining the compressor.

But I'll repeat: if you want a task done weekly, the day of the week must be specified.

RE: Practice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 12:30:56 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30571/practice-standard-operating-procedures-sops/240831#240831"]I don't think there is any practice in the country that needs SOPs 'because they employ idiots[/quote]

You would be AMAZED how often something screamingly obvious to be, doesn't get done. Whether people don't see or don't care.

RE: Practice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 09:19:41 GMT

[quote userid="2131" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30571/practice-standard-operating-procedures-sops/240830#240830"]I'm not keen on Standard Operating Protocols at all, though I can see that big practices with a lot of staff and/or a big staff turnover and/or employing idiots would need them.[/quote]

But, er, aren't they designed for use by practices with a reasonable staff turnover, or lots of staff often doing different jobs.

I don't think there is any practice in the country that needs SOPs 'because they employ idiots'

[quote userid="2131" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30571/practice-standard-operating-procedures-sops/240830#240830"]Anyway, my first thought is that this just illustrates how much a "SOP" must vary according to the physical form of the room, its layout, construction, contents and so on.[/quote]

Yes, and all sorts of other factors. So I think a generic SOP really needs to prompt the reader as to the sorts of info they need to include, rather than be too prescriptive.

I'll try and put together an example of what I mean.

RE: Practice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 18:50:02 GMT

I'm not keen on Standard Operating Protocols at all, though I can see that big practices with a lot of staff and/or a big staff turnover and/or employing idiots would need them.

Anyway, my first thought is that this just illustrates how much a "SOP" must vary according to the physical form of the room, its layout, construction, contents and so on.

Mostly about the first bullet point: I'd have to substitute (or add) "all horizontal surfaces" (we have a lot of electrical trunks, little ledges, and a window sill, which all get dusty on top). I wouldn't need "table top and mat" because "dental table" has already been mentioned and there is no mat. The drainage tray, and the tube from it, and the sump can into which it runs, would need specific mention.

Also add clean and disinfect door handles.

Clean and disinfect (as trained, some items are delicate) any machines and devices that have been in use (e.g. scaler, capsule mixer, Xray generator, computer keyboard, operating lamp... and so on)

Specifying cleaning "walls" raises the question: how high? There are rules about how high cleaners can clean, have been for a very long time – I think it's "shoulder height". Saying "walls" implies right to the ceiling, and if you're doing that, why aren't you disinfecting the ceiling as well?

Fortunately, in my opinion, it's not necessary to clean walls above say 4 feet every day (apart from gross contamination, blood splashes and so on, if any).

The drawers? I don't want anybody but me, or maybe my one very trusted nurse, "tidying" or "organising" my drawers. (That goes for my dental drawers too )

The compressor tank does not need to be emptied of compressed air, it just needs to be drained of water. I know manufacturers often say weekly, but I do it at the end of every working day – why not? If you are doing it weekly, you must specify which day of the week, or it may not get done.

Personally, I insist on doing the tank drain myself – there is a certain hazard, unless the member of staff is carefully trained. (Also, on my machine, it involves getting down on the floor, which I won't ask anyone else to do).

Then again, if a nurse is doing the tank drainage, shouldn't she be seeing to the hand pieces and the water reservoirs?

So you certainly need to add: turn off pressure to water, cautiously loosen water and CLS reservoir, then remove and empty water reservoir, store upside down on appointed place (e.g over sink). OR, if you routinely use Alpron in the water: return water reservoir empty to machine, do not screw on tightly.

Inspect CLS reservoir, if low then empty and refill.

