From rising compliance risks to declining tray accuracy, a four-site hospital system needed urgent support. ASSI delivered a data-driven plan and long-term partnership to stabilize and strengthen sterile processing operations.
Case study
From compliance risks to confidence: Raising the bar in sterile processing
Overview
A four-site hospital system in the Atlantic region partnered with ASSI to address ongoing performance and compliance issues in sterile processing. ASSI conducted a clinical assessment that revealed critical risks in quality assurance and bioburden control, resulting in below-standard performance scores. Following the assessment, the client engaged ASSI for a 52-week consulting partnership to guide improvement, reduce risk, and rebuild operational confidence across all locations.
Client
Hospital System 
Year
2025
Region
Atlantic region U.S.
Solutions provided
- Clinical assessment
- Ongoing Consulting
”We truly appreciated the visit to our facility and the thoughtful feedback provided during the review of our current operations. The communication throughout the process was excellent, and the professionalism displayed during the review did not go unnoticed. We look forward to our future partnership.
Perioperative Services Business Manager
The challenge
The Sterile Processing Department (SPD) was operating under considerable strain, with performance concerns across core functional areas threatening the safety and efficiency of surgical services. Internal teams struggled to maintain consistent quality standards, and leadership lacked clear visibility into the root causes of recurring issues.
Facing rising concerns about compliance, patient safety, and surgeon satisfaction, the facility sought outside expertise to conduct a structured evaluation, stabilize operations, and guide leadership toward corrective action. Advantage Support Services was brought in to perform a Clinical Assessment and provide a foundation for sustainable improvement.
Our approach
ASSI conducted a clinical assessment focused on six core areas: Assembly, Sterilization, Sterile Storage, Decontamination, Quality, and Bioburden Reduction.
Key actions included:
- On-site observational audits across all major SPD functions
- Grading each area using a best-practice compliance matrix
- Identifying urgent risks in bioburden control and QA systems
- Engaging executive leadership to align on next steps
The final report included detailed scores, strengths, gaps, and actionable recommendations, laying the foundation for sustained improvement.
Findings
Assessment results
Client satisfaction survey results
Instrument quality
1.8
Tray accuracy
1.8
Bioburden frequency
2.3
Instrument availability
2.1
Case cart quality
2.1
Case cart completion
2.4
Tray turnover efficiency
2.2
Assessment outcomes
42
Compliance dangers
74
Improvement opportunities
117
Meets standards
18
Best practices
Average department grade
Lowest
65
Average
73.92
Highest
78.9
Impact
Based on assessment findings, ASSI was engaged for 52 weeks of ongoing consulting. The partnership aimed to stabilize sterile processing operations, raise compliance standards, and equip leadership with the tools and visibility needed for long-term quality improvement.