Make the correct instruction easy to reach
A technician should be able to find the current manufacturer IFU for a specific device model at the station where the task happens. The Joint Commission’s guidance addresses access to manufacturer instructions for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization. The useful question is not whether a department owns a document library; it is whether staff can identify the right version for the device in hand while work is underway.
Choose a source and an owner
Manufacturer portals are the source of the device instructions. A managed library such as oneSOURCE can centralize IFUs across many manufacturers. Instrument tracking systems may link an IFU directly to an asset or step. These approaches can work together: the library organizes access, while the tracking system brings a link into the workflow. Assign a person or team to check missing documents, version changes, and local device identifiers.
Test with difficult devices
Pick a loaner set, a device with several components, and a flexible endoscope. Ask a technician to find the exact cleaning and sterilization instructions without assistance. Time the search and verify the model, revision, accessories, and any required equipment. Then test what happens when the document is missing or the manufacturer changes a step.
Keep policy separate from source
A local work instruction can translate the IFU into a station checklist, but it must stay aligned with the manufacturer’s validated steps. Decide how changes are reviewed, approved, and communicated to staff. A fast search is valuable only when it returns the right instruction.
Sources: The Joint Commission IFU guidance · oneSOURCE document library.