Sorry, that's out of proper order because hand piece attention comes before attention to the reservoirs. Assuming you want your nurse to do the handpieces (I don't, I see to it myself!): remove any burs that have been in use and deal with them as trained and instructed at the time(might be e.g. discard as sharps, disinfect,autoclave... ) and insert bur blanks. Run CLS through each handpiece, scaler, 3way syringe, in turn, for 1 minute each. (Run them into the sink!) Release the air pressure to them. The scaler handpiece, immerse in disinfectant for 15 minutes, wipe dry and put away in drawer. Everything else, run each for a few seconds to get rid of gross fluid inside. Wipe their outsides thoroughly with specified disinfectant, also their tubing as far as possible. Leave 10-15 minutes to dry then oil as trained. Replace on machine OR put away in correct places OR prepare and send for autoclaving, as instructed each day. Report to the boss (or write on the whiteboard, or whatever reporting facility is used) any possible fault noticed while doing this, e.g. rough running, rust-coloured oil emerging...

Put dust-cover on dental unit; and on any other item which has one.

That's enough for now.

RE: Practice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 15:03:44 GMT

[quote userid="2131" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30571/practice-standard-operating-procedures-sops/240812#240812"]OK I'll bite.[/quote]

I hoped you might!

Here it is:

Daily:

The worktops, cupboard doors, dental table, table top and mat, walls, window blinds, anaesthetic machine and dental machine are cleaned with an appropriate disinfectant (see appendix A)
Clean, tidy and organise the worktop
Clinical waste bin is emptied and sent for incineration.
Normal waste bin is emptied and collected once every 3 weeks
Sharps bin are collected for incineration once full, and the sharps bin is replaced
The windows are cleaned with glass cleaner (see appendix A)
The floors are swept and mopped with an appropriate disinfectant (see appendix A)
Clean, tidy and organise the dental drawers
Restock consumables – disposable gloves, cotton wool, suture material, scalpel blades

Weekly:

The air compressor on the dental machine is emptied as per manufactures guidelines

RE: Practice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 19:36:56 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30571/practice-standard-operating-procedures-sops/240803#240803"]Cleaning Dental Suite[/quote]

OK I'll bite.

RE: Practice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 10:19:36 GMT

The SOPs I have now are:

Admitting Day Patients
Cleaning Theatre
Discharge Protocol
Admitting Patients
Anaesthesia Protocols
Applying Handrub
Autoclave
Care of Neonates
Cleaning Behind Fridges
Cleaning Consult Rooms
Cleaning Dental Suite
Cleaning Kennels and Cattery
Cleaning Kennels, Cattery, Isolation
Cleaning Laboratory
Cleaning Prep Room
Cleaning Radiography
Cleaning the Locker Room
Cleaning the Nurse Station
Cleaning the Run
Cleaning Foyer, Public Toilet, Waiting Room, Reception and Lobby

Any of those in particular grab you? . Could we pick one to start with.

RE: Practice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)

Jeffrey Chakwenya — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:26:20 GMT

Proud to know my vote is so strong it encompasses democracy!

RE: Practice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 14:00:23 GMT

[quote userid="4181" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30571/practice-standard-operating-procedures-sops/240721#240721"]You might need to let us know what you have?[/quote]

Laughed out loud. Naah, I'll let you mind-read

RE: Practice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)

Rob Loxley — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 13:59:14 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30571/practice-standard-operating-procedures-sops"]And perhaps in discussing them, they might prove to be food for thought in terms of the SOPs at your own practice?[/quote]

Yes, while most such things will need to be customised, some basics to use can be helpful. Every time we re-accredit under PSS it seems there's another thing we need an SOP for!

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30571/practice-standard-operating-procedures-sops"]Also you might suggest other SOPs that would be useful in addition to the ones I have been sent.[/quote]

You might need to let us know what you have?

RE: Practice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 10:10:07 GMT

[quote userid="28977" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30571/practice-standard-operating-procedures-sops/240717#240717"]Definitely ‘a crowd-developed SOPs’ would be good[/quote]

One vote is good enough for me! Thanks Jeffrey Chakwenya and welcome to the forum!

RE: Practice Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS)

Jeffrey Chakwenya — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 06:50:06 GMT

Definitely ‘a crowd-developed SOPs’ would be good