Even though items can be dispensed to all areas of a facility, which area is a major focus?

The operating room is a major focus for sterile processing because it is where surgical procedures take place, and maintaining a sterile environment is critical to prevent infections and ensure patient safety. Instruments and supplies used in surgeries must be sterile to avoid introducing pathogens into the surgical site. The sterile processing department is responsible for cleaning, disinfecting, sterilizing, and distributing these surgical instruments and supplies promptly and effectively to the operating room.

In surgical settings, the demand for sterile items is particularly high, and the consequences of infection can be severe, making the operating room a priority area for sterile processing activities. Other areas, such as the emergency room, recovery room, and patient rooms, also require sterile supplies, but the level of sterility and the frequency of usage in the operating room makes it the primary focus for sterile processing efforts.