Update to CPSA’s Medical Device Reprocessing standards

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What community medical clinics need to know

When Albertans visit a community medical clinic, they expect high-quality care in a safe space. CPSA’s Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR) standards set out minimum expectations for cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing reusable medical devices.

CPSA’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) team has been guiding medical clinics on medical device reprocessing since 2008. “Over the years, we’ve seen a significant improvement in medical clinic compliance with these standards, and this has a direct and positive impact on patient safety,” says Jason MacDonald, IPAC Program Manager.

The IPAC team is preparing to roll out updated MDR standards to align with provincial standards, released in September 2019, so expectations are consistent across all care settings. CPSA’s updated MDR standards, which come into effect Jan. 1, 2022, apply to all physicians and medical clinic staff responsible for performing and monitoring the reprocessing of reusable medical instruments.

“We review our MDR standards regularly to ensure they reflect best practices,” says MacDonald. “These updated standards have been in development for over a year, but we paused the implementation while medical clinics adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognize clinics are busier than ever, and our aim is to ensure these standards are easy to implement, while keeping patients safe.”

Physicians and medical clinic staff can now review the updated MDR standards. The IPAC team will also share tools and resources this fall to help medical clinics understand and meet the updated standards. Watch your inbox for an invitation to register for a virtual Q&A.

“We encourage physicians and clinic staff to review the updated standards now to see what they may need to address before Jan. 1,” says MacDonald. The IPAC team is ready to answer any questions physicians and clinic staff have leading up to and into the new year. “Once the new standards are in place, we’ll continue to be there for clinics to support them in offering safe patient care.”

Regulated members of CPSA will continue to receive important updates about MDR standards and other IPAC news. If other members of your care team would like to stay up-to-date, they can join the IPAC mailing list.

Questions? Contact the IPAC team.