PROCESS THIS!, a Podcast by HSPA

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, some instrument IFU can be followed easily, while others take extra time and effort. In episode 160, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Cheri Ackert-Burr, staff nurse and clinical consultant, about difficult-to-clean instruments. Ackert-Burr and Czarnowski review how a device’s design, components, and use can all create cleaning challenges and discuss ways to strengthen perioperative teamwork for the benefit of the patient. Ackert-Burr emphasizes the importance of having a backup plan. She poses questions to help evaluate the addition of a single-use device or the purchase of new cleaning equipment. From watching for soil dried in box locks and screw threads to the dangers of using the wrong cleaning brush, this episode is packed with practical advice. Listen to increase your knowledge of device complexity and what is required to get your instruments clean. About Our Guest Cheri Ackert-Burr, Clinical Consultant Torvan Medical Cheri Ackert-Burr is a perioperative nurse with more than 40 years of experience in clinical, leadership, military, and specialist roles. A CNOR since 1979, she is a voting member of AAMI working groups on endoscopy reprocessing and sterilization and has presented nationally and internationally on infection prevention and patient safety in endoscopy. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Chamberlain University.   Sponsored by Torvan Medical designs and manufactures forward-looking equipment and innovative solutions for medical and scientific workspaces. Its portfolio includes ergonomic decontamination equipment, height-adjustable reprocessing sinks and workstations, HEPA-ventilated endoscope storage and drying cabinets, automated reprocessing technologies, flushing systems, pathology solutions, and related consumables. The company recently introduced two distinctive new products designed to address current gaps in device reprocessing: AutoSink and AquaBrush. Every Torvan Medical product is designed and built with exceptional craftsmanship and care, helping create a safe, comfortable, and visually appealing workplace while improving processes from start to finish. That’s the ART OF INNOVATION and the SCIENCE OF CARE. The code required for CE credit will be mentioned during the podcast. Please make note of the code when you hear it to complete the quiz at the end for CE credit. Earn CE Now

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. The code required for CE credit will be mentioned during the podcast. Please make note of the code when you hear it to complete the quiz at the end for CE credit. Earn CE Now

With rigid container systems, it is important to differentiate between durable and indestructible. Rigid container systems are FDA-regulated medical devices and need to be properly cared for to ensure a long and useful life. In episode 158, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Alexander Miseirvitch of Aesculap about rigid container use and maintenance. Miseirvitch emphasizes the container’s role in the sterile barrier system. He reviews the advantages of rigid containers and times when they might not be the right choice. Miseirvitch poses questions for those considering rigid container integration and dives into container inspection, repair, tracking, and lifecycle management. He even explains how rigid containers might show up in an accreditation survey. Miseirvitch ends by highlighting the AAMI, AORN, and ISO standards that relate to containers. Listen in for an entirely new perspective on rigid containers and to learn how they are so much more than “just a box.” ABOUT OUR GUEST Alexander Miseirvitch Senior Product Manager, Healthcare Solutions Aesculap Alexander Miseirvitch, BS, CCSVP, is Senior Product Manager, Healthcare Solutions, at Aesculap, Inc., supporting the company’s sterile container portfolio. With nearly 24 years of healthcare experience, he brings a practical, field-informed perspective to Sterile Processing (SP) operations, IFU alignment, sterility assurance, workflow improvement, and sustainability. Miseirvitch is an active member of AAMI and contributes to standards-focused work aimed at supporting safe, effective, and practical SP practices. ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Aesculap, Inc., a B. Braun company, is part of a 175-year-old global organization focused on meeting the needs of an ever-changing healthcare community. We understand the daily challenges a Sterile Processing department faces to meet demanding OR schedules. Our teams, backed by more than a century of industry experience, are dedicated to helping hospitals optimize their perioperative performance. In the face of increasing size and complexity of surgical inventories, our experts are equipped with the specialized tools and methodology required to identify potential areas of improvement and help health systems Operate With Greater Precision™. From containers and repairs to consulting, education and, of course, surgical instruments, we strive to deliver products and services that improve the quality of patients’ lives. The code required for CE credit will be mentioned during the podcast. Please make note of the code when you hear it to complete the quiz at the end for CE credit. Earn CE Now

How surgical devices are cleaned and decontaminated determines the efficacy of the sterilization process. For this to be effective, each item must be cleaned according to its instructions for use (IFU). But, how do manufacturers validate cleaning processes for their instruments? In episode 157, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Dr. William Levia of Medtronic about the manufacturer validation process. Dr. Levia describes the many detailed steps that manufacturers must go through to test cleaning protocols and the reasons behind them. He refers to the different classes of medical devices and discusses the roles of regulatory agencies, standards-setting organizations and testing laboratories. He also introduces listeners to ANSI/AAMI ST98:2022 Cleaning validation of health care products—Requirements for development and validation of a cleaning process for medical devices. Dr. Levia believes in bridging “the standards, the core science and the real-world setting.” Listen to learn more about how instrument manufacturers do their jobs, so we can do ours. ABOUT OUR GUEST Dr. William Levia Global Senior Program Manager for Sterile Processing Medtronic Dr. William Leiva received his PhD in Cybernetics and Statistics from Bucharest University of Economic Studies in 2024 and his MPH in Epidemiology and Health Economics from Andrés Bello National University in 2018. He has worked as a Senior Manager for Scientific Affairs at 3M Healthcare (2008–2023), sterilization and reprocessing subject matter expert at the FDA, and in a leadership role at Medtronic since 2024. He also holds a visiting professorship at Bucharest University of Economic Studies. Dr. Leiva is a recipient of AAMI’s Kilmer Grant, serves as a reviewer of peer-reviewed articles, and has presented internationally, including at AAMI eXchange and WFHSS. His research topics include reusable medical device decontamination, terminal sterilization, sterile barrier systems and reprocessing economic epidemiology.   Earn CE Now

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, and what mechanisms are available to kill them? In episode 156, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Larry Talapa of Solventum about the trio of microorganisms. Talapa explains the nature and pathology of each, including the spore formation process. He shares examples of bacteria, fungi and viruses that are likely to be found in an SPD and reviews strategies to prevent their spread. The conversation emphasizes the importance of cleaning and concludes with a discussion of WHO surveillance and monitoring. Listen to increase your understanding of microbiology and peek into the invisible, microbial world that surrounds us. During the conversation, Talapa references the CDC’s Disinfection and Sterilization Guideline. For the figure referenced, see page 115. ABOUT OUR GUEST Larry Talapa Medical Liaison – Medical Surgical Business Solvetum Larry Talapa is a microbiologist with over 30 years of experience in the area of sterilization, including as a sterilization engineer. In his career, Talapa has been responsible for the development, validation and control of ethylene oxide (EO), steam, radiation and vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VH2O2) sterilization processes. Talapa has presented on the global stage on matters pertaining to the safe and effective use of low-temperature sterilization in healthcare facilities. He is co-chair of AAMI Working Group 04 Biological Indicators and Working Group 16 Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilization as well as a voting member of several other AAMI working groups.   Earn CE Now