Information management and material distribution for sterilization facilities

Abstract

An automated system for management of information and distribution of materials associated with sterilization procedures includes a network server and client computers that communicate via a computer network. The client computers are distributed among sterilization facilities that require sterilization services. The network server exchanges a variety of information with the sterilization facilities. In response to information from client computers, the network server may trigger distribution of materials to sterilization facilities, and generates reports for record-keeping or cost-accounting purposes. The information distributed by the network server may pertain to the operation, maintenance and control of sterilization equipment, characteristics and capabilities of sterilization materials, and expert technical advice. The information received from sterilization facilities includes requests for information, orders for purchase and delivery of materials, and sterilization process information documenting sterilization procedures performed within a sterilization facility.

1 . A method comprising: 
 receiving sterilization process information from a sterilization facility via a computer network;    arranging the sterilization process information received from the facility to illustrate compliance with a sterilization process standard;    generating a report that includes the arranged information; and    providing a network client with access to the report via the computer network, wherein the network client is associated with a reviewer that analyzes the report to evaluate compliance with the sterilization process standard.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing access to the report includes transmitting the report to the network client via the computer network.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing access to the report includes serving a document containing the report upon request by the network client.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the document is a web page.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein arranging sterilization process information and generating a report includes archiving the sterilization process information, and arranging the sterilization process information and generating the report upon request by the network client.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network client is a regulatory agency or an audit organization.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the report identifies individual sterilization loads and load contents.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the report includes sterilization processing characteristics for the individual sterilization loads, the sterilization processing characteristics for each load including at least one of type of sterilizer, sterilizer identification, cycle time, sterilization time, temperature, pressure, humidity and sterilant concentration.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving sterilization process information includes receiving sterilization process information from multiple sterilization facilities, and generating a report includes generating reports for the multiple sterilization facilities.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein generating the report includes generating the report to integrate sterilization process information received from two or more of the sterilization facilities.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 determining consumption of a quantity of a sterilization material by the sterilization facility based on the sterilization process information received from the sterilization facility; and    processing an order for delivery of an additional quantity of the sterilization material to the sterilization facility based on the determination.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sterilization material includes at least one of sterilant, pack material, and indicators.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving an order for sterilization material from the sterilization facility; and    processing the order to direct delivery of the sterilization material to the sterilization facility.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing access to information relating to sterilization materials;    providing access to information relating to sterilization processes; and    providing interactive communication between technical personnel knowledgeable in sterilization processes and sterilization facility personnel.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 accumulating information concerning best practices and trends in sterilization processing from multiple network clients; and    providing access to the best practices and trends information via the network.    
     
     
         16 . A system comprising: 
 a client computer, associated with a sterilization facility, that transmits sterilization process information via a computer network; and    a network server that receives the sterilization process information from the client computer via the computer network, arranges the sterilization process information received from the client computer to illustrate compliance with a sterilization process standard, generates a report that includes the arranged, and provides a network client with access to the report via the computer network, wherein the network client is associated with a reviewer that analyzes the report to evaluate compliance with the sterilization process standard.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the network server provides access to the report by transmitting the report to the network client via the computer network.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the network server provides access to the report by serving a document containing the report upon request by the network client.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the document is a web page.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the network server archives the sterilization process information, and generates the reports upon request by the network client.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein generating the report includes arranging the sterilization process information to illustrate compliance with sterilization process standards.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the network client is a regulatory agency or an audit organization.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the report identifies individual sterilization loads and load contents.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the report includes sterilization processing characteristics for the individual sterilization loads, the sterilization processing characteristics for each load including at least one of type of sterilizer, sterilizer identification, cycle time, sterilization time, temperature, pressure, humidity and sterilant concentration.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the system includes multiple client computers that transmit sterilization process information for multiple sterilization facilities, and the network server generates multiple reports for the multiple sterilization facilities.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the network server generates a report that integrates sterilization process information received from client computers associated with two or more of the sterilization facilities.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the network server determines consumption of a quantity of a sterilization material by the sterilization facility based on the sterilization process information received from the sterilization facility, and processes an order for delivery of an additional quantity of the sterilization material to the sterilization facility based on the determination.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the sterilization material includes at least one of sterilant, pack material, and indicators.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the network server receives an order for sterilization material from the sterilization facility, and processes the order to direct delivery of the sterilization material to the sterilization facility.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the network server provides access to information relating to sterilization materials, access to information relating to sterilization processes, and interactive communication between technical personnel knowledgeable in sterilization processes and sterilization facility personnel.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the network server accumulates information concerning best practices and trends in sterilization processing from multiple network clients, and provides access to the best practices and trends information via the network.