So much of what we do in the decontamination area depends on time. But how equipped are your frontline technicians to correctly and compliantly process when each second counts? Do they have the timing tools they need for each stage of the dirty side? On this episode of Fighting Dirty, Hank talks about why you can't trust your internal clock and the creative ways you can hardwire these tools into your workflow. Tune in, #ItsAboutTime . #FightingDirty #HankBalch #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click ...
Aug 20, 2019•3 min
What makes a great Medical Device Sales representative and why are they such a critical part of improving Sterile Processing quality? On this episode of the Beyond Clean podcast, we sat down with Nick Williams, an independent business consultant in the United Kingdom, and formerly Group Managing Director of Olympus KeyMed, to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to supporting customers in the medical device industry around the globe. Tune in to hear his decades of insights into ...
Aug 19, 2019•31 min•Season 5Ep. 8
On this episode of Beyond the Headlines, Mike and Bob talk about potential causes to surgery cancelations in a Canadian hospital. They focus on why Sterile Processing leaders should be equipped to have difficult conversations in the name of patient safety, how to empower frontline staff to "stop the line," and the importance of regular quality auditing. Tune in and #DontGetCanceled ! #BeyondTheHeadlines #MikeMatthews #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher ...
Aug 15, 2019•11 min
On this episode of Real Talk w/ Bob Marrs, Bob zeros in on precleaning, manual cleaning and the importance of three-bay sinks for compliant manual washing in Sterile Processing. Tune in to hear about some of the misinformation going on out there with regards to precleaning, and learn why each sink basin in your decontam has a different purpose! #RealTalk #BobMarrs #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website !...
Aug 14, 2019•6 min
One look inside of your cannulated or lumen devices could literally save your patient's life. So why wouldn't you take the time to do it? Or more importantly, why wouldn't hospitals provide appropriate tools such as inspection borescopes to enable their Sterile Processing teams to complete this live saving work? On this episode of Fighting Dirty, Hank talks about the critical importance of enhanced visual inspection of arthroscopic shaver handpieces in particular and all other related devices. T...
Aug 13, 2019•3 min
Have you ever wondered how Sterile Processing professionals handle their jobs on the other side of the globe? Do they have similar challenges as your country? Do they implement similar solutions? On this episode of the Beyond Clean podcast, we reached out the President of the CSSD forums of South Africa, Xana Jardine , to discuss an international perspective on Sterile Processing. Tune in to hear her insights into the regional issues facing their frontline technicians and department leaders in t...
Aug 12, 2019•29 min•Season 5Ep. 7
On this episode of Beyond the Headlines, Mike, Hank, and Bob talk about how infrastructure issues at a VA hospital on the west coast led to substantial delays and cancellation of various surgical and dental procedures for veteran patients. They focus on the important issues surrounding how facilities can plan ahead to guard against a “culture of catastrophe” as well as what the VA does right when it comes to sterilization process breakdowns. Tune in and #PlanAhead ! #BeyondTheHeadlines #MikeMatt...
Aug 08, 2019•13 min
On this episode of Real Talk w/ Bob Marrs, Bob gets down and dirty about decontamination, particularly the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) when completing your Sterile Processing duties. Tune in to hear about why your mask matters, what OSHA has to say about your dirty room, and catch a promo of the next Billboard Top 100 hits! #RealTalk #BobMarrs #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website !...
Aug 07, 2019•5 min
The most valuable asset in your Sterile Processing department isn't your $250K cart washer or your $3.5 million dollar fleet of surgical instruments -- it's actually your people. So the important question is whether your department design is actually hurting your team. On this episode of Fighting Dirty, Hank gives some insight into the critical importance of ergonomics in Sterile Processing and the things every department should be doing to protect from injury and cultivate safe practices in the...
Aug 06, 2019•5 min
Although most Sterile Processing professionals around the globe have heard of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and prions, there are still many misconceptions around these topics and their importance in the context of Sterile Processing. On this episode of the Beyond Clean podcast, we talk to one of the world's foremost experts on the topic of prions and vCJD, Dr. David Perrett , Professor Emeritus of Bioanalytical Science, Barts & The London School of Medicine. Tune in this week for an introductio...
