September 30, 1994
Narrative
of SPD, the Hospital Administrative Officer, and
Mission
the VA Central Office during the design phases.
In each instance, the reviews must thoroughly
Supply, Processing, and Distribution (SPD)
examine the plans.
Planning changes and
is organizationally aligned under Acquisition and
design errors must be addressed as early as
Materiel Management Service. The mission of
possible to avoid costly change orders during
SPD is to provide a steady flow of patient care
construction.
supplies and equipment to points of need, and to
return contaminated items to a central
decontamination area. The accomplishment of
this mission requires quick and efficient service
Processing and Distribution
to all departments dependent on SPD for indirect
Methods
patient care.
SPD is divided into three main units/areas.
SPD is the first line of defense against
The first unit is Decontamination, where all
harmful
microorganisms.
reusable medical and surgical items are sent for
prevention is achieved by closely monitoring the
cleaning. It is important to keep in mind that
following elements:
contaminated materials do not use the same
Air Flow:
To minimize microorganism
path as the clean materials. The second unit is
movement from dirty to clean areas. In
Preparation. In this unit items are inspected and
clean areas there is a positive air flow.
packaged for sterilization. Most sterilization is
accomplished by using steam; or, in the case of
Staff Flow: Personnel work either on the
materials
that
cannot
withstand
intense
clean side or the dirty side of the SPD unit
temperatures, ethylene oxide (EtO) gas (or
to avoid cross contamination.
another suitable chemical) is used. Materials
Work Flow: Refers to the movement of
undergoing EtO sterilization must be adequately
clean (sterile) supplies and the return of
aerated to ensure no hazardous traces are left
contaminated items for decontamination
on devices. The final unit in SPD involves the
and sterilization.
Distribution Process, including distributing
surgical case carts.
This unit is further
subdivided into Primary Stock and Secondary
Communication
Stock. Primary Stock are all the supplies that
are stored within the confines of the SPD
The single most frequent source of user
department. Secondary Stock are materials in
dissatisfaction during both the design and
user areas such as wards, clinics, nursing care
construction phases is failure of communication
units, and intensive care units.
and interaction among parties with an interest in
and responsibility for the project. The Office of
Construction
Management
selects
the
Trends In SPD
architect/engineer (A/E) with VA medical center
representation on the Selection Board. The A/E
One trend impacting SPD is the increasing
bases the design on VA criteria. Costs are fixed
complexity of many surgical procedures such as
at the end of design development; therefore,
laparoscopy, endoscopy, laser, micro vascular,
extensive changes must be avoided beyond this
and more complex surgeries. SPD's role has
point. Plans should be reviewed by the Chief of
become more technical in nature, by the
Acquisition and Materiel Management, the Chief
VA Design Guide -- Supply, Processing, & Distribution
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