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Change defines the world of the Sterile Processing department (SPD). Day-to-day changes in the surgical schedule—shifting procedures, add-ons, emergency cases, and Operating Room (OR) requests—can stress the department by having not enough inventory one day and far too much the next.
In episode 159, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Tory Teakell and Jake Byerly of Medline about nuances and opportunities in managing instrument inventory. Teakell and Byerly share strategies to align instrument inventory with case demand and discuss how to use case volume and sterilization requirements to predict pressure points and resolve bottlenecks. The conversation leans into the importance of SPD/OR collaboration and highlights aspects of our daily work that frequently go unnoticed but can have a surprisingly big effect on capacity and efficiency.
About our Guests
Torres Teakell, Clinical Solutions Manager, Medline
Tory Teakell has more than 15 years of experience, both in healthcare and vendor settings, and currently serves as a Clinical Solutions Manager for Clinical Consulting Services with Medline. Teakell’s extensive perioperative clinical experience includes roles as a Surgical Technologist, OR Nurse Manager, OR Charge Nurse, and Sterile Processing Supervisor. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in health information management and is a Six Sigma Lean Certified Green Belt.
Jake Byerly, Clinical Solutions Manager, Medline
Jake Byerly has been working in Sterile Processing since 2009. His career includes more than 15 years in leadership and management roles, supporting teams, and helping drive operational improvements within SPDs. Byerly has a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management and currently serves as a Clinical Solutions Manager with Medline, where he works with healthcare facilities nationwide on product related challenges, workflow optimization, and education. The role allows Byerly to partner directly with SP professionals, OR teams, and healthcare leaders to identify opportunities for improvement and share best practices that support patient safety and efficiency.
About our Sponsor
Medline is the largest provider of medical-surgical products and supply chain solutions serving all points of care. Through its broad product portfolio, resilient supply chain, and leading clinical solutions, Medline helps healthcare providers improve their clinical, financial and operational outcomes. Headquartered in Northfield, Illinois, the company employs more than 45,000 people worldwide and operates in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how Medline makes healthcare run better, visit www.medline.com.
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