Taking the chaos out of accreditation surveys in sterile processing: High-level disinfection, sterilization, and antisepsis.

Health care accreditation processes are conducted with a focus on safety and quality of patient care. Accreditation, or lack of it, can affect the organization's ability to be reimbursed for services provided. Sterile processing in health care facilities has become an increasingly larger focus of the accreditation survey process. Health care organizations that reprocess medical devices must be prepared to demonstrate compliance with standards when they are surveyed. Understanding and following current guidelines and recommendations can help ensure the health care facility is ready for unannounced accreditation surveys.