Q How should we handle equipment on loan for surgical procedures? Our current policy is that loaner equipment surgeons request must be brought to our facility the day before the procedure for decontamination and sterilization. Our concern is that some of this equipment (because it's very expensive) is being used in several hospitals and surgery centers - wherever the surgeon practices - and we can't be sure that every facility handles and reprocesses as we do. Some have come into our department quite obviously inadequately cleaned after they'd been used. This is a growing problem, as more and more specialty surgeons are using our facility.