The Sterile Processing Department (SPD) provides a support service for hospital patient care activities. The SPD department located on the first level has fully modernized equipment (washers and sterilizers).

SPD staff process reusable supplies for clinical areas: perioperative, perinatal, hemodialysis, Emergency, nursing and diagnostic patient care areas, out patient clinics and outside agencies.

Trained SPD staff process reusable supplies and equipment according to nationally accepted standards to prevent the spread of infection between patients. Processing includes cleaning, disinfecting, assembling, wrapping, sterilizing and distributing supplies and instruments for user areas. The SPD is open seven days a week except at night.

Porter services assist with pickup and distribution of supplies and equipment, transport patients between departments for diagnostic and treatment purposes in clinical and preoperative areas. A Central Dispatch located with the SPD area receives requests for transporting patients and supplies. Central Porter services work with volunteer assistants assigned to patient transportation. Porter service is provided seven days a week.

For more information, please contact:

Donna Choma, RN, BScN, MA
Manager, SPD
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
980 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7B 6V4
Email: chomad@tbh.net