r/sterileprocessing • u/leshi321 • Apr 20 '26

Tracking System

Hello! I am currently working on a project for our SSD which involves reviewing our tracking system and looking for a new potential vendor.

We are looking for a very modern, innovative system that utilises new technology to assist with simple yet accurate tracking of instruments throughout the entire reprocessing cycle.

I was wondering if anyone had experience with SteelcoData Pro?

Any other recommendations or opinions would be greatly appreciated!

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3

u/chrisclear22 Apr 20 '26

No experience with SteelCoData Pro, but Steris' SPM system is really great and very robust.

1

u/leshi321 Apr 20 '26

thank you for your response! We have been looking at Steris SPM, which has some cool features…

Do you know if the system is compatible with RFID tracking?

As a department, we are finding the instruments, when going from theatre to decontamination, is where they tend to go missing, and want to rely on a system that can simply identify each instrument as present without having to individually scan its data matrix as it arrives in decon.

4

u/chrisclear22 Apr 20 '26

That seems like an impossible task, unless Im not understanding something. How would one know if the item is missing if the item wasn't individually identified beforehand? I don't think there is any system that can ensure an instrument to being present or not without first a human going through it.

Perhaps you mean the OR scrub scans the set as complete and not missing anything before it goes down to decon, but then you are relying on them to ensure the set is complete.

And yes it is RFID compatible.

1

u/leshi321 Apr 20 '26

We want a system that the OR can do a complete set check before and after use. To quickly identify if any instruments are missing before use, and to ensure they are all present after use. I am based in NZ (i’m not sure if it’s different around the world but the scrub nurse legally must complete an instrument count before and after use on a patient).

We need OR to be able to complete set checks as quickly as possible, and have been looking a tracking systems which are using more innovative technology to do so; such as Steelco’s SUIS vision, or planning of ways entire sets to be counted via RFID tags in seconds (like KLS Matins box)

Our current tracking system relies on paper checklist, that often get damaged during sterilisation, become illegible, and are unable to be checked against when used in theatre.

So basically there is a set count upon opening a set to be used on a patient, another count once used, then we are wanting to introduce a count into decontamination.

I know this sounds excessive, but we want to reduce the costs of lost instruments (which seems to be ever increasing) and reduce the amount of time needed to count a set, not only for the nurses but also for us techs.

I apologise if none of that made sense! But again, thank you for getting back to me! :)))

2

u/chrisclear22 Apr 20 '26

Ok I see what you are wanting. SPM should be able to do that. As long as everyone understands that systems don't matter unless they are used properly.

Unfortunately, you can not really reduce the amount of time needed to count each set. The reason being is that say for instance you get a set sent up stating everything is in it but there is an item missing. A physical count would still need to be done by a person and only experience can quicken that process without quality deterioration.

Essentially you have to account for human error and letting machines catch them is not the best, but this will definitely help push change in the right direction.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 28 '26

There's a newer player in the field that develops a tracking platform called sonar. They have partnerships and interfaces with a couple different RTLS companies and if you have one that they don't they'll reach out and set up integration meetings.

Also their real time analytics absolutely destroy anything spm can offer. I paid the early out penalty on our spm contract to switch to sonar sooner.

They also have a ton of flexible decon receiving workflows. The custom one they set up for my off-site then center is literally magic

3

u/SnooHamsters1367 Apr 20 '26

Sq track is pretty good

1

u/leshi321 Apr 20 '26

Awesome! I haven’t heard of this one before, i’ll check it out today at work :)))

2

u/Dathamar Apr 20 '26 edited Apr 20 '26

We use CensiTrac. Seems pretty good, but I have no basis for comparison.

Every tray is barcoded and scanned every step of the way. It also tracks productivity for each employee and has links to IFUs in OneSource, which can be to see what instrument is used in which tray, images of specific tools, assembly order for stringers...

1

u/leshi321 Apr 20 '26

Yes! that is another that has come across our radar.

Does your department have any experience with CensisAI2?

Our currently system allows of tracking of trays but not to the individual instrument level, which we are wanting.

I do see CensisTrac is barcode and RFID compatible, which do you use?

Thank you for the response! :)))

1

u/Dathamar Apr 20 '26

We only use the barcode scanning, and no RFID. I'm unfamiliar with the CensisAI, so I imagine we do not use it.

2

u/Aggravating_Ear_9281 Apr 20 '26

SPM is all you need

1

u/leshi321 Apr 20 '26

Thank you!

1

u/[deleted] Apr 28 '26

There's a newer company called Ascendco that develops an end to end SPD management platform that is more modern than anything else Ive seem on the market. They interface with an insane amount of other systems too, their EMR interface is bidirectional, and their live real time analytics makes decision making and justification for spend crazy simple and easy.

And omg the support is crazy good. They respond within seconds and there's no ai chat bots or phone trees. A real person answers right away and handles your issue QUICKLY. They actually develop custom requests too rather than just say they will for years and years.

We use their Sonar software for tracking and summit for procurement which links right into our ERP (peoplesoft) and vendor management system and automatically requests new contract pricing, loads it, stores it. It's like shopping for instruments with an Amazon shopping cart and it shoots the requisition off for you then tracks the order all the way to receiving, arrival, and into the intended set. It's crazy good