The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released the attached Advisory No: A16/03: Reprocessing of reusable medical devices in health service organisations which may have implications for your healthcare facility.

Advisory A16/03 describes the minimum requirements for health service organisation compliance with Action 3.16.1 of the NSQHS Standards following the introduction of AS/NZS 4187:2014.

Action 3.16.1 of the NSQHS Standards states “Compliance with relevant national or international standards and manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation of reusable instruments and devices is regularly monitored.”

The Australian Standard AS/NZS 4187 is the national standard most commonly used to meet requirements in Action 3.16.1. AS/NZS 4187:2003 has been replaced by AS/NZS 4187:2014 and becomes operational in December 2016.