Collaboration between perioperative nurses and sterile processing department personnel.

Ensuring patient safety requires collaboration between all members of the surgical team, which includes personnel in the sterile processing department. Because of the close working relationship between the OR and sterile processing department, it is important that employees in these departments work well together. Reducing errors and misunderstandings can contribute to improved relationships between personnel in these two departments. Strategies should include a focus on reducing instrument set errors, fostering teamwork and positive relationships, improving interdepartmental communication, and ensuring compliance with policies that are based on the most current evidence available. Copyright 2010 AORN, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.