Planning and organization of the Material and Sterilization Center in times of COVID-19

Abstract

The aim was to describe the experience of planning and organizing the Material and Sterilization Center of a high-complexity hospital to meet the demands that emerged from the care of patients with suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19. Observational, descriptive study, with a qualitative approach, of the experience report type on the organization of the Material and Sterilization Center to meet such demands. Local and intersectoral actions agreed upon through meetings and periodic meetings with those involved were carried out and implemented, designing new workflows and using facilitating instruments to guarantee the safety of processes, widely publicized in the institution. The planning and organization was developed with the collaboration of the team that was trained in time for the other party to need to leave. However, the Material and Sterilization Center has proved to be a place of continuous learning and a lot of physical, mental and professional work. The planning and organization of the Material and Sterilization Center to meet the hospital demand in times of COVID-19 took place in a record way, due to the urgency of the epidemiological situation and the choice of the institution as a reference for the care of the population in suspected or confirmed cases of the disease.