Chapter 1

Question 1

What is the SPD area?

Answer 1

● SPD if the area/department that receives, cleans, decontaminates, assembles,
disinfects and or sterilizes reusable medical and surgical devices for safe and
effective care.
● This are can have a variety of names but the most common is SPD

Question 2

Functions of Each Area
There are at least 4 areas in a SPD.

Answer 2

● Decontamination area- where soiled items are received and cleaned
● Prep & pack- where cleaned items are inspected, assembled and packaged.
This could be a separate “clean work room”
● Sterilization area- where terminal sterilization is performed.
● Sterile storage area- where sterile items are stored until need

Question 3

Decontamination area

Answer 3

where soiled items are received and cleaned

Question 4

Prep & pack

Answer 4

where cleaned items are inspected, assembled and packaged.
This could be a separate “clean work room”

Question 5

Sterilization area

Answer 5

where terminal sterilization is performed

Question 6

Sterile storage area

Answer 6

where sterile items are stored until need

Question 7

Workflow

Answer 7

Workflow- how work progresses through SPD.
● The process always begins in the Decontamination Area and progresses
through the process:
○ Decontamination
○ Prep & Pack
○ Sterilization
○ Sterile Storage

Workflow is DIRTY to CLEAN and should never be circumvented

Question 8

People Flow

Answer 8

People Flow- How people move through SPD.
● When leaving Decontam, all PPE must be removed and hands washed.
● When entering decontam, all personnel must don PPE.
Anyone visiting the department should start in the clean areas and finish in the
decontam.
Why?
People flow is CLEAN to DIRTY

Question 9

Traffic Control

Answer 9

Traffic Control- controlling access to SPD
Why is this important?
The department contains contaminated items and because it prepares sterile
products.
Who should traffic be restricted to?
Employees and authorized personnel.

Question 10

Organizational Structure

Answer 10

Within healthcare facilities there is an organizational structure also called an
Organizational Chart.
● The departmental organizational chart details the reporting and
accountability mechanisms for the titles within the department.
● The facility organizational chart details the reporting and accountability
mechanism for the titles within administration

Question 11

Departmental (Organizational Chart)

Answer 11

organizational chart details the reporting and
accountability mechanisms for the titles within the department

Question 12

Facility (Organizational Chart)

Answer 12

organizational chart details the reporting and accountability
mechanism for the titles within administration

Question 13

ETHICS

What is Ethics and Why is it
Important?

Answer 13

Ethics- is the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and
obligation.
Ethics is what guides us to tell the truth, keep our promises, or help someone in
need.
There is a framework of ethics underlying our lives on a daily basis, helping us make
decisions that create positive impacts and steering us away from unjust outcomes.

Question 14

Ethical Actions

Answer 14

Ethical Actions- are those that conform to accepted and professional standards of
conduct.
➔ Deciding what is ethical can be complicated by an individual’s beliefs,
knowledge base, and work ethic.
Behaving ethically is important for the sterile processing workers.