PROCESS THIS!, a Podcast by HSPA

The concept of Lean has been around for many years. What started as a manufacturing concept has been embraced by healthcare as an effective system to increase efficiency while maintaining quality in patient care. However, if its goals and mechanics are not properly understood, Lean can be applied ineffectively, causing an erosion in the confidence of those who use the process. In episode 135, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with John Kimsey of STERIS about properly utilizing Lean concepts in the Sterile Processing (SP) workflow. Kimsey concisely encompasses the five concepts of the Lean workplace philosophy: “People working together and continuously improving to create customer value and meet regulatory requirements without generating waste.” Using this one sentence, Kimsey defines the five elements of Lean, starting with the importance of a culture of “people working together” to implement change. This impactful conversation will inspire healthcare leaders to examine their roles and learn how they can best be motivators of improvement. ABOUT OUR GUEST John Kimsey, VP, Processing Optimization and Customer Success, STERIS John Kimsey is a seasoned healthcare management professional who helps leadership teams and Sterile Processing departments optimize operational performance. Leveraging 10 years of non-healthcare management consulting experience, he joined STERIS in 2001 and began to merge Lean operational approaches with healthcare’s clinical requirements, creating a new vision for Sterile Processing. Kimsey has several published works and speaks at national and international conferences on Sterile Processing topics, such as Lean. He has managed both onsite and offsite reprocessing centers and consulted large and small healthcare customers. At STERIS, he helps customers, industry partners, international teams, and healthcare systems optimize their SPD/CSSD operations for measurable success. Whether solving labor shortages, leadership deficiencies, strategic decisions, or process and quality issues, Kimsey comes with a desire to see people succeed. ABOUT OUR SPONSOR, STERIS STERIS’s mission is to help customers create a healthier and safer world by providing innovative products and services around the globe. STERIS Healthcare works with customers in the perioperative environment to elevate patient care in Operating Rooms, Endoscopy Suites and Sterile Processing departments. Through comprehensive solutions in equipment, consumables, devices and services, we help customers solve their biggest challenges, leverage opportunities for future growth, and advance the care of patients every day. With a long-standing history and commitment in the Sterile Processing department, STERIS understands the need for optimal processes, compliance and outcomes has never been so critical. We work hand-in-hand with customers to provide interconnected offerings to support all areas of reprocessing, from sterilization products and technologies, to instrument management and reprocessing services. For more information, visit www.steris.com/healthcare. Earn CE Now

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 our patients, healthcare professionals must be knowledgeable about water types and their uses. As stewards of our facility’s resources, we must understand how water affects our instruments, creating spotting, rusting and staining, and how monitoring water quality prevents wasted money and time. In episode 134, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Brian Battani of Xylem about water in the Sterile Processing department (SPD). Battani explains the importance of knowing the quality of your municipal water and how it flows through your facility. He discusses today’s water quality standards and treatment processes—water softening, reverse osmosis (RO) and deionization (DI). Battani also advocates for developing a comprehensive facility-wide water management plan. Listen to learn about the science of water and its essential role in the SPD. ABOUT OUR GUEST - Brian Battani, Senior Business Development Manager, Xylem Brian Battani is the Senior National Business Development Manager for the Health Sciences team at Xylem. With 15 years in the water treatment industry, his expertise is focused on healthcare customers. Battani actively contributes to advancing industry standards as a Subcommittee Chair for the AAMI TIR119 development workgroup. He holds a master’s degree in Environmental Water Resources Engineering from the University of Michigan. Based near Baltimore, MD, Battani balances his professional endeavors with enjoying quality time with his wife and three children. ABOUT OUR SPONSOR - Xylem Water quality plays a critical role in medical procedures, clinical diagnostics and medical research as well as the overall operation of healthcare facilities. Xylem offers high purity water systems, 24/7 service, and a comprehensive support network that helps medical facilities meet current AAMI and CLSI standards for water quality. Our customers are professionals in healthcare settings such as hospitals and medical centers, hemodialysis clinics and medical laboratories. Earn CE Now

