Objective and Functions:

The Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD) is divided into five major areas: decontamination, assembly and processing, sterilizing, sterile storage, and distribution.
The objectives of central service include the following:

• To provide inventoried supplies and equipment to customer areas.
• To promote better patient care by providing prompt and accurate service.
• To provide supplies of sterile linen packs, basins, instruments, and other sterile items.
• To maintain an accurate record of the effectiveness of the cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing processes.
• To strive for uniformity and simplicity in the trays and sets that the department provides.
• To maintain an adequate inventory of supplies and equipment.
• To monitor and enforce controls necessary to prevent cross infection according to infection control policies.
• To establish and maintain sterile processing and distribution standards.
• To operate efficiently to reduce overhead expense.
• To stay abreast of developments in the field and to implement changes as needed to stay current with new regulations and recommended practices.
• To review current practice for possible improvements in quality or services provided.
• To provide consulting services to other departments in all areas of sterile processing and distribution, including in- service education programs, review policies and procedures, and implementation of new processes.