Creating a Course with an Engaging and Accessible Format
Although the importance of appropriate training for decontamination technicians has rarely been overlooked, the increasing strain experienced by many decontamination departments across the United Kingdom and Ireland leaves little time for staff to complete courses whilst meeting the reprocessing demand of the organisation. This along with the broad diversity of cultures, languages, and education levels of staff employed by decontamination departments, has created an increasing need for flexible, accessible training that accommodates the departmental needs.
Creating a training course that promotes learner attention and retention of material such as decontamination procedures and site policies has historically been a difficult task and does not account for the range of skills, education levels, and learning styles within a department. Simply put, lengthy passages of text on a computer screen just aren’t providing the standard of training required by department leaders. Courses that are accessible to all learners incorporate a range of multimedia formats such as video, animation, narration and graphics to promote learner engagement and emphasise key points.
Addressing the Importance of the Decontamination Role
For some of the practical skills performed by a decontamination technician, there is no substitute for a hands-on, kinesthetic approach with a tutor. However, without a solid comprehension of the critical need for uniformity and consistency when performing these roles, staff may be tempted to deviate from the standard operating procedure and cut corners.
A key component of effective training is providing the learner with context, regarding both the need for strict adherence to the policies and procedures, and a wider understanding of the importance of their role within a healthcare organisation. When decontamination staff are aware of how their work fits into the bigger picture of patient safety and wellbeing, and understand that whilst often underappreciated, the decontamination department is one of the most crucial departments within the healthcare system, they are often imbued with a greater sense of pride and respect, which is reflected in their performance. Similarly, by examining the theory behind decontamination procedures, and the risks that may be encountered if not performed correctly, learners are more likely to effectively retain and act upon the information provided.
Developing education and understanding will also help tackle another key problem currently faced by decontamination departments: decreased interest in career paths within decontamination. For some, the prospect of decontamination as a career may seem uninteresting and repetitive. However, by educating staff about the constantly changing industry, the need for continuous improvement, and the critical role of decontamination within a healthcare organisation, some may be inspired to consider decontamination as more of a permanent career with a direct impact on staff and patient safety.
Introducing a Practical Component to Establish Competence
Given that the majority of procedures performed within a decontamination department require practical skills, enhancing staff knowledge will benefit up to a point. For a training course to truly demonstrate competence, a learner should be able to demonstrate that they can perform the required tasks, as well as understanding the necessity of doing so correctly. By incorporating a practical element in a dedicated training facility, staff are given an opportunity to hone skills and troubleshoot common problems without compromising department turnaround or patient safety.
Many skills, such as identifying stiffness when opening a hinged instrument during SSD inspection or encountering resistance when brushing a blocked endoscope channel, can only be acquired by encountering the scenario where they are required. A training facility can engineer these scenarios for training purposes, rather than waiting for them to happen organically in a decontamination department. Furthermore, completion of accredited training that focuses on improving knowledge and also covers practical skills would yield a qualification that demonstrates competence along with a greater respect for department components such as quality management systems, standard operating procedures and infection prevention and control policies.
Creating an engaging and informative course that is accessible to learners from a wide range of backgrounds is a key part of improving staff cooperation and compliance, whilst promoting department efficiency and patient safety. Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust believes that to achieve this, utilising a combined approach of interactive videos with illustrative graphics and animations, and in-person training that demonstrates key skills without the pressure and time constraints experienced in a functioning decontamination department is the way forward.
Author
Nick Brown – General Manager – AVM Services – Cambridge University Hospitals