I am looking for advise on the following

Loan instrument sets have become a necessity due to the rapid developments for example in orthopedic surgery, since it is impossible to make provision for the large number of special sets required. Problems can arise for example if sets are leased to different clients and possibly are not returned in a fully functional state. Also personnel must master all over again the processing of special, in some cases, possibly unfamiliar instruments.

How can these problems be solved? Are there any guidelines?? How are these issues handled in the US and Europe??

Considering the high burden of orthopaedic instruments, the cleaning and decontaminations procedures play a key role in order to keep the risks between bounds.

I would very much appreciate your help in this matter.

Kind regards

Q.F. Adriana Belza
Montevideo, Uruguay

Dear Adriana

Have a look at the following sites/articles:

• www.iahcsmm.com/tech_exch_0502.htm
  An excellent, detailed article written by Rita Barnes in the Newsletter of IAHCSMM 05/02; Technician's Exchange "Loaner Instruments"
• www.sracansw.org/JOURNAL_19_2/19_2_MIAA_Main.htm
  Loan Sets - A 'Joint' Project of FSRACA, MIAA, ACORN, WORKCOVER
  with addresses for further Information and a site to watch:
  A survey of Manual Handling Issues with Loan Sets
• www.medical-devices.gov.uk/mda/mdawebsitev2.nsf/webvwMDASafetyWarnings/
  Safety notice = SN 2000 (18) - Handling of Surgical Instruments on Loan From Another Organization

Kind regards
Josy Holdener

Dear,

The problem with loan instruments is an universal one.
At the EFHSS Conference 2002 in Dublin, René Vis (CSC - The Netherlands) gave a lecture about it. I hope the slides of his presentation (see EFHSS Education under Conference Lectures) can help you.

Kind regards,
Wim Renders