Like every business, healthcare systems are vulnerable to cyberattack in all of its many forms. For those in healthcare, however, the security of the information we access has special significance. Healthcare systems keep detailed records of patients’ medical diagnoses, test results, payment methods and insurance providers. Information of this nature falling into the wrong hands can have lasting detrimental effects on our facilities and the people we serve. In Sterile Processing, we are primarily concerned with protecting our patients against infection, but we must also be vigilant in safeguarding their protected health information. In episode 133, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with John Kampas, CEO of EMPIST, an IT services and security company. Kampas reviews current and emerging types of cyberattacks, especially those specific to healthcare. He discusses the dark web and how bad actors (criminals) use AI and deepfake technology. Kampas also describes common gaps in healthcare systems and provides strategies facilities can use to improve their cybersecurity and protect business records and patient privacy. Our Guest: John Kampas, Founder and CEO, EMPIST John Kampas is the Founder & CEO of EMPIST, a renowned provider of managed IT services, cybersecurity, cloud solutions, and website design & development. After earning his degree in Management Information Systems from Loyola University Chicago, Kampas founded EMPIST (formerly Digerati Group) in 2000. Under his leadership, the company has expanded and earned numerous accolades, including being named one of Channel Futures’ top 501 Managed Service Providers, recognized by CRN as a top 100 Cybersecurity firm, and honored by Expertise as one of Chicago’s Top 20 Best Managed Service Providers. With 25 years of proven success, EMPIST continues to deliver innovative technology solutions to organizations worldwide, driving growth and success through cutting-edge technology and exceptional service. Earn CE Now

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 (SPD), compliance with evidence- and consensus-based standards and guidelines, as well as government regulations, is of crucial importance to our work and patient safety. In episode 132, host Casey Czarnowski talks with international healthcare expert and renowned speaker Sharon Greene-Golden who has spent her distinguished career asking questions to better understand and improve processes. Greene-Golden describes compliance as working “in accordance with the established guidelines,” and she reviews the policies and procedures, standards and regulations SPDs need to be following. She also outlines recovery strategies for teams that are falling short of compliance and discusses the meaning of surgical conscience. “We have to be willing to evolve and change with time,” asserts Greene-Golden, which is why acquiring new knowledge and keeping up with continuing education is so essential. After all, she says, “Surgery begins and ends in SPD.” Earn CE Now

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 challenge our decontamination professionals to remove soil and reduce the incidence of bioburden. In episode 131, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Noah Roitman and Trevor Hazen of HNM Medical about the dangers and high costs of unclean medical devices. Roitman and Hazen review some of the most challenging instruments and offer strategies for complete cleaning. They also discuss the option of single-use instruments as possible alternatives in the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs). Guest Speakers: Noah Roitman President HNM Medical As the Founder and CEO of HNM Medical, Noah Roitman has spent over two decades building a globally trusted medical device company dedicated to improving surgical outcomes and elevating the standard of care. His passion lies in designing innovative, single-use surgical technologies that address critical needs in contamination control, reprocessing risk and OR efficiency. Roitman is proud to have helped shift the industry’s perception and adoption of single-use instrumentation across specialties such as neurosurgery, orthopedics and cardiovascular care. HNM Medical now serves hospitals and distributors worldwide with a robust portfolio of high-performance tools that support safer, faster procedures. Trevor Hazen Clinical Resource Director HNM Medical Prior to starting his career in healthcare, Trevor Hazen earned his bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Bethel University. Like countless others in the Sterile Processing (SP) industry, Hazen did not know what he was getting into when he started as a vendor in 2015. He instantly fell in love with SP and hasn’t looked back! Since that time, Hazen earned his CCSVP and GTS certifications and became a member of HSPA, AORN and AAMI. He has presented hundreds of in-services at local hospitals and surgery centers and partnered with over 20 local chapters of HSPA, educating thousands of SP professionals about best practices, industry trends, leadership and professional development. Host: Casey Stanislaus Czarnowski, BA, CRCST, CIS, CER Clinical Educator Earn CE Now

