Medical Matters: How data is used to drive safer medical device reprocessing in medical clinics

Read time: 2 minutes

By: Cody Dingreville, Outgoing Program Manager, IPAC, and current Senior Manager, Non-Hospital Surgical Facilities

Did you know that CPSA’s Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) Program conducts a minimum of 150 on-site Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR) assessments in medical clinics across Alberta each year? These assessments provide valuable insight into clinics’ strengths, opportunities for improvement and recurring compliance trends.

We actively use assessment data, particularly trends in deficiencies, to inform the development of targeted resources that support physicians and clinic teams in meeting CPSA requirements and strengthening patient and staff safety.

In 2025, the most common deficiency identified 103 times was the absence of robust clinic-specific policies and procedures related to medical device reprocessing.

In response, we created the guidance document: Developing Policies & Procedures to Support Safe & Effective Medical Device Reprocessing in Medical Clinics. This resource is designed to support both new and existing clinics in building comprehensive, clinic-specific MDR policies and procedures that align with CPSA requirements, which ensures safe patient care and protection for clinic staff.

Additionally, we have published the resource: Top 10 2025 MDR Deficiencies in Medical Clinics. This resource outlines the most common deficiencies identified during MDR assessments and provides targeted guidance and supporting resources to help clinics proactively address each area.

Through continuous data analysis and resource development, the IPAC Program remains committed to supporting clinics in achieving compliance, improving quality processes and ensuring safe care for Albertans.

For more information on all things IPAC, including MDR templates and clinic registration instructions, please visit the medical clinics page on CPSA’s website. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at ipac@cpsa.ab.ca or 780-423-4764.

We sincerely thank physicians and medical clinic staff for their continued hard work, ensuring their patients receive safe, high-quality health care.