Fighting Bacteria, Fungi and Viruses
Bacteria, fungi and viruses are the three primary types of microorganisms that Sterile Processing departments (SPDs) battle every day. But what exactly are these infectious agents, how do they spread, …
Process This! Episode 134: Clarifying Water Treatment Methods
The quality of our water varies dramatically—by location, season and source—and the presence of impurities can have a significant impact on all aspects of instrument processing. For the safety of …
Process This! Episode 131: Consequences of Difficult-to-Clean Instruments
All surgical instruments take effort to render clean and sterile, but some instruments by their design are more difficult to clean than others. Narrow channels, long lumens and tight tolerances …
Process This! Episode 130: Tips for Loaned Tray Management
Managing loaned instrument sets presents difficulties for even the most organized Sterile Processing departments (SPDs). Hospitals and surgery centers with high procedural volume as well as those performing cutting-edge surgeries …
Process This! Episode 128: Demystifying IFU
Following manufacturers’ instructions for use (IFU) is among the most important responsibilities of the Sterile Processing (SP) team, and every item in our departments has an IFU—surgical instruments, processing equipment, …
Process This! Episode 127: Skincare Strategies for Healthcare Workers
Our skin is not just a thing of beauty. It is our largest organ. It prevents water loss and protects us from infection, allergens and ultraviolet light. Although proper hand …
Process This! Episode 124: AORN Guidelines Update
In episode 124, host Jon Wood speaks with AORN Senior Perioperative Practice Specialist Amber Wood about how AORN Guidelines address numerous pertinent topics related to Sterile Processing, including challenges associated …
Process This! Episode 108: Sterile Processing and Dental Instruments
In episode 108, host Jon Wood speaks with Julie Morrill and Karen Raposa, regional managers at HuFriedyGroup, aChicago-based dental supply and equipment company. Morrill and Raposa sink their teeth into infection prevention compliance associated …
Process This! Episode 107: The Ergonomic Benefits of Work-Area Layout in the SPD
In episode 107, host Jon Wood speaks with Hannah Schroeder, Clinical Education Specialist at Pure Processing. Schroeder provides her recommendations and rationalizations for record keeping, time stamping, organization, and foot-traffic …
Process This! Episode 103: Laying the Foundation for a Successful Robotics Service Line
In episode 103, host Jon Wood speaks with Marcy Duffy, Intuitive’s Genesis Reprocessing Product Manager, about robotics in reprocessing. She identifies critical factors to consider when planning a robotics service line, including workflow and layout, assessment of current equipment, understanding how a …
Process This! Episode 102: All About Your Health in Sterile Processing
In our 102nd episode, host Jon Wood speaks with fitness trainer and nutrition coach, Brenda Edwards, about physical, emotional and mental health. Specifically, she shares her recommendations for mobility activities …
Process This! Episode 99: Time, Temperature & Humidity: Their Effect on Device Soil Drying
In episode 99, host Jon Wood speaks with Sue Klacik and Terra Kremer about how time, temperature and humidity affect soil drying on medical devices. They also address challenges associated with weather conditions and the transporting of soiled instruments to Sterile Processing areas. …