ANSI/AAMI ST108 - Section 4: The Multidisciplinary Team

By Rick Dandrow , Solutions Manager, Phigenics

This past April, I had the opportunity to present at HSPA National 2024 on the main stage alongside Gordon Howie, MSPM, SASHE, CHFM, CHC from The Mayo Clinic. The topic of our presentation was “working together” and how to bridge the gap between facilities and sterile processing. It's a question I received from so many before the presentation and continue to do so, so I’m taking the opportunity to share some insight and ground it in what the standards say.

One of the most critical elements established by ANSI/AAMI ST108:2023 is covered in Section 4 on “Roles and Responsibilities,” which requires a multidisciplinary team. The concept of a multidisciplinary team as a core component of a WMP stems from ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188, which ST108 references when defining a “water management program.” ASHRAE Std. 188 presents a multi-step process that begins with the formation of a team. Sound familiar? A multidisciplinary water management team (WMT) exists to provide additional accountability and resources in expertise, training, manpower, and even funding.

Section 4 notes the following should be included in WMT and provides their roles:

• Executive Sponsorship
• Facilities?
• Infection Prevention and Control
• SPD personnel
• Clinical Engineering Staff / Biomed
• Surgical Suite personnel
• Water Treatment specialist(s)

Focusing on Facilities and SPD personnel, Section 4 emphasizes what falls into the scope of each department. SPD and Clinical Engineering naturally maintain medical device processing equipment and monitoring within their department. However, SPD personnel are not water treatment experts, nor do they manage the building water distribution systems that feed their department with water, the critical water generation equipment, or the steam source for their sterilizers. This is where Facilities Personnel come in, as water treatment and building water distribution systems are the forte of this department.

One of the key points that Gordon and I discussed to start the conversation across departments was using the standards— AAMI ST108 and ASHRAE Std. 188— as the bridge to kickstart collaboration. Facility managers are familiar with ASHRAE Std. 188, as almost all hospitals have a WMP in some form, and AAMI ST108 should be seen as an expansion of the scope of the WMP. As mentioned above, SPD can be a vital partner in an ongoing WMP as sterile processing is a critical area for the environment of care, and much of the operational WMP infrastructure should already be in place.

To the SPD and Facility Managers out there, I encourage you to contact your colleagues and start the conversation on how best to integrate SPD into an ongoing water management program. Use the standards to ground your rationale and conversation. If you haven’t heard from your colleagues yet, I wouldn’t be surprised if that call comes sooner than you think.?

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or email Phigenics at [email protected]. In addition, I invite all readers to join an upcoming webinar I am hosting on June 27th to hear a case study and some insight on the upcoming AAMI TIR119, which will provide additional “how to” guidance on alignment with ST108. Please click the following link to register. I hope to see you there! https://phigenics.zoom.us/webinar/register/3517182093989/WN_iIunJOZXRvmOvdClaq5zEw#/registration