Aug 05, 2019•36 min•Season 5Ep. 6
What impact do broken surgical instruments have on patient safety, surgeon trust, and the bottom line of your department budgets? How about missing or misplaced instruments that cause delays in instrument reprocessing and turnovers? On this release of the new Beyond Clean Vendor Spotlight series, we talk to Marcus Super about InstruSafe, the Sterile Processing-focused solution Summit Medical has created for overcoming the systemic challenges of lost and broken surgical instrumentation. We will a...
Aug 02, 2019•28 min
On this episode of Beyond the Headlines, Mike and Hank talk about an announcement out of Buffalo, New York regarding a free Sterile Processing training program for local students -- why it's awesome, and how this type of community investment will eventually lead to safer surgery. They also discuss a few of the differences between professional SPD training and the kind of on-the-job training that is common in many places around the globe. Tune in and #GetSchooled ! #BeyondTheHeadlines #MikeMatthe...
Aug 01, 2019•15 min
On this episode of Real Talk w/ Bob Marrs, Bob speaks directly to our brothers and sisters in the Operating Room about the critical importance of pre-cleaning, and the truth about instrument turnover times. Tune in to hear about realistic timelines for cleaning, inspection, sterilization, and cooling for your turnover instruments! #RealTalk #BobMarrs #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website !...
Jul 31, 2019•5 min
Creating a great resume is one of the most important things you can do as a Sterile Processing professional who wants to grow. But many of us were never taught how to write a persuasive resume that says more than just when and where we worked. On this episode of Fighting Dirty, Hank discusses how to think about your own professional persona and gives tips on creating that killer resume you need to get you on top of the pile. Tune in and #GetHired ! #FightingDirty #HankBalch #BeyondClean #WeFight...
Jul 30, 2019•17 min
How is quality measured in your Sterile Processing department? And, perhaps more importantly, how would patients know the difference between a hospital with a high quality instrument reprocessing team or one still struggling to implement best practices? On this episode of the Beyond Clean podcast, we talk to Jeremy Gibson-Roark, Certification Surveyor with DNV GL, about how departments are implementing quality management programs around the country, and the brand new department level Sterile Pro...
Jul 29, 2019•37 min•Season 5Ep. 5
On this episode of Beyond the Headlines, Mike and Hank talk about a recent headline grabbing story from a California hospital regarding a retained surgical item, this time a 2" ribbon retractor. They discuss some of the potential root causes and talk about the kinds of things that Sterile Processing should consider in trying to help their partners in the OR. Tune in and join the cause of: #NoInstrumentLeftBehind ! #BeyondTheHeadlines #MikeMatthews #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe ...
Jul 25, 2019•14 min
On this episode of Real Talk w/ Bob Marrs, Bob explains how to approach challenging situations in your Sterile Processing department -- especially when they are not your fault (i.e. low staffing, insufficient instruments, inefficient processes). Great application for frontline technicians and leaders alike. Tune in to hear how to make it right in your department when it all goes wrong! #RealTalk #BobMarrs #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Pla...
Jul 24, 2019•4 min
Sterile Processing professionals are the last line of defense for surgical patients. This means we have to be willing and able to "stop the line" when something unsafe happens in our departments. On this episode of Fighting Dirty with Hank Balch, Hank talks about one of the most dangerous and yet common practices in many departments today: double stacking multilayer trays during the washing cycle. This not only violates express manufacturer IFUs for these instruments and will get you cited by CM...
Jul 23, 2019•5 min
While manufacturer instructions for use (IFUs) are getting a lot of attention in Sterile Processing departments today, when it comes to chemical safety, you need to know exactly what your chemical's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) says. Did you know there's often important information in the SDS for using chemicals that may not be listed in the product IFU? On this episode of Season 5, we got Peggy Spitzer, Clinical Education Manager at Certol International, to step up to the Beyond Clean microphone to ...
Jul 22, 2019•34 min•Season 5Ep. 4
On this episode of Beyond the Headlines, Mike and Hank talk about the latest announcement from Ambu A/S & Cook Medical regarding a Single-Use Duodenoscope that will be disrupting the US market. Cleaning, disinfection, and storage challenges surrounding endoscope reprocessing are some of the hottest topics in the medical device industry today, so this announcement is sure to make waves. This episode will talk about some of the potential implications and remaining questions left to answer. Tun...
Jul 18, 2019•9 min
On this episode of Real Talk w/ Bob Marrs, Bob brings up one of the most shocking statistics in all of healthcare -- nearly 100K patients are dying in our hospitals each year. Why is this happening? And how do we keep the national conversation focused where it should be? Tune in for his passionate plea to keep this topic front and center -- where it should be. #RealTalk #BobMarrs #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our ...
Jul 17, 2019•5 min
Shift huddles are one of the most important things you can do every day as a Sterile Processing team. But there are many departments out there who either don't do them at all, or do them all wrong. On this episode of Fighting Dirty, Hank gives some insight into why shift huddles matter and discusses a few tips on how to take your current shift huddle from good to great. Tune in and #ShiftYourPerspective ! #FightingDirty #HankBalch #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTun...
Jul 16, 2019•8 min
How dangerous are your insulated laparoscopic devices? How often are you performing insulation testing on them? Have you ever heard the full story on why these questions are so important? On episode 3 of Season 5, we invited Cheron Rojo , Clinical Education Coordinator SPD at Healthmark Industries, to discuss these critical topics and give us insight into the full scope of the problem. Tune in this week to hear what your team should be doing every day to protect patients from serious injury and ...
Jul 15, 2019•35 min•Season 5Ep. 3
This week on Beyond The Headlines with Mike Matthews: Mike and Hank dig into a recent CMS survey report that just hit the news and discuss findings related to Sterile Processing, Endo, and Radiology departments -- how you can prepare and how to get your hospital administrators more involved in your SPD. Important topics with lots of practical insight. Plus you can learn how to send hate mail to Mike! Tune in and don't get #Cited ! #BeyondTheHeadlines #MikeMatthews #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Cl...
Jul 11, 2019•24 min
This week on Real Talk with Bob Marrs: Bob discusses why device manufacturers should lean over and give their IFUs a KISS, and how government can get involved to help Sterile Processing protect our patients. If we can't find the IFU or understand them, what good are they? #RealTalk #BobMarrs #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website !...
Jul 10, 2019•3 min
This week on Fighting Dirty with Hank Balch: We are fans of Sterile Processing certification, but let's keep it in perspective. Certification does not always equal Opportunity. On this episode of Fighting Dirty, Hank lays out important aspects of the certification conversation, HR challenges, and the keys to real (quick) growth in the industry. #FightingDirty #HankBalch #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website !...
Jul 09, 2019•8 min
Each year we see more and more technical colleges creating Sterile Processing programs across the US. What impact are they having on the job market and individual students who take that route into the industry? This week we talked to Densley Coke, Sterile Processing Manager at Northside Forsyth Hospital and Adjunct Professor of the Sterile Process program at Gwinnett Technical College, to discuss the benefits these programs are giving their graduates and the departments they end up working in. T...
Jul 08, 2019•30 min•Season 5Ep. 2
This week on Beyond The Headlines with Mike Matthews: Another news headline about stolen surgical instruments - this one for $25K worth of endoscopes, just weeks after a similar $450K heist from a hospital in the same state. On our kickoff episode for "Beyond the Headlines" with Mike Matthews, we talk about why these stories keep coming out and what needs to happen TODAY in your hospital to fix it. Tune in and don't get #jacked ! #BeyondTheHeadlines #MikeMatthews #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Cli...
Jul 05, 2019•15 min
This week on Real Talk with Bob Marrs: Bob discusses the background to regulatory focus on IFUs in Sterile Processing, and the real challenges with following them as frontline Sterile Processing technicians. IFUs - Manufacturer Instructions for Use #3 - A Day that will Live in Infamy #4 - Challenges, and Issues #RealTalk #BobMarrs #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website !...
Jul 03, 2019•6 min
This week on Fighting Dirty with Hank Balch: Failing a Sterile Processing certification exam can be a punch in the gut. How do you recover? What do you do next? Hank gives you 3 things to consider as you bounce back and keep #FightingDirty . For more insight and tips on how to pass your exam, you can read his article here: https://bit.ly/2YzbBsD #FightingDirty #HankBalch #BeyondClean #WeFightDirty ™ Click To Subscribe on YouTube , iTunes , Stitcher , Google Play or Spotify or Visit Our Website !...
Jul 02, 2019•4 min