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 may see their loaned tray volume eclipse their regular workload at times! In episode 130, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Dave Jagrosse, sterile processing consultant and Past President of the HSPA Board of Directors, about loaned tray management and strategies for working with vendors. Jagrosse carefully reviews the many challenges of configuring loaned sets. He discusses staffing, storage and transportation considerations and references trusted resources that are available to support loaned tray management. This episode delivers essential tips to help SP professionals navigate loaned sets, an inescapable and unpredictable but important part of our workflow. Guest: Dave Jagrosse, Sterile Processing Consultant Dave Jagrosse is the President of David Jagrosse Consulting LLC which offers educational presentations, published articles, consultant services, and AAMI-based assessments to SP/CSS/OR/Endoscopy professionals worldwide. Jagrosse is a medical device reprocessing subject matter expert to medical device manufacturers, medical companies, independent practices/surgical centers, and offsite sterile processing centers. He is an expert witness for legal matters within the profession and an expert in SPD design and renovation considerations. Jagrosse has more than 36 years of experience in CSSD/SPD as a technician, supervisor, and manager, is an Adjunct Instructor for Sterile Processing with Medcerts, and a Past President of HSPA. Earn CE Now

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 the tools that they need, when they need them, to improve patient outcomes. We know from manufacturers’ instructions for use (IFU) and peer-reviewed research that the care of surgical instruments, both simple and complex, begins at the point of use (POU). But how can Sterile Processing professionals communicate effectively with our procedural partners about POU treatment of instruments? In episode 129, host Casey Czarnowski talks with Tami Heacock, System Director of Sterile Processing at Lee Health, about POU treatment (not cleaning!) and its importance to our work in patient care. She discusses guidelines and standards that are available for encouraging POU treatment and strategies for talking with procedural partners about its importance. Earn CE Now

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, detergents, disinfectants, and cleaning tools. Although critical for device care and patient safety, IFU do not have a standardized format or common layout. Each document looks different, which can make the process of trying to follow IFU feel Intense, Frustrating and Unclear. In episode 128, host Jon Wood speaks with Randalyn Harreld of SteelcoBelimed about decoding IFU. Harreld describes most IFU as having “endless amounts of information.” In addition to the cleaning and sterilization sections, she identifies key components of IFU, including contraindications, preparation for use, and handling and storage. Harreld explains the term “compatibility matrix” and the differences between verification and validation. She also emphasizes the importance of looking for and following all cautions and warnings. Finally, Harreld offers strategies for housing and managing access to IFU. Listen in to learn how to better understand—and properly use—your IFU. Earn CE Now

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 hygiene is essential to the work of Sterile Processing professionals and the safety of our patients, breaks in the skin barrier can occur due to over washing and exposure to hot water, harsh chemicals and PPE. Our skin health, however, parallels our body health, so it is essential that we take care of it. In episode 127, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with dermatologist, author and consumer advocate Fayne L. Frey, MD, about the importance of protecting our skin. Dr. Frey reviews the anatomy and functionality of the skin and shares habits to keep your skin safe, especially outside of work hours. She discusses skin ailments, provides tips for listeners with sensitive skin, and decodes the buzzwords on skincare product labels. Tune it to learn how to maintain healthy skin and select safe, effective, affordable products sold at your local drugstore. Earn CE Now

Data drives improvement in business, and healthcare is no exception. With the effective use of a quality management system (QMS), Sterile Processing (SP) professionals can use data they already collect, including sterilizer printouts and biological monitoring, to improve processes and make their work more efficient and accurate. In episode 126, host Casey Czarnowski speaks with Hannah Schroeder of Pure Processing about QMS in the Sterile Processing department (SPD). Schroeder provides a high-level introduction to the QMS process. She discusses its key components, ways to incorporate a QMS in various areas of the SPD, relevant standards and guidelines, and diverse strategies for measuring QMS effectiveness. Listen to learn how a QMS can reveal trends and help SP leaders advocate for resources, such as additional staff, equipment or space. Hannah Schroeder, Clinical Education Specialist, Pure Processing In her current role, Hannah Schroeder brings her passion and experience in sterile processing to the forefront. Schroeder began as a technician in 2017 and became an education coordinator after progressing through various, advancing roles. Her expertise covers areas such as process improvement, recruitment, education and construction project management. She strives to raise awareness and advocate for the needs and education of professionals in the instrument reprocessing profession. Sponsored by Pure Processing Pure Processing is an innovator and manufacturer of sterile processing and endoscope reprocessing technologies. The company focuses on ergonomic solutions that support SPD and GI teams in their effort to keep patients safe. By collaborating with customers and maintaining a deep understanding of industry standards and guidelines, Pure Processing develops solutions truly designed to meet the unique needs that come with instrument and endoscope reprocessing. Earn CE Now

The chemicals used in Sterile Processing departments (SPDs) pose serious risks, and Alex Hilliker of ChemDAQ, Inc. believes that chemical safety is not discussed enough. In episode 125, host Jon Wood speaks with Hilliker, who explains the usage progression from ethylene oxide to hydrogen peroxide and glutaraldehyde to peracetic acid. Hilliker discusses the health hazards of working with these chemicals and the regulations and guidelines designed to protect workers from exposure. He reviews exact permissible exposure limits (PELs), methods of environmental and personnel monitoring, and the critical importance of chemical safety training. Earn CE Now

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 with 3D-printed instruments, short-cycle sterilization, overcrowded sets, and more. This podcast answers many questions you may not have even known to ask. Earn CE Now

In episode 123, host Jon Wood speaks with Dr. Leo Gordon on the topic of excessive instruments found in Sterile Processing trays. As a physician, Gordon shares his unique viewpoint regarding the large quantity of instruments found on the Operating Room back table before, during and after a surgical procedure. He discusses how surgeons have influenced this issue and can potentially help rectify such an excessive waste of time and money. Earn CE Now

In episode 122, host Jon Wood speaks with members of the KiiP team about sterile barrier wrap, more commonly known as “blue wrap.” Karina Engels from Owens & Minor/Halyard, Amanda Benedict from AAMI, Tanya Magana of Ecolab, Jennifer Zeck from Solventum, and Sterile Processing technician Tiffany Reece discuss the importance of consistent standards for wrap. They review what to do when encountering multilayer or potentially compromised wrap and explain how KiiP works to investigate concerns and connect users, experts and manufacturers to identify solutions. Earn CE Now

In episode 121, host Jon Wood speaks with Hannah Schroeder about one of the most important tools in Sterile Processing (SP): workstations. Schroeder discusses the primary functions, evolution and future potential of the SP workstation. She elaborates on the need for a proper workstation to support surgical device inspection, quality assurance and preparation and packaging.   Earn CE Now

In episode 120, host Jon Wood speaks with Frederick Westermeyer about his journey in rediscovering Sterile Processing (SP) after surviving a traumatic medical issue and the resulting infection that lead to an amputation. As an SP clinical educator, Westermeyer has a unique perspective surrounding his healing and adjustment to the new challenges in his life. He also elaborates on the difficulties of recapturing his spark of energy, curiosity and enthusiasm for the SP profession and how he was ultimately able to be successful.   Earn CE Now

In episode 119, host Jon Wood speaks with Sterile Processing (SP) Consultant and Clinical Educator Casey Czarnowski about sharps injuries. Czarnowski explains the dangers of bloodborne pathogens contracted by seemingly minor scrapes, cuts and pokes. These injuries can occur during Operating Room setup and teardown and in the Sterile Processing department (SPD), both in decontamination and on the clean side. To limit the potential dangers, Czarnowski offers considerations for proper sharps education as well as best practices for sharps disposal.   Earn CE Now

In episode 118, host Jon Wood speaks with HSPA’s Director of Education Natalie Lind about bullying in Sterile Processing (SP). Lind discusses how the prevalence of bullying in Sterile Processing departments not only breaks down morale but also has direct and negative effects on the quality of patient care. The conversation explores the potential causes of bullying as well as how to recognize that bullying is present in your area and steps to take to resolve it. Earn CE Now

In episode 117, host Jon Wood speaks with Jan Prudent about cultivating confidence among the Sterile Processing (SP) team and helping staff members overcome self-doubt. Prudent discusses strategies for being mindful of team members in order to build a positive work environment. Her suggestions include rounding on team members, periodic check ins, providing genuine encouragement, and taking opportunities to publicly acknowledge individuals for their hard work or extra effort. Earn CE Now

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 Sterile Processing department (SPD). Heacock discusses the wide range of detail levels found in IFU, from the simple to the intricate, and the pitfalls that either version can create, especially when left to individual interpretation. Earn CE Now