Every year, the third full week of October is dedicated to celebrate the activities performed in Central Service Departments across North America. Each Central Service department should plan an open house or special event to teach staff in their facility about what type of work is done in Central Service and its importance to patient care.
Since workers and patients are not aware of the activities that occur behind closed doors, opening those doors for one day to display the great work that happens in the Central Service department makes people more aware of the critical role this department plays in infection control and direct patient care. With all the challenges a modern day Central Services faces today, the proper reprocessing of reusable patient care items becomes more important than it has ever been.
Remember: If nurses and physicians do not have the instruments and sterilized items to perform procedures then patients will not receive the care they need.