Cleaning Difficult Instruments
Every Sterile Processing (SP) professional knows that some instruments are more difficult to clean than others. It sounds obvious, but it’s true. Whether due to design features or cosmetic choices, …
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 150: ST108 Implementation Pinch Points
Water quality plays a critical role in surgical procedures, clinical diagnostics and medical research as well as the overall operation of healthcare facilities. Yet, confusion often surrounds ST108 and water …
Process THIS! Episode 146: Sustainability and Shelf Life for Blue Wrap
Sterilization wrap is a science unto itself. Individuals, organizations and companies around the world constantly seek safer, more durable options for keeping our patients safe, while considering the ecological effects …
Process THIS! Episode 143: Breaking Down Biofilm
Biofilm is “comprised of living cells and a structure to protect them . . . that has potentially infectious material within it.” The structure creates a physical barrier between the …
Process This! Episode 132: The WHY of Perioperative Compliance
What we do as a perioperative team matters. Day and night, 365 days a year, we save, heal and improve the wellbeing of our patients. In the Sterile Processing department …
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 129: Discussing POU Treatment with Procedural Partners
Surgical instruments require consistent care from use, through processing and storage, and back to the procedural area. This care saves healthcare systems money and, more importantly, assures that practitioners have …
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 116: IFU From the Simple to the Complex
In episode 116, host Jon Wood speaks with Tami Heacock, System Director of Sterile Processing with Lee Health, about instructions for use (IFU) and the daily challenges faced in the …
Process This! Episode 110: Mentoring in a Sterile Processing Environment
In episode 110, host Jon Wood speaks with Jennifer Behlmann about mentoring in Sterile Processing. Behlman discusses the importance of passing on knowledge and experience to others through a deliberate process of “intentional mentorship.” She also …