Throughput refers to the quantity of materials or items moving through a system or process. In contrast, productivity measures the efficiency of a productive effort, particularly in industry, by evaluating the output rate per unit of input.

Creating an Operating Room (OR) instrument priority list is essential for efficient sterile processing. This list helps ensure that the most critical instruments are prioritized for cleaning, sterilization, and availability during surgical procedures.

Scanning helps maintain accurate records of instruments, ensuring that all items are accounted for and properly tracked through patient use. Efficient tracking leads to better management of instrument availability and logistics

Sterile processing departments are often understaffed, undereducated, and mostly undercompensated.