Wendy Bacalja1
1Dental Health Services Victoria, 720 Swanston St, Carlton, Victoria, 3053. wendy.bacalja@dhsv.org.au
Abstract:
AS 5369:2023 Reprocessing of reusable medical devices and other devices in health and non-health related facilities was released December 2023 superseding both AS/NZS 4815:2006 and AS/NZS 4187:2014.
The implementation of changes required to comply with AS 5369 are potentially widespread presenting some challenges for public dental clinics such as single rooms doubling as treatment and sterilisation rooms, outreach van/trucks schools across all areas including metro, regional and remote.
Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) commenced a complex journey of transition when advised by the Department of Health Victoria to comply with AS/NZS 4187:2014. Gap analysis and risk assessments were undertaken for each type of clinical environment. Developing procedures and implementing processes across the state and the variety of chair numbers, clinic size, location and population all needed to be considered.
The release of AS 5369:2023 requires more changes to be implemented. Therefore, the same process was commenced to assist in identifying the changes and non-compliant components.
If the scale of non-compliance is too large to be compliant by the timeframe, then a request for an extension to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care with ongoing evidence of actions to achieve compliance and avoid NOT MET at accreditation